Sensors and Controls

NREL leverages machine learning, advanced data analytics, and physics-based modeling and simulation to optimize building design and operations.

NREL research expands technical understanding of energy subsystems (e.g., smart appliances, electric vehicles, building controls, integrated renewables, local storage) and their ability to use sensors and controls to enhance grid services. Proven solutions include:

• Controlling residential loads to deliver high-fidelity grid services and interoperability
• Identifying power quality issues in highly efficient homes with electric vehicles
• Enabling the scaling of demand response impacts and risks with multiphysics hardware-in-the-loop.

Energy Management Information Systems

Energy management information systems aggregate facility data to help site operations teams optimize energy use for buildings and campuses. Energy management information systems are composed of devices, data services, and software applications that monitor, analyze, and control metered building energy use and system performance.

Intelligent Campus

NREL leverages its buildings, onsite distributed energy resources, fleet vehicles, and energy management information systems as research instruments within its Intelligent Campus program. Real, quantitative energy measurements from NREL's two campuses are used to study renewable energy, energy efficiency, energy storage, and building systems integration.