Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “specific energy consumption”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 721 records · Page 40
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2022

U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon Competition Guide: 2022 Design Challenge and 2023 Build Challenge

The Solar Decathlon offers a unique experience that enables collegiate teams to develop critical career skills, learn from both national experts and peers, and gain valuable insights from world class thought leaders and mentors. Specifically, student teams are challenged to design and (if part of the Solar Decathlon Build Challenge) build highly energy-efficient buildings powered by renewable energy. Teams are evaluated on 10 measured contests, and the winning teams are those that best blend the topics of architectural and engineering excellence with innovation, market potential, building efficiency, smart energy production, and environmental justice.

Build Challenge↗
DOE OSTI2025

Ten questions concerning housing sufficiency

Housing sufficiency is an emerging concept in the provision of environmentally sustainable housing. It aims for demand-side strategies that reduce excessive, aggregate consumption levels to promote efficient resource utilization and sustainability in the construction sector while providing everyone with a decent standard of housing. However, it is challenging to implement as it interferes with housing-related social and cultural norms. This paper poses and answers ten questions that highlight the challenges, opportunities, and examples of sufficiency strategies in the context of housing provision and the environmental crisis. Question 1 discusses the need for sufficiency as a tool to complement supply-side strategies including efficiency and renewable energy strategies in providing housing. Question 2 examines the concept of housing sufficiency from different perspectives, such as ecological economics and social ecology. Question 3 summarizes the methods used to measure housing sufficiency, with specific focus on the upper and lower limits that respect planetary boundaries and basic human needs. Questions 4 and 5 describe the benefits, potential drawbacks, and rebound effects of housing sufficiency. Questions 6 and 7 examine housing sufficiency in developed and developing countries, respectively. Questions 8 and 9 discuss design strategies, housing occupancy, and tenure models that are needed for housing sufficiency. Finally, Question 10 provides a of policies and regulations that are needed to systematically support the implementation of sufficiency strategies. The questions and answers provide insights for wider application of housing sufficiency in research and practice.

Arceo, Aldrick↗
DOE OSTI2024

Entropy-Infused Deep Learning Loss Function for Capturing Extreme Values in Wind Power Forecasting

Extreme scenarios in wind power generation occur with higher frequency and larger magnitude in the recent years due to the ever-increasing extreme meteorological factors. Accurate forecasting of the occurrence of extreme values in wind power generation is of great concern to ensure reliable power system operation. Recently, deep learning models have surged in popularity for wind power forecasting, with the mean squared error (MSE) loss function being commonly used. However, the MSE loss function, being sensitive to extreme values, disproportionately penalizes larger errors, cannot adequately capture the extreme values present in wind energy data, and novel loss functions have seldom been tailored for wind power forecasting. To this end, in this paper, we introduce a novel loss function specifically crafted to capture extreme values in wind power forecasting. The experimental results with four fundamental deep learning methods on open source wind power dataset validate that the new loss function is efficient and superior in all cases compared to MSE in capturing extreme values while maintaining forecasting performance.

