R&D in energy management

High performance building design and construction can generate important energy savings and greenhouse gas reductions. To achieve these gains, it is necessary to optimize the way energy is managed. The difficulties in maintaining buildings at their optimum operating conditions are already known. For example, more than 30% of certified green buildings perform worse than conventional buildings.

In the future, energy management will become more complex due to the integration of renewable energy production, thermal storage as well as the ability of buildings to respond to signals from the electrical grid during demand response events. The high performance buildings of tomorrow will have to adjust their operating conditions in real time in response to their equipment conditions, predicted energy consumption and peak load management scenarios.

From Research to Demonstration

To establish the basis of innovative control systems for future buildings, CanmetENERGY is conducting research and development on energy management and demand responsive control strategies in buildings. These research activities focus on the following subjects:

• Energy prediction
• Development and implementation of smart control strategies for demand response in commercial buildings
• Definition of a framework for demand responsive buildings in North America