UNLV Project Description
None
U.S. Department of Energy
This project demonstrates dramatic reduction in residential new construction through distributed generation, distributed energy storage, energy efficiency, direct control and price-responsive control. In cooperation with a nationally recognized home builder, a green field development of 185 homes has been built in which each home was designed for optimal energy efficiency and electrically metered with the most advanced technology available. Efficiency improvement over conventionally designed homes has exceeded 45% and the goal of 65% efficiency is expected when storage batteries are adopted by home owners. The multi-faceted approach to effective and efficient electricity use includes solar photovoltaic systems, direct and price-responsive control and peak reduction strategies. Most importantly, UNLV is directing this development along with the local utility with cutting edge metering and communication technologies to assess the cooperative behavior of residences in the goal of electricity conservation. An ???Intelligent Agent?? software has been developed to integrate Internet and communications with home owners that weaves customer preferences into the energy savings strategy in a way to that is intended to excite and engage residential customers in the management process.