17 WIND ENERGY↗
NASA NTRS2004

Stirling Engine Controller

Stirling technology is being developed to replace RTG s (Radioisotope Thermoelectric Generators), more specifically a stirling convertor, which is a stirling engine coupled to a linear alternator. Over the past three decades, the stirling engine has been designed to perform different functions. Stirling convertors have been designed to decrease fuel consumption in automobiles. They have also been designed for terrestrial and space applications. Currently NASA Glenn is using the convertor for space based applications. A stiring converter is a better means of power for deep space mission and "dusty" mission, like the Mars Rovers, than solar panels because it is not affected by dust. Spirit and Opportunity, two Mars rovers currently navigating the planet, are losing their ability to generate electricity because dust is collecting on their solar panels. Opportunity is losing more energy because its robotic arm has a heater with a switch that can not be turned off. The heater is not needed at night, but yet still runs. This generates a greater loss of electricity and in turn diminishes the performance of the rover. The stirling cycle has the potential to provide very efficient conversion of heat energy to electric a1 energy, more so than RTG's. The stirling engine converts the thermal energy produced by the decaying radioisotope to mechanical energy; the linear alternator converts this into electricity. convertor. Since the early 1990's tests have been performed to maximize the efficiency of the stirling converter. Many months, even years, are dedicated to preparing and performing tests. Currently, two stirling convertors #'s 13 and 14, which were developed by Stirling Technology Company, are on an extended operation test. As of June 7th, the two convertors reached 7,500 hours each of operation. Before the convertors could run unattended, many safety precautions had to be examined. So, special instrumentation and circuits were developed to detect off nominal conditions and also safely shutdown the engines. The test will last for a period of 8000 to 9000 hours. Other types of tests that have been performed are: performance mapping, controller development, launch environment, and vibration emissions testing. Currently, the thermo-mechanical system branch is housing a RG-350, a stirling convertor. The convertor was used in previous tests such as a Hall Thruster test, world s first integrated test of a dynamic power system with electric propulsion. Another test performed was to conclude if free piston stirling convertors can be synchronized for vibration balancing, with no thermodynamic or electrical connections and not cause both to shutdown if one failed. The ability to reduce vibration by synchronizing convertor operation but still be able to operate when one partner fails is pertinent in space and terrestrial applications. The convertor is now being brought back into operation and a controller is in the process of being developed. This convertor will be used as a testbed for new controllers. I worked with Mary Ellen Roth on the electric engineering aspects of the RG-350. My main goal was to enhance the data collection process. I worked on different aspects of the RG-350, with a main focus on the engine controller. I drew a schematic of the wire connections in the engine controller, using PCB Express, so that a plan could be devised to connect the power meter properly between the output of the engine and the engine controller. I measured the power using two different instruments: Valhalla Scientific power meter and Ohio Semitronics power measurement device. The convertor is connected to an Agilent 34970A Data Acquisition/Switch Unit, which allows the user to measure, record, and monitor voltage, current, frequency, and temperature. I assisted in preparing the Data Acquisition for general operation. I also helped test a panel of transducers, which will be placed in the rack that powers and monitors the convertor.

Blaze, Gina M.↗
DOE OSTI2023

Decision making for implementing non-traditional water sources: a review of challenges and potential solutions

Abstract The effects of climate change, population growth, and future hydrologic uncertainties necessitate increased water conservation, new water resources, and a shift towards sustainable urban water supply portfolios. Diversifying water portfolios with non-traditional water sources can play a key role. Rooftop harvested rainwater (RHRW), atmospheric and condensate harvesting, stormwater, recycled wastewater and greywater, and desalinated seawater and brackish water are all currently utilized and rapidly emerging non-traditional water sources. This review explores the status and trends around these non-traditional water sources, and reviews approaches and models for prioritizing, predicting, and quantifying metrics of concern. The analysis presented here suggests that understanding the challenges of location specific scenarios, socioeconomic knowledge gaps, water supply technologies, and/or water management structure is the crucial first step in establishing a model or framework approach to provide a strategy for improvement going forward. The findings of this study also suggest that clear policy guidance and onsite maintenance is necessary for variable water quality concerns of non-traditional sources like harvested rainwater and greywater. In addition, use of stormwater or reuse of wastewater raises public health concerns due to unknown risks and pathogen levels, thus rapid monitoring technologies and transparent reporting systems can facilitate their adoption. Finally, cost structure of desalination varies significantly around the world, largely due to regulatory requirements and local policies. Further reduction of its capital cost and energy consumption is identified as a hurdle for implementation. Overall, models and process analyses highlight the strength of comparative assessments across scenarios and water supply options.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2023

Aviation Mission Profile Performance Evaluation in a High Specific Power Surface Permanent Magnet Machine with Additively Manufactured Coils and Integrated Heat Pipes

The purpose of this paper is to accurately evaluate the performance and overall efficiency of an electrical machine driving a propeller (as a part of a hybrid or electric propulsion system) during the flight mission profile using electromagnetic-thermal simulations. The study focuses on a 250 kW, 5000 rpm, 1.25 kHz, 36/30 slot/pole surface permanent magnet (SPM) machine with additively manufactured (AM) hollow conductors and integrated heat pipes (HP). The machine drive parameters (frequency, and current) are tuned to maximize the efficiency for a given flight cycle, while providing the highest specific power (SP) during takeoff. Afterward using Multiphysics simulations, the transient thermal behavior of the machine is studied and temperature profile for different parts of the machine is extracted. Finally, steady-state temperatures during cruising are estimated and overall efficiency is re-evaluated.

additive manufacturing↗
DOE OSTI2023

Grid Capacity – What is it, what determines it, does one number work, and how does it relate to electric vehicles?

