ASHRAE Journal - December 2019 - 62

COLUMN EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

the impact that load control, distributed generation, or
storage dispatch of a building has on utility operations.
Similarly, estimates of emissions savings should be
based on which power plant is turned down in response
to building action. Regulators will require that data be
made available, but sophisticated software and "big
data" platforms will also be required to implement this
higher level of reporting performance metrics.

Energy Efficiency: Expanding the Capabilities of Existing
Solutions

PHOTO: SHEILA HAYTER, ASHRAE

Continuing to make buildings more energy efficient
is important for creating grid-interactive buildings.
Resilience (buildings' ability to withstand, and recover
from, potential disruptions to their performance)
should be at the forefront of design and innovation
when creating a more energy-efficient building. To
achieve greater energy efficiency and resiliency goals,
How Much Does Cost Really Drive Implementation of Grid Services
we need to make integrated building design a necesWithin Buildings?
sity. Resilience plans often enumerate all the threats to
The bottom line in the buildings industry is the cost to
a building and take measures to avoid or recover from
operate buildings. As technology becomes available for
each threat, but it is impossible to foresee every type
dynamic building load control, such as
of threat. "Design principles" for resilFIGURE 1 ASHRAE's Building Our New
smart building systems, more attention
ience are a way to mitigate this. These
Energy Future primer discusses changes
is given to utility rate structures that can coming to the electricity sector.
principles include diversity of supply,
encourage a desired building load proredundancy, interconnectivity, and
file. Because cost is key to implementing
interoperability.
grid services, it will be used as a driver.
Integrated building design begins
New rates need to be a win-win for both
with an integrated design, constructhe utility and the users. Despite the
tion, and commissioning team. With
definite influence of cost, utilities are
integrated building design, a team
not completely driven by rates. If the
has ownership over the delivery and
value can be proven to the utility, then
design of the project. This process
there is a higher chance of the utility
encourages achieving a demand conimplementing it to contribute to the
trol target by moving away from the
good of the system and institution. Right
prescriptive strategies that building
now, utilities are especially interested in
designers often follow. Instead of relygrid services that save energy or have a long-term bening on these routine strategies, the true project funefit to the building.
damentals can take a front seat in the process.
After a truly integrated building design, construction,
What Can Buildings Really Do for the Grid?
and commissioning process is completed, building perA wave of digital technologies and connected devices formance must be measured. This information will be
offering two-way communication with the grid is
the basis of the communication between the building
projected to equate to $1.3 trillion worldwide in new
and the grid. Defining those metrics that are useful for
4
annual industry revenue by 2030. Whichever grid
both building and grid operators is the next challenge.
services are added to a building, the comfort, proEnergy Efficiency Solutions: The Questions We Should Be
ductivity, and convenience of the indoor environAsking
ment cannot suffer because of the additions. Grid
How Do We Encourage an Integrated Design Process?
services should be supporting these building prioriWhen it comes to making real changes to the energy
ties. A flexible building should be able to incorporate
energy efficiency, energy storage, and on-site genera- efficiency of a building, those responsible for operating the building need to feel they have the ability and
tion. One aspect that is not well known is how fast
responsibility to be a part of the solution. Currently,
buildings can respond to adjust their load profiles.
there is little opportunity for building designers and
What the grid needs, and how the building should
grid providers to strategize toward a combined goal.
be planning for those needs, is not currently well
Encouraging these conversations will result in better
understood.
62

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ASHRAE Journal - December 2019

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