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This brochure/poster provides information on the features of the Research Support Facility including a detailed illustration of the facility with call outs of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.
Modern buildings are complex energy systems that must be controlled for energy efficiency. The Research Support Facility (RSF) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has hundreds of controllers -- computers that communicate with the building's various control systems -- to control the building based on tens of thousands of variables and sensor points. These control strategies were designed for the RSF's systems to efficiently support research activities. Many events that affect energy use cannot be reliably predicted, but certain decisions (such as control strategies) must be made ahead of time. NREL researchers modeled the RSF systems to predict how they might perform. They then monitor these systems to understand how they are actually performing and reacting to the dynamic conditions of weather, occupancy, and maintenance.
Modern buildings are complex energy systems that must be controlled for energy efficiency. The Research Support Facility (RSF) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has hundreds of controllers -- computers that communicate with the building's various control systems -- to control the building based on tens of thousands of variables and sensor points. These control strategies were designed for the RSF's systems to efficiently support research activities. Many events that affect energy use cannot be reliably predicted, but certain decisions (such as control strategies) must be made ahead of time. NREL researchers modeled the RSF systems to predict how they might perform. They then monitor these systems to understand how they are actually performing and reacting to the dynamic conditions of weather, occupancy, and maintenance.
Modern buildings are complex energy systems that must be controlled for energy efficiency. The Research Support Facility (RSF) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has hundreds of controllers -- computers that communicate with the building's various control systems -- to control the building based on tens of thousands of variables and sensor points. These control strategies were designed for the RSF's systems to efficiently support research activities. Many events that affect energy use cannot be reliably predicted, but certain decisions (such as control strategies) must be made ahead of time. NREL researchers modeled the RSF systems to predict how they might perform. They then monitor these systems to understand how they are actually performing and reacting to the dynamic conditions of weather, occupancy, and maintenance.
This publication detailing the design, implementation strategies, and continuous performance monitoring of NREL's Research Support Facility data center.
An in-depth look at how the U.S. DOE and NREL used a performance-based design-build contract to build the Research Support Facility (RSF); one of the most energy efficient office buildings in the world.
This brochure details the design and operations of the Research Support Facility (RSF) data center.
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Along with heating, cooling, ventilation, and lighting, plug loads are one of the principal consumers of energy in commercial buildings. Managing ever-changing plug loads is a great challenge given the quantity and variety of devices in commercial buildings and the cost of monitoring equipment. To address this issue, we propose a method for developing a disaggregated model of an office building's plug loads that utilizes power data from a small portion of monitored devices and a device inventory. Using data from metering and control devices in the Research Support Facility at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, we compared our model to the building's plug load submeters. We found that the model was effective in predicting the shape of the building's average plug loads; however, it did not account for the entire magnitude of the load. With the disaggregated breakdown, we identified devices that contributed significantly to the building's unoccupied load, such as the audio visual equipment as well as devices that contributed significantly at specific times of the day, such as the microwaves at noon. This disaggregated information enables building owners to make more informed decisions with respect to plug load controls and energy efficiency upgrades. Furthermore, we highlight how the plug loads in the Research Support Facility have changed over time and offer recommendations for implementing this disaggregation method in other buildings.
Modern buildings are complex energy systems that must be controlled for energy efficiency. The Research Support Facility (RSF) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has hundreds of controllers -- computers that communicate with the building's various control systems -- to control the building based on tens of thousands of variables and sensor points. These control strategies were designed for the RSF's systems to efficiently support research activities. Many events that affect energy use cannot be reliably predicted, but certain decisions (such as control strategies) must be made ahead of time. NREL researchers modeled the RSF systems to predict how they might perform. They then monitor these systems to understand how they are actually performing and reacting to the dynamic conditions of weather, occupancy, and maintenance. This submission includes the Measured Energy Data from the RSF Systems Model. The data includes a csv with measured data from NREL's Research and Support Facility (RSF) for 2011. The dataset contains hourly data for: Total Cooling (kW)- Total Heating (kW)- Total Mechanical (kW)- Total Lighting (kW)- Total Plug Loads (kW)- Total Data Center (kW)- Total Building (kW)- PV (kW)- Building Net (kW). Energy Model data and Weather data related to the RSF Systems Model can be found in the "Related Datasets" section of this submission.
A PowerPoint presentation on NREL's Research Support Facility (RSF) and the road to achieving net zero energy for new construction.
