Grid-Interactive, Efficient and Connected Buildings (GEBs)

Grid-Interactive, Efficient and Connected Buildings (GEBs)
File:Grid-Interactive, Efficient and Connected Buildings (GEBs) Grid-Interactive, Efficient and Connected Buildings (GEBs)
Team Organizations	GCTC
Point of Contact	Jiri Skopek
Participating Municipalities	World
Sectors	Buildings
Status	Development
Last Updated	November 25, 2024

Summary

This section explores why the buildings need to be efficient, responsive, and able to interact with the electrical grid in a way that benefits both the building owner and the grid as a whole and what KPIs can be used to measure the effectiveness of the grid-connected buildings. The respective parts of the document consist of the following:

• The benefits of Grid-Connected Responsive Buildings section identifies the community benefits
• What are GCEB describes the various features and technologies further addressed in detail in the Grid-Interactive, Efficient and Connected Buildings Infrastructure section.
• The KPI section identifies the criteria by which the performance of the GECB can be measured.
• Finally Case studies section provides examples of the GECB implementation.

Benefits of Grid-Connected Responsive Buildings

The need for rapid decarbonization, feasible primarily through electrification, calls for grid-connected buildings. The potential benefits of grid-connected responsive buildings are :

• • Reduced peak demand: By shifting energy consumption to off-peak hours, grid-connected responsive buildings can help reduce peak demand on the electrical grid. This can help avoid power outages and prevent the need for new power plants to be built.
• • Improved grid reliability: Grid-connected responsive buildings can help make the grid more resilient and reliable. For example, they can provide backup power to the grid during periods of high demand or when there is a power outage.
• • Increased use of renewable energy: Grid-connected responsive buildings can help increase the use of renewable energy by optimizing energy usage when renewable energy sources are available.
• • Energy savings: Grid-connected responsive buildings can use real-time data and communication with the grid to optimize their energy consumption and reduce carbon emissions. For example, they can shift energy usage to off-peak hours when electricity is cheaper or reduce energy consumption during periods of high demand.
• • Cost savings: By optimizing energy usage and reducing peak demand, grid-connected responsive buildings can save money on energy bills. They may also be eligible for incentives or rebates from utilities for participating in grid programs.

Overall, grid-connected responsive buildings can help create a more sustainable, reliable, and cost-effective electrical grid, as well as provide greater resiliency and adaptability in the face of increasing disasters. An introduction of AI systems now expands the operational capabilities and even suggests the possibility of fully autonomously operated buildings connecting with and responding to the signals from the grid.