Grid capacity is effectively how much power the system can reliably deliver, whether that is to serve loads (load service capacity) or accept generation (hosting capacity). Grid capacity can also mean different things at different scales. On the whole power system, grid capacity may be the maximum amount of power generation available. For a specific region, grid capacity may be limited by how much power the transmission and distribution lines can safely carry to that region. At the feeder level, it may be how much photovoltaic generation can be included before reliability or operations are impacted. At the end-use or residential level, grid capacity may be the size of the service breaker for that house.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2023

Using small angle x-ray scattering to examine the aggregation mechanism in silica nanoparticle-based ambigels for improved optical clarity

Silica-based aerogels are a promising low-cost solution for improving the insulation efficiency of single-pane windows and reducing the energy consumption required for space heating and cooling. Two key material properties required are high porosity and small pore sizes, which lead to low thermal conductivity and high optical transparency, respectively. However, porosity and pore size are generally directly linked, where high porosity materials also have large pore sizes. This is unfavorable as large pores scatter light, resulting in reduced transmittance in the visible regime. In this work, we utilized preformed silica colloids to explore methods for reducing pore size while maintaining high porosity. Further, the use of preformed colloids allows us to isolate the effect of solution conditions on porous gel network formation by eliminating simultaneous nanoparticle growth and aggregation found when using typical sol–gel molecular-based silica precursors. Specifically, we used in situ synchrotron-based small-angle x-ray scattering during gel formation to better understand how pH, concentration, and colloid size affect particle aggregation and pore structure. Ex situ characterization of dried gels demonstrates that peak pore widths can be reduced from 15 to 13 nm, accompanied by a narrowing of the overall pore size distribution, while maintaining porosities of 70%–80%. Optical transparency is found to increase with decreasing pore sizes while low thermal conductivities ranging from 95 +/− 13 mW/m K are maintained. Mechanical performance was found to depend primarily on effective density and did not show a significant dependence on solution conditions. Overall, our results provide insights into methods to preserve high porosity in nanoparticle-based aerogels while improving optical transparency.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗
DOE OSTI2023

Development of Prototypical District-Scale Models

The U.S. has set the climate goal to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. District-scale solutions, which include scale-specific opportunities for energy and emissions savings, can be investigated and implemented to help accelerate decarbonization and progress toward this goal. However, there is currently a lack of district-scale models of buildings and community energy systems that can be used to evaluate potential district-scale technologies and strategies across a range of representative community types. This initial work aims to define and develop prototype district models that can be adapted to support the planning, design, and operation of buildings and energy systems in districts considering the complexity and interactions of diverse building loads, weather impacts, distributed energy resources (e.g., PV, EV, electric and thermal energy storage), electric and thermal grid systems, and pricing signals. An overall workflow for developing these prototype district models is established. Stakeholders and potential users of the prototype district models provided technical feedback. The specifications of the selected high priority districts were defined and documented in a scorecard format. An example prototype district model was implemented with the URBANopt platform workflows. A case study was performed to demonstrate the model application.

building energy modeling↗
DOE OSTI2022

Data-Driven Prediction and Optimization of Energy Use for Transit Fleets of Electric and ICE Vehicles

Due to the high upfront cost of electric vehicles, many public transit agencies can afford only mixed fleets of internal combustion and electric vehicles. Optimizing the operation of such mixed fleets is challenging because it requires accurate trip-level predictions of electricity and fuel use as well as efficient algorithms for assigning vehicles to transit routes. We present a novel framework for the data-driven prediction of trip-level energy use for mixed-vehicle transit fleets and for the optimization of vehicle assignments, which we evaluate using data collected from the bus fleet of CARTA, the public transit agency of Chattanooga, TN. We first introduce a data collection, storage, and processing framework for system-level and high-frequency vehicle-level transit data, including domain-specific data cleansing methods. We train and evaluate machine learning models for energy prediction, demonstrating that deep neural networks attain the highest accuracy. Based on these predictions, we formulate the problem of minimizing energy use through assigning vehicles to fixed-route transit trips. We propose an optimal integer program as well as efficient heuristic and meta-heuristic algorithms, demonstrating the scalability and performance of these algorithms numerically using the transit network of CARTA.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2020

