ETA 2021 Strategic Plan - Flipbook - Page 84
Building Technology
& Urban Systems Division
The Building Technology and Urban Systems
(BTUS) Division works closely with industry,
government, and policymakers. BTUS informs
and develops technology and systems that are
decarbonized, grid-interactive, efficient, and
resilient, and meet the needs of their occupants
and communities equitably. The Division
engages in innovative and creative research
to advance these goals. Its work in the built
environment addresses some of the world’s
most critical carbon mitigation and adaptation
challenges. BTUS supports the top priorities of
the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Building
Technologies Office and other sponsors by
organizing itself into Departments that address
building technology, whole building systems, and
building and industrial applications.
Research Objectives
• Grid-interactive efficient building
technologies to support the changing
electric grid
• Information technologies for benchmarking
building performance and support of realtime monitoring and control of buildings
• Advanced lighting, windows, daylighting
systems, cool roofs, and walls
• Software for energy-efficient buildings
and communities modeling, design, and
operation
• Technologies, technology assessments, and
best practices for efficient industrial and
high-technology buildings and data centers
• Technical assistance to federal, state, and
local governments in efficient buildings
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Building Technology Department
Work in the Building Technology Department
focuses on electronics, lighting, and networks;
simulation research; and windows, envelopes,
and façades. In addition, researchers analyze
how the combination of vehicle technology,
land-use patterns, and driving behavior affect
energy use, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,
and criteria pollutant emissions in the transport
sector. Researchers in the Building Technology
Department work to develop novel solutions
to save time and money and to improve
infrastructure. Combining these technology
competencies with robust simulation research
enables teams to develop methods, models,
and software for virtual prototyping of building
technologies and systems. These tools are
used to evaluate and optimize building system
performance, reduce building energy use and
carbon intensity, and ensure occupant safety
and comfort. Research also includes developing
methods to evaluate demand flexibility in
buildings and to communicate digital tariffs
for grid responsiveness. Similarly, the Building
Technology Department develops and evaluates
predictive controls to support multi-objective
optimization that considers factors such as
GHG signals, prices, comfort, and occupancy.
These projects explore how to integrate building
technologies with distributed energy resources
such as photovoltaics (PVs), electric vehicles
(EVs), and thermal or electric storage.
