Building Our New Energy Future: Integrating with the Power Grid of Tomorrow

Traditional interactions between the built environment and the electric utility industry are changing rapidly. Rather than a one-way flow of electricity where utilities produce and transmit the electricity that buildings then consume, buildings are becoming efficient energy consumers that can dynamically adjust loads to ensure grid-provided energy is used effectively. Buildings are transitioning to now be at the intersection of forecasting loads and demand response, forecasting and control of output from distributed generation and renewable energy systems, and the optimal dispatch of energy storage. Because residential and commercial buildings consume 74.7% of the electricity generated in the United States, grid-integrated buildings represent an important solution to addressing challenges facing the power sector. In addition to the electric power grid, buildings will be increasingly interactive with water, transportation, and telecommunications networks, and will also more strongly affect surrounding buildings and other civic infrastructure.