Potential Energy, Demand, Emissions, and Cost Savings Distributions for Buildings in a Utility’s Service Area

Several companies, universities, and national laboratories are developing urban-scale energy modeling that allows the creation of a digital twin of buildings for the simulation and optimization of real-world, city-sized areas. Prior to simulation-based assessment, a baseline of savings for a set of utility-defined use cases was established to clarify the initial business case for specific energy efficient building technologies. In partnership with a municipal utility, 178,337 OpenStudio and EnergyPlus models of buildings in the utility’s 1400 km 2 service area were created, simulated, and assessed with measures for quantifying energy, demand, cost, and emissions reductions of each building. The method of construction and assumptions behind these models is discussed, definitions of example measures are provided, and distribution of savings across the building stock is provided under a maximum technical adoption scenario.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2023

Leaving in the lead: Priorities for perovskite photovoltaics

The need for moving electricity generation to a sustainable model requires the development of low cost ubiquitous photovoltaics (PVs) to harvest the planet’s primary energy source, the Sun. Building upon the successes of Si-based and CdTe-based PV technologies, PVs with lower-embodied energy and requiring lower carbon dioxide equivalent to produce will be required to meet long-term sustainability goals. In particular, thin-film technologies, such as high-efficiency metal halide perovskite (MHP) PV modules, provide avenues to reduced embodied energy, lower energy payback times, and enabling energy-dense tandems [H. M. Wikoff et al., Joule 6(7), 1710–1725 (2022) and V. Fthenakis, Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 13(9), 2746–2750 (2009)]. The ability to improve efficiency and lower energy payback time of next generation thin-film PV modules is a critical foundation for green H2 and electrification more broadly. In this regard, Pb-based MHP-PVs have separated themselves as a result of the high-efficiencies that can be realized across a range of electronic gaps. Questions regarding Pb-based MHP-PVs that are often asked, as the challenges of efficiency and reliability are met, revolve around the “problem” of the Pb content. Specifically, “does Pb toxicity preclude MHP-PV modules from being deployed at the TW scale?” To provide this sense of scale, in 2021, the United States burned 10.5 quads of coal, with 90% of that used for electricity generation. Given the energy content of coal of 29 MJ/kg and a residual lead content in that coal of 30 mg/kg, electricity generation from coal resulted in more lead emitted into the atmosphere than what would be required to produce over 2 TW of MHP-PV name plate capacity (assuming a 20% module efficiency and an ∼700 nm active layer). This amounts to more PV power than has been deployed across all PV technologies and geographies to date. This only includes US coal consumption; the rest of the world would be much larger. This example illustrates the scale of the material usage relative to the energy production. Imagine a power-generation technology that offsets these Pb emissions from coal and essentially sequesters this Pb content between two sheets of impermeable glass. Why should we let Pb’s history of misuse prevent it from being included in next generation PV modules that can enable a sustainable energy future?

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗
DOE OSTI2022

Decarbonizing the Building Sector: A Human-Centered Study Focused on Small/Light Commercial Building Energy Equity

Decarbonization of the building sector is no small feat; buildings account for 40% of primary energy consumption, and fossil-fuel combustion in buildings leads to roughly 30% of total greenhouse gas emissions. Energy efficiency, electrification and smart technologies are fundamental strategies to reduce consumption and shift away from fossil-fuel use in buildings. This energy transition carries significant societal risks unless the shift is carried out with equity and justice as a top priority. Low-income, vulnerable and communities of color have higher energy burdens compared to affluent populations. Furthermore, systemic racism and historic exclusionary policies have resulted in increased risks (environmental, climatic, economic, and social) to low-income and communities of color, and underserved communities often do not have financial resources for, or access to, advanced building technologies. The U.S. Department of Energy is funding research to characterize and develop solutions to the challenges of equity and justice that complicate the ability of communities to contribute to goals for decarbonization. Our project has a specific focus on small commercial buildings and the businesses that occupy them. Significantly less is known about the burdens and risks these businesses experience or the challenges they face in pursuing decarbonization, or how those are affected by income and race, in comparison to research on energy equity and justice for diverse households. The project team includes the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Arizona State University and Clark Atlanta University. Researchers are conducting semi-structured interviews with small business owners in underserved communities in Phoenix and Atlanta, followed by a survey distributed to the larger community to learn more about the equity and justice issues that communities with different racial, economic, and cultural backgrounds face. Results will help inform an actionable and replicable framework for engaging small commercial building owners/operators to catalyze the reduction of energy burdens and increase equity.

