LEED Projects In Southern California Adopt Auto DR In DRPP

To test demand response in large commercial and institutional buildings, researchers sent real-time signals and evaluated responses with no operator in the loop. (Image: LBNL)
To test demand response in large commercial and institutional buildings, researchers sent real-time signals and evaluated responses with no operator in the loop. (Image: LBNL)

Posted by Heidi Schwartz

Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), the Demand Response Partnership Program (DRPP) in the Southern California Edison market program is geared toward driving the implementation of Automated Demand Response (Auto DR) in LEED-certified and registered commercial buildings to benefit both the environment and the electric grid. Outreach to LEED projects began in March 2013.

Both LEED existing buildings and new construction projects have registered to participate in Auto DR as a result of the DRPP’s outreach efforts. An example is the Irvine Company’s 520 Newport Center Drive, one of the developer’s premier properties. The project will pursue the Demand Response LEED pilot credit by implementing a fully automated DR solution in the building design. 520 Newport Center Drive is the Irvine Company’s newest commercial office space development in Orange County and is slated for completion in 2014.

“The Irvine Company is committed to playing a role in helping to ensure that our valuable energy resources are kept available for our communities in times of energy high demand. The integration of Automated Demand Response in the design of the 520 Newport Center Drive project via the DRPP with the associated pilot LEED credit will augment our already significant portfolio DR capabilities in Orange County,” stated Rich Bluth, Vice President for Energy Management at the Irvine Company.

“This is what the program was meant to do,” said Brendan Owens, Vice President for LEED Technical Development at USGBC. “Working together, those in the building industry and in the energy industry can find solutions that benefit both sides of the grid and the environment. The leadership shown by the Irvine Company is a perfect example of how it can all come together.”

The DRPP is focused on Auto DR in commercial buildings participating in LEED. In addition to outreach, education and adoption, the DRPP has a robust research agenda that will help utilities, technology providers and commercial buildings better understand and utilize the various benefits of Auto DR. Through the course of this program, information will be collected based on the experiences of LEED projects before, during and after demand response events. USGBC is expected to discuss preliminary findings at the Greenbuild International Conference & Expo this November in Philadelphia, PA.

The DRPP is a collaborative effort that brings together both sides of the grid. Through DRPP, selected utility hosts, along with owners and managers of LEED-registered and certified buildings, will participate in a pilot program that has both action and research components. Participation is open to all parties interested in commercial building adoption of Auto DR.