The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has released a guide covering the critical role of grid interactivity in the decarbonization process. With a focus on commercial and multifamily buildings, the guide offers information on maximizing carbon reduction through buildings’ interaction with the electric power grid.

The guide is the second in a series developed by the ASHRAE Task Force for Building Decarbonization (TFBD) and includes best practices, design considerations, and operational guidelines to target the three primary value streams of grid integration, including:

• Reduced Carbon Emissions: Learn how to make significant contributions to reducing carbon emissions through smart building-grid interaction.
• Cost Savings: Discover strategies to optimize energy usage and save on operational costs.
• Resiliency: Enhance your building's ability to withstand and adapt to changing grid conditions, ensuring uninterrupted operations.

"Grid-interactive buildings actively engage with the energy grid. They utilize smart technologies, renewable energy sources, and energy storage systems to optimize energy consumption and generation. This allows them to respond in real-time to grid signals, thereby reducing overall demand and GHG emissions," said ASHRAE TFBD chair Kent Peterson. "Integrating buildings with the electrical grid is a critical component in the decarbonization process. It's an emerging focus for building professionals, and ASHRAE is thrilled to provide new guidance as we collectively work towards a more sustainable, resilient, and energy-efficient built environment."

Access more information in the fact sheet on ASHRAE’s website.