Antonopoulos, Chrissi A.↗
DOE OSTI2024

Fluidized-Bed Gasification of Coal-Biomass-Plastics for Hydrogen Production

Coal is one of the most abundant fossil energy resources in the United States and in the world. The recoverable reserves in the United States are estimated to be about 252 billion tons – more than 350 years of supply at current rates of usage. However, the share of coal in total primary energy consumption in the US has been declining over the years. The decline of coal is mainly attributed to cheap natural gas and precipitous declines in the cost of electricity production from renewable technologies such as wind and solar. Coal can potentially be used if it is coupled with carbon-neutral feedstock such as biomass-agricultural residues, forest biomass, and forest residues. Co-gasification of coal and biomass can become a negative carbon emission technology if the carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is captured and sequestered. Although the biomass gasification process has a lot of similarities to coal gasification, the large-scale adaptation of power production sourced from biomass has not come to fruition. The main reason is that the power production from biomass is still expensive when compared with natural gas or coal power technologies. To address the feedstock cost, one approach is to use low-cost feedstocks, such as municipal solid wastes (MSW) or plastics, for gasification. Gasification involves the partial oxidation of coal and/or biomass feedstocks to produce a combustible fuel called synthesis gas (syngas) which is composed of carbon monoxide (CO), hydrogen (H 2 ), CO 2 , methane (CH 4 ), nitrogen (N 2 ), water (H 2 O), and other compounds that might be considered as contaminants. Raw syngas from gasification must go through multiple steps to produce high-purity hydrogen. The specific steps depend upon the quality (gas composition, contaminants, and their concentration) and condition (pressure and temperature) of syngas. The long-term goal of the project was to utilize coal and plastics together with biomass to produce energy and fuels using a gasification platform while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The main objective of this research was to examine gasification performance in a laboratory-scale fluidized-bed gasifier for hydrogen production. The specific objectives of the research were to: (i) study coal-plastic-biomass mixture flowability for consistent feeding in the gasifier; (ii) understand the gasification behavior of the mixture in steam and oxygen environments; (iii) perform thermal property characterization of ash and slag from the mixture feedstock and refractory-ash interface of the mixture under gasification conditions; and (iv) develop process models to determine the technology needed for syngas cleanup and contaminants. The study found that there was no apparent segregation when biomass, coal, and waste plastics were mixed together during feeding. Although there were differences in hydrogen production when individual feedstock were fed, the hydrogen concentration remained almost constant with various blends. Therefore, blending waste plastics with biomass and coal, which are all abundant, is a better approach for energy production. Results of the techno-economic analysis suggested that integration of advanced gasification (GTI’s R-GAS™) and syngas cleanup and conditioning technologies (RTI’s WDP and AFWGS) for clean hydrogen production resulted in substantial benefits, including significant capital cost and operating cost reductions. Advanced technologies resulted in 16% reduction in the hydrogen production cost (COH) from 2.94 $\$$/kg to 2.47 $\$$/g, with further scope for optimization and cost reduction. These advanced technologies also result in lower emissions, and improved energy efficiency.

01 COAL, LIGNITE, AND PEAT↗
DOE OSTI2021

Evidence of Completion of Milestone 4: Simulation Testbed Validated with Experimental Data

Milestone 4 is given in the SOPO as being due in quarter 5 (ending 9/11/2020) and is described thus: Milestone 4: Enhanced Simulation Testbed Validated with Experimental Data (UM, Mathieu). Simulation testbed validated with data obtained from experimental testbed, specifically, nonlinear load behaviors and communication network issues observed in the experimental testbed will be modeled in the simulation testbed. The simulation testbed should accurately capture TCL real and reactive power consumption (including during extreme events associated with nonlinear behaviors and communication network failures) to within 5% RMSE error with respect to data obtained from the experimental testbed. The Tasks comprising the work to achieve Milestone 4 are outlined here.

