Towards a Wiser Use of Intelligence: Fieldwork in the Application of Information Technology in a Commercial Building

摘要

Information technology can increase energy efficiency by improving the control ofrnenergy-using devices and systems. Awareness of this potential is not new—ideas for applicationsrnof information technology for energy efficiency have been promoted for more than 20 years. Butrnmuch of the potential gain from the application of information technology has not yet beenrnrealized. In an earlier paper one of the authors discussed some reasons for the slow exploitationrnof information technology’s potential to increase energy efficiency. The earlier paper alsornsuggested that a combination of new requirements for the operation of the electricity system andrnthe development of new technology could cause a rapid increase in the pace of adoption. In thisrnpaper we describe an application of these ideas to the operation of a commercial building. First,rnwe review basic concepts with emphasis on an open software-architecture. Then we describe therncomponents of this open software-architecture and its ability, for example, to nimbly add sensorsrnand add control algorithms within a proprietary Building Automation System (BAS). Finally, werndescribe results from this application to Sutardja Dai Hall at the University of CaliforniarnBerkeley. Results include demonstration of reduced peak demand by 20 -30% and continuousrnenergy savings of 20%.