Modern buildings are complex energy systems that must be controlled for energy efficiency. The Research Support Facility (RSF) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has hundreds of controllers -- computers that communicate with the building's various control systems -- to control the building based on tens of thousands of variables and sensor points. These control strategies were designed for the RSF's systems to efficiently support research activities. Many events that affect energy use cannot be reliably predicted, but certain decisions (such as control strategies) must be made ahead of time. NREL researchers modeled the RSF systems to predict how they might perform. They then monitor these systems to understand how they are actually performing and reacting to the dynamic conditions of weather, occupancy, and maintenance. This submission includes the Weather data form the RSF systems energy model. The weather data was used to contextualize and compare energy use data like heating and cooling. The weather data was also used by the RSF Energy Model to model the energy use of the RSF. Energy Model data and Measured Energy data related to the RSF Systems Model can be found in the "Related Datasets" section of this submission.
Modern buildings are complex energy systems that must be controlled for energy efficiency. The Research Support Facility (RSF) at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has hundreds of controllers -- computers that communicate with the building's various control systems -- to control the building based on tens of thousands of variables and sensor points. These control strategies were designed for the RSF's systems to efficiently support research activities. Many events that affect energy use cannot be reliably predicted, but certain decisions (such as control strategies) must be made ahead of time. NREL researchers modeled the RSF systems to predict how they might perform. They then monitor these systems to understand how they are actually performing and reacting to the dynamic conditions of weather, occupancy, and maintenance. This submission includes the Energy Model from the RSF Systems Model. Comparing actual performance (metered) with expected performance (modeled) is key to understand corrective actions to ensure performance as originally intended. The Energy Model in this submission was made to model energy usage in the RSF and was compared to actual metered data to verify the model. Measured data and Weather data related to the RSF Systems Model can be found in the "Related Datasets" section of this submission.
NREL leads the effort to change how energy is used worldwide by helping identify and eliminate barriers to energy efficiency and clean energy technology deployment. The laboratory takes a portfolio approach that explores the full range of technology options for developing and implementing innovative energy performance solutions. The Research Support Facility (RSF) data center is a prime exampleof NREL's capabilities and expertise in energy efficiency. But, more important, its features can be replicated. NREL provides custom technical assistance and training for improved data center performance to help our customers realize cost savings.
The Data Center in the Research Support Facility on the campus of the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) marks a significant accomplishment in its ultra-efficiency. Data centers by nature are very energy intensive. The RSF Data Center was designed to use 80% less energy than NREL's old data center, which had been in use for the last 30 years. This tour takes you through the data center highlighting its energy saving techniques.
Plug and Process Loads (PPLs) are building loads that are not related to general lighting, heating, ventilation, cooling, and water heating, and typically do not provide comfort to the building occupants. PPLs in commercial buildings account for almost 5% of U.S. primary energy consumption. On an individual building level, they account for approximately 25% of the total electrical load in a minimally code-compliant commercial building, and can exceed 50% in an ultra-high efficiency building such as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL) Research Support Facility (RSF) (Lobato et al. 2010). Minimizing these loads is a primary challenge in the design and operation of an energy-efficient building. A complex array of technologies that measure and manage PPLs has emerged in the marketplace. Some fall short of manufacturer performance claims, however. NREL has been actively engaged in developing an evaluation and selection process for PPLs control, and is using this process to evaluate a range of technologies for active PPLs management that will cap RSF plug loads. Using a control strategy to match plug load use to users' required job functions is a huge untapped potential for energy savings.
The Wind Turbine Drivetrain Reliability Collaborative Workshop was convened by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Argonne National Laboratory, and the U.S. Department of Energy to explore the state of the art in wind turbine drivetrain mechanical system reliability as well as research and development (R&D) challenges that if solved could have significant benefits. The workshop was held at the Research Support Facility on NREL's main campus in Golden, Colorado, from February 16-17, 2016. More than 120 attendees participated from industry, academia, and government. Plenary presentations covered wind turbine drivetrain design, testing, and analysis; tribology -- the science and engineering of interacting surfaces in relative motion -- and failure modes; and condition monitoring and data analytics. In addition to the presentations, workshops were held in each of these areas to discuss R&D challenges. This report serves as a summary of the presentations, workshops, and conclusions on R&D challenges in wind turbine drivetrain reliability.