Plug and process loads consume about 47% of primary energy in U.S. commercial buildings, according to the DOE. Plug and process loads refer to energy used by equipment plugged into an outlet. In minimally code-compliant office buildings, plug loads may account for up to 25% of total energy consumption. But plug loads may account for more than 50% of the total energy consumption in highly-efficient buildings. This presentation will focus on the lessons learned by HARC optimizing and managing its plug load consumption to minimize costs and decarbonize building operations.
Speaker: Carlos Gamarra, HARC Sr. Research Scientist in Clean Energy Technology at the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC)