Energy systems management and greenhouse gas reduction

The efficient use of energy reduces both energy costs and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and the mix of energy sources can also affect GHG emissions. In the United States, the building sector comprises about one third of GHG emissions [1], presenting an attractive opportunity for utilizing advanced design, operation and control strategies to minimize energy consumption and emissions while optimizing overall system performance through the implementation of cogeneration, heat recovery, adaptive controls and other advanced techniques. This paper presents an approach for controlling GHG emissions and energy consumption through improved communication between energy consumers and suppliers, and advanced energy management systems. A specific example involving cogeneration is detailed to demonstrate the concept.