The U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Office has announced a funding opportunity for $3 million to fund up to three awards to develop an open source software solution for building automation systems (BASs) for small (less than 5,000 square feet ) to medium-sized (between 5,000 and 50,000 square feet) commercial buildings.
Energy consumption in small- to medium-sized buildings is primarily caused by the electrical loads of heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems; lighting systems; and miscellaneous plugs loads. Although typically absent from small- and medium-sized buildings, significant efficiency gains can be captured through the implementation of “turnkey” BASs in these building types.
In designing the BAS, proposals must address how it will be tested on a thermostat, a lighting controller and a general purpose controller. The BAS should include the following components:
- An open source architecture platform developed and tested initially at the lab scale and then in demonstration buildings; this will also require parallel development of three plug-and-play devices to demonstrate functionality of the platform.
- A user-interface that showcases the open source architecture platform.
- At least three software tools (“apps”) that are accessible through the user-interface and provide the capabilities for control system set-up, system status display and control system point auto-mapping.
U.S.-based applicants with multidisciplinary teams between software developers, controls/hardware/device experts and building managers/owners are encouraged to apply. To have an application considered for this award, applicants must send a concept paper no later than April 22, 2013. Deadlines are as follows:
- Concept Paper Submission Deadline: April 22, 2013 5 P.M. ET
- Full Application Submission Deadline: June 24, 2013 5 P.M. ET
The award is presented as a three-phased, three-year initiative with formal funding decision criteria between each phase. It is expected that at the completion of the third year, the project(s) will have led to a market-ready software solution available for public release and download.
More information about the Emerging Technologies program is available on the Building Technologies Office website.