24 POWER TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION↗
DOE OSTI2023

Kinetic Control via Binding Sites within the Confined Space of Metal Metalloporphyrin-Frameworks for Enhanced Shape-Selectivity Catalysis

One striking feature of enzyme is its controllable ability to trap substrates via synergistic or cooperative binding in the enzymatic pocket, which renders the shape-selectivity of product by the confined spatial environment. The success of shape-selective catalysis relies on the ability of enzyme to tune the thermodynamics and kinetics for chemical reactions. In emulation of enzyme's ability, we showcase herein a targeting strategy with the substrate being anchored on the internal pore wall of metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), taking full advantage of the sterically kinetic control to achieve shape-selectivity for the reactions. For this purpose, a series of binding site-accessible metal metalloporphyrin-frameworks (MMPFs) have been investigated to shed light on the nature of enzyme-mimic catalysis. They exhibit a different density of binding sites that are well arranged into the nanospace with corresponding distances of opposite binding sites. Furthermore, such a structural specificity results in a facile switch in selectivity from an exclusive formation of the thermodynamically stable product to the kinetic product. Thus, the proposed targeting strategy, based on the combination of porous materials and binding events, paves a new way to develop highly efficient heterogeneous catalysts for shifting selectivity.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗
DOE OSTI2026

2002 Treasure Valley Transportation Survey

The 2002 Treasure Valley Transportation Survey was conducted in Ada and Canyon counties in southwest Idaho, under contract with the Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho. The full study was conducted during September 2002 and October 2002 and entailed the collection of activity and travel information for all household members, regardless of age, during an assigned 24-hour period (Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday). In addition to providing basic demographic information about each household and its members, the survey documented specific travel characteristics and trips made, including the number of occupants, trip purpose, time of day, and questions specific to mode use. Travel days for the survey were spread across the pilot study (August 8, 2002) and the full study (September 3, 2002-October 31, 2002). In total, 3,488 households were recruited to participate in the study. Of these, 2,582 completed travel diaries (fully completed and passed edit check procedures), and the information was retrieved from all household members.

1Hz data↗
DOE OSTI2026

AutoBEM: A scalable framework for nationwide building energy simulation and retrofit evaluation in the United States

This paper presents AutoBEM, an integrated, automated framework for nationwide building energy modeling and retrofit evaluation in the United States. Unlike prior UBEM platforms that either rely primarily on representative stock sampling or operate at city scale, AutoBEM automates the generation of building-resolved, physics-based EnergyPlus/OpenStudio simulation models at national scale using GIS-derived geometry, prototype-based assumptions, and standardized scalable workflows. Leveraging the Model America dataset and high-performance computing, AutoBEM generates and simulates energy models for 122.9 million buildings, representing 97.8% of the U.S. building stock. These models are being made publicly and freely available as the Model America v1.0 (MAv1) dataset. AutoBEM supports detailed, building-level assessments of energy consumption, CO2 emissions, and post-processed anthropogenic heat emissions (AHE), and evaluates 151 energy conservation measures (ECMs) using localized utility pricing and building characteristics. In addition, AutoBEM incorporates both typical and future climate conditions through integration with Typical Meteorological Year (TMY) and Future TMY (fTMY) weather data derived from IPCC scenarios. In a case study of Phoenix, Arizona, AutoBEM identified several high-efficiency HVAC upgrades and selected envelope measures with short modeled payback periods (1.5 years) for certain building types and standards. Simulations under future climate scenarios (SSP5–RCP8.5) project an 11.3% increase in electricity use and a 32% reduction in natural gas demand by 2100, underscoring the need for climate-adaptive retrofit planning. By enabling reproducible, bottom-up, and location-specific analysis at scale, AutoBEM provides a step toward a national digital twin of the built environment and supports data-driven screening and planning for decarbonization, resilience, and energy equity.

Li, Hang [ORNL] (ORCID:0000000306001920)↗