Lead Performer: Slipstream Group, Inc. – Madison, Wisconsin
Partner(s):
- Texas A&M University – College Station, Texas
- Society of Building Science Educators
- National Institute of Building Science – Washington, DC
DOE Total Funding: $750,000
FY20 DOE Funding: $750,000
Cost Share: $0
Project Term: Oct. 2021-Sep. 2024
Funding Type: Building Energy Efficiency Frontiers and Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) FOA - 2020
Project Objective
Designing, requires collaboration among building owners, architects, engineers, building energy modelers, builders, utilities, facilities managers, and building operators. However, workforce development and training for smart building technologies are lacking at both the college and professional levels—these technologies evolve very quickly and often involve multiple disciplines.
Traditional engineering programs focus on teaching theories and fundamentals in specific areas like thermodynamics and fluids, load calculations, or mechanical system design. They lack an integrated approach to smart building design that includes elements like sensors and controls, DER integration, load flexibility, and cybersecurity. This integrated view and its components—many of which evolve quickly and often span multiple disciplines—are key competencies for the current and upcoming generations of engineers that will be charged with designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining grid-interactive energy-efficient buildings.
In this project, the team will develop and validate an innovative, module-based curriculum on smart building technologies targeted at students in architectural engineering and other building technology-related programs and equip them with the necessary skills to enter the workforce ready to make an immediate impact. The curriculum will use various tools, including building energy modeling (BEM) and an integrated building energy testbed with a small-scale building automation system, to teach students smart building system design, control, integration, and interactions with DER and the grid. The team will convert some of the content to a format suitable for building professionals pursuing continuing education.
Project Impact
DOE has identified the competencies associated with building system design, control, and DER and grid integration as key education and workforce gaps. This project will create a curriculum that can be adopted by educators nationwide, and that will be useful to students in architectural, construction, mechanical, electrical, and other building related engineering programs as well as to professionals already in the field and looking to update and upgrade their skills.
Contacts
DOE Technology Manager: Madeline Salzman & Amir Roth
Lead Performer: Xiaohui (Joe) Zhou, Slipstream Group, Inc.