The Most Efficient Buildings

of the Future

Tucson, Ariz., October 12, 2016

Michael DeruManager — Systems Performance, Commercial Buildings Research Group

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Disclaimer

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• This presentation is not an exhaustive list of future building and HVAC technologies

• Opinions are the view of the author

What Will Efficient Buildings of the Future Look Like?

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What Is an Efficient Building?

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• Energy efficient: zero?

• Water efficient

• Material efficient

• Low emissions/low waste

• Resilient

• Durable

• Flexible

• Healthy

• Productive

• Happy place

What Is Shaping the Future of Energy Use in Buildings and HVAC?

Climate change

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Energy/utility structure changes

Need demand-limiting anddemand-increase capabilities!

What Is Shaping the Future of Energy Use in Buildings and HVAC? (2)

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• Water scarcity (evaporative cooling vs. power plant water consumption)

• Interconnectivity and IoT

• Demand for increased productivity and flexibility

• Changing work force with changing demands

• Increased world demand for cooling

What Changes Will We See in HVAC?

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• Higher efficiency

• Low-GWP refrigerants

• Non-vapor-compressor based cooling

• Flexible and intelligent operation

• Storage (building or integrated)

Why Should We Care About HVAC?

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• HVAC accounts for 4% of global building site energy consumption

• Stationary HVAC accounts for 700 MMTCO2e annually (74% as indirect and 26% as direct)

• The IEA projects that the global demand for AC in 2050 will be 4.5 times that of 2010

What’s Happening Now With HVAC?

• Raising the bar on efficiency

– RTU challenge (2012) – 18 IEER

– New DOE ruling

– Higher CEE and ENERGY STAR levels

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Step 1: Challenge manufacturers to develop innovative, efficient

rooftop units

Step 2: Prove new technologies work in real-world settings

Step 3: Encourage widespread adoption through industry partnerships

Step 4: Lock In massive energy savings with historic efficiency standard

• Increased deployment

– Advanced RTU campaign

– Efficiency programs

• Improved controls and AFDD

– Advanced RTU control retrofits

– Title 24 AFDD requirements

What Improvements Will We See in the Next 3–5 Years?

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• Higher efficiency – continued incremental improvements

• More intelligence – AFDD

• More connectivity – watch out for security!

• Alternative refrigerants

Advanced Vapor-Compression Technologies Under Development

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Technology Expected Timeline

High-performance air cycle heat pump Medium-term (2019–2023)

Low-GWP AC system with ultra-small centrifugalcompressor Medium-term (2019–2023)

High-efficiency, low-GWP compressor Medium-term (2019–2023)

Cold-climate heat pumps Near-term (2017–2019)

Commercial gas-engine heat pump Commercially available

Source: DOE (2016). The Future of Air Conditioning for Buildings

http://energy.gov/eere/buildings/downloads/future-air-conditioning-buildings-report

Unproven with technical and market hurdles!

Advanced Non-Vapor-Compression Technologies Under Development

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Technology Expected Timeline

Absorption / Adsorption (thermally driven heat pumps) Near-term (2017–2019)

Magnetocaloric Medium-term (2019–2023)

Membrane (vacuum-driven dehumidification) Medium-term (2019–2023)

Electrochemical compression (membrane-based with water) Medium-term (2019–2023)

Elastocaloric (shape memory alloy-based heat pump) Long-term (2023→)

Electrocaloric Long-term (2023→)

Source: DOE (2016). The Future of Air Conditioning for Buildings

http://energy.gov/eere/buildings/downloads/future-air-conditioning-buildings-report

Unproven with technical and market hurdles!

New Liquid Desiccant Technologies – (1)

AIL Research

• Liquid Desiccant DX (LDDX)

• Combines liquid desiccants with a DX AC unit

• Same efficiency as a conventional DX unit

• Twice the moisture removal capacity

• DOD testing underway

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New Liquid Desiccant Technologies – (2)

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7AC Technologies

• Combines liquid desiccants with a DX water chiller

• Membrane-based liquid desiccant heat exchangers (LDHX)

• Testing in Saudi Arabia

New Liquid Desiccant Technologies – (3)

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Be Power

• BeCool 10

• Fuel cell-powered combined heat and power (CHP) system

• At least two years from market

Energy Storage Technologies – (1)

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Intelligent building thermal storage– Smart control of HVAC for load shifting and energy savings(?)

• QCoefficient

– Whole building optimized energy model to control temperature setpoints

• BuildingIQ

– Regression model of building performance to control temperature setpoints

Energy Storage Technologies (2)

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HVAC Thermal Energy Storage

• Traditional TES

– Ice

– Chilled water

– Hot water

• Liquid desiccant

– Dehumidification potential

• NETenergy

– Phase change material

– Small packaged HVAC

– Advantages over ice

• Tunable phase change temperature

• Faster charge and discharge

Additional Technologies

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• Higher-efficiency motors

– Electronically commutated motors (ECMs)

– Switched reluctance motors – Software Motor Corporation

• Higher efficiency with no rare Earth metals

• Ground source heat pumps

• Solar-driven heating and cooling

• Gas-driven heat pumps

• Air cleaning technologies

– enVerid, CO2 scrubber

Additional Considerations for Energy-Efficient Buildings

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• Reduced loads through integrated low-energy design– Continued reduction in lighting

– Reduced plug loads

– Tighter envelopes

– Better windows/dynamic windows

– DOAS with radiant

• Increased loads – higher occupancy density and/or bigger data centers?

• Lower sensible heat ratios

• Ventilation loads may go up or down

• Increased attention to IAQ

• Personal conditioning

• All electric – easier to show zero energy and zero emissions

Questions?

DISCLAIMER

Although all statements and information contained herein are believed to be accurate and reliable, they are presented without guarantee or warranty of any kind, expressed or

implied. Information provided herein does not relieve the user from the responsibility of carrying out its own tests and experiments, and the user assumes all risks and liability for

use of the information and results obtained. Statements or suggestions concerning the use of materials and processes are made without representation or warranty that any such

use is free of patent infringement and are not recommendations to infringe on any patents. The user should not assume that all toxicity data and safety measures are indicated

herein or that other measures may not be required.

Thank You!

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