Smart building controls may solve energy problems

The Bonneville Power Administration can control the electricity load to buildings through a Web site that provides the status of the equipment and feedback on how the commands have been executed.

Can information technology and smart building controls reduce the need for expensive new electricity transmission lines? Researchers at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory think they might. PNNL and the Bonneville Power Administration are exploring reducing electrical demand and on-site energy production at several buildings on and near the PNNL campus in Richland, Wash.

At one building, a small, natural gas-powered turbine is started remotely by BPA to produce electricity during peak demand times. This on-site production helps reduce stress on transmission lines by supplying some of the power for the building directly instead of pulling from the regional power grid. The second project eases stress on the grid by allowing BPA to "shed load" or reduce the demand for power by remotely and intermittently turning off air conditioning and HVAC equipment at three buildings.

Unlike radio-controlled methods, which utilities have used elsewhere, this system uses the Internet and computerized equipment to make changes without any physical action at the buildings. For more information, see PNNL's Web site at http://www.pnl.gov/news/2004/04-60.htm.