Supporting the Grid: Connected Buildings
National power grids face several emerging challenges that are still in search and need of feasible solutions. These challenges are accentuated by the increasing proliferation of renewable energy and of distributed energy resources. The challenge of renewable energy sources (such as solar and wind) is their relatively uncontrollable, dynamic and uncertain nature. Furthermore, the increasing use of distributed generation and storage resources (such as roof top PV, downstream-the-meter energy storage and electric vehicles) adds a new dimension to the Grid's challenges - that of electrons flowing to and from buildings. With 75% of electricity produced in the US used to operate buildings, it is imperative that buildings play an integral role in the solution to the Grid's challenges.
This session will review the role buildings can play in supporting power grids. The premise for any such role is that buildings need to be 'connected' to the Grid, with real time communication from and to the building's energy systems. The panel will review technologies and solutions required for connected grids, as well as discuss (regulatory and rate) changes needed to enhance the business case for connected buildings.
Speakers
Mary Ann Piette
Senior Scientist and Director, Building Technology and Urban Systems Division
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Mary Ann Piette is the Director of the Building Technology and Urban Systems Division and has been at LBNL since 1983. She is also the Director of the Demand Response Research Center (DRRC). The DRRC develops DR technology and the Open Automated Demand Response standard, which is a key element of the NIST Smart Grid standards. OpenADR is being deployed to deliver over 250 MW of DR in California and throughout the US. Ms. Piette develops and evaluates low-energy and demand response technologies for buildings. She specializes in commissioning, energy information systems, benchmarking, and diagnostics.
Ms. Piette has authored over 100 papers on efficiency and demand response. In 2006 Ms Piette received the Benner Award at the National Conference on Building Commissioning for contributions to making commissioning "business as usual". Ms. Piette completed her undergraduate work at UC Berkeley in Physical Science. She has a Master's of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley and a Licentiate in Building Services Engineering from the Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden.
Lois Gordon
Chief Executive Officer
ASWB Engineering
Lois is a seasoned business executive with 20+ years of experience providing strategic operational leadership to growing companies. She has an extensive background in managing professional services, product development, sales operations and marketing. Prior to ASWB, Lois served as Vice President of the Utility Services Group at the Cadmus Group, Director of Sales and Marketing for PECI and CEO of Ecos Consulting. Lois brings considerable experience overseeing complex projects both domestically and internationally, fluency in Spanish and excellent understanding of cultural diversity in the business environment. She has a degree in Energy Management and Systems Technology from Evergreen State College and a certificate in Management Development for Entrepreneurs from UCLA's Anderson School of Management.
Dr. Mukesh Khattar
Technical Executive, Data Centers
EPRI
Dr. Khattar's work has earned him several ASHRAE Technology Awards, including one for the design and operation of an ultra efficient cooling system in an enterprise scale data center in 2014 and another one high density containment in 2010. His work also earned an award for Oracle in 2014 from Data Center Dynamics for Breakthrough Technologies in Data Center. He was inducted into Space Technology Hall of Fame in 1990 for his RD&D work on heat pipe technology. He served on the Board of Directors of the Green Grid from 2010-2012 and co-chaired the Energy Committee of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group from 2010-2012. He has been a voting member of the ASHRFAE TC9.9 that is focused on data centers mission critical facilities.
Dr. Michel Kamel
Chief Executive Officer
MelRok
Dr. Michel Kamel is the founder and CTO of MelRok, a leading developer of real time cloud-based energy monitoring and control technologies for tomorrow's smart grid. He received his Ph.D. from the Mechanical Engineering department at Stanford University. Michel has more than 18 years of executive experience with energy and high technology companies. His expertise and focus is in using real-time information and big data analytics to continuously assess, optimize and control building energy systems. He is the author of several research publications and technology patents in aerospace, cloud-based energy optimization and cybersecurity for cloud-based energy controls. Michel is the principal investigator on multiple groundbreaking energy projects, including a CEC funded project (ACCO BEMS) to deploy the world's first cloud-managed buildings, and utility projects for secure real-time cloud-based controls of distributed energy resources (loads, storage and PV).
