Automated Commissioning and Diagnostics. Development and demonstration of technologies that automatically and continually ensure the high performance of building systems and avoid wasted energy by alerting building operators to the problems that arise and directing them toward their solution.

Advanced Load Management and Control. Development and demonstrations of advanced load management and control strategies to minimize use of energy and electric peak-load capacity while maintaining and increasing occupant comfort and productivity by assuring the quality of services, such as fresh air, lighting quality, and amenity from equipment and appliances.

Alternative Cooling Technologies and Strategies. Development and demonstration of technologies for space cooling that reduce energy consumption and peak electrical demand in California’s growth areas by reducing the need for cooling, drastically reducing cooling delivery-system losses, substituting electricity with natural gas-powered cooling equipment, and increasing the efficiency of electric-powered cooling equipment.

Alternative Construction Technologies. Development and demonstration of new model design specifications for modular schools and classrooms, as an example of multi-function small- to medium-scale commercial buildings with increased energy efficiency and make use of daylighting and, potentially building integrated photovoltaics (whose benefits are also being measured and quantified by this element).

The Technical Assessment element cuts across all these technologies to help target this research and guide future research as to usefulness and market-transformation efforts. It will produce market assessments, surveys, technical potential, and penetration estimates for each technology element, as well as the synergistic combination of them, to determine the impacts of, and barriers to, these new technologies in California buildings, climates, and markets.