David Hungerford
Senior Scientist
California Energy Commission
National power grids face several emerging challenges that are still in search and need of feasible solutions. These challenges are accentuated by the increasing proliferation of renewable energy and of distributed energy resources. The challenge of renewable energy sources (such as solar and wind) is their relatively uncontrollable, dynamic and uncertain nature. Furthermore, the increasing use of distributed generation and storage resources (such as roof top PV, downstream-the-meter energy storage and electric vehicles) adds a new dimension to the Grid's challenges - that of electrons flowing to and from buildings. With 75% of electricity produced in the US used to operate buildings, it is imperative that buildings play an integral role in the solution to the Grid's challenges.
This session will review the role buildings can play in supporting power grids. The premise for any such role is that buildings need to be 'connected' to the Grid, with real time communication from and to the building's energy systems. The panel will review technologies and solutions required for connected grids, as well as discuss (regulatory and rate) changes needed to enhance the business case for connected buildings.
Speakers
Senior Scientist and Director, Building Technology and Urban Systems Division
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Mary Ann Piette is the Director of the Building Technology and Urban Systems Division and has been at LBNL since 1983. She is also the Director of the Demand Response Research Center (DRRC). The DRRC develops DR technology and the Open Automated Demand Response standard, which is a key element of the NIST Smart Grid standards. OpenADR is being deployed to deliver over 250 MW of DR in California and throughout the US. Ms. Piette develops and evaluates low-energy and demand response technologies for buildings. She specializes in commissioning, energy information systems, benchmarking, and diagnostics.
Ms. Piette has authored over 100 papers on efficiency and demand response. In 2006 Ms Piette received the Benner Award at the National Conference on Building Commissioning for contributions to making commissioning "business as usual". Ms. Piette completed her undergraduate work at UC Berkeley in Physical Science. She has a Master's of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley and a Licentiate in Building Services Engineering from the Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden.
Chief Executive Officer
ASWB Engineering
Lois is a seasoned business executive with 20+ years of experience providing strategic operational leadership to growing companies. She has an extensive background in managing professional services, product development, sales operations and marketing. Prior to ASWB, Lois served as Vice President of the Utility Services Group at the Cadmus Group, Director of Sales and Marketing for PECI and CEO of Ecos Consulting. Lois brings considerable experience overseeing complex projects both domestically and internationally, fluency in Spanish and excellent understanding of cultural diversity in the business environment. She has a degree in Energy Management and Systems Technology from Evergreen State College and a certificate in Management Development for Entrepreneurs from UCLA's Anderson School of Management.
Technical Executive, Data Centers
EPRI
Dr. Khattar's work has earned him several ASHRAE Technology Awards, including one for the design and operation of an ultra efficient cooling system in an enterprise scale data center in 2014 and another one high density containment in 2010. His work also earned an award for Oracle in 2014 from Data Center Dynamics for Breakthrough Technologies in Data Center. He was inducted into Space Technology Hall of Fame in 1990 for his RD&D work on heat pipe technology. He served on the Board of Directors of the Green Grid from 2010-2012 and co-chaired the Energy Committee of the Silicon Valley Leadership Group from 2010-2012. He has been a voting member of the ASHRFAE TC9.9 that is focused on data centers mission critical facilities.
Chief Executive Officer
MelRok
Dr. Michel Kamel is the founder and CTO of MelRok, a leading developer of real time cloud-based energy monitoring and control technologies for tomorrow's smart grid. He received his Ph.D. from the Mechanical Engineering department at Stanford University. Michel has more than 18 years of executive experience with energy and high technology companies. His expertise and focus is in using real-time information and big data analytics to continuously assess, optimize and control building energy systems. He is the author of several research publications and technology patents in aerospace, cloud-based energy optimization and cybersecurity for cloud-based energy controls. Michel is the principal investigator on multiple groundbreaking energy projects, including a CEC funded project (ACCO BEMS) to deploy the world's first cloud-managed buildings, and utility projects for secure real-time cloud-based controls of distributed energy resources (loads, storage and PV).
Senior Scientist
California Energy Commission