Smart Grid: Role of ICT in Building Automation and Control

This report addresses a wide spectrum of issues surrounding integration of building automation and control (BA&C) into the Smart Grid. The report concerns only ICT technologies and markets that support such integration, making a “smart” building a reality and bringing multiple benefits for tenants, building owners and society altogether - currently, buildings and homes consume more than 75% of electrical energy in the U.S.; a “green” building can reduce significantly this number. Particular, the report addresses technological and marketing details of: Smart Grid development Wireless Sensor Networks - BA&C heart Self-powered WSN that allow supporting maintenance-free networks ICT and related markets: KNX ZigBee Z-Wave IEEE 802.11 IEEE 802,15,1 UWB HomePlug C&C Distributed Antenna System. The report shows that buildings must be brought to the Smart Grid standards; commercial and industrial buildings are major consumers of the energy. ICTs utilization in the building environment supports the progress towards greener consumption; more than that, they even making possible to use building sources (such as batteries, generators, etc.) to be a part of the Smart Grid.

Additional Information

Research Methodology

Considerable research was done using the Internet. Information from various Web sites was studied and analyzed. Evaluation of publicly available marketing and technical publications was conducted. Telephone conversations and interviews were held with industry analysts, technical experts and executives. In addition to these interviews and primary research, secondary sources were used to develop a more complete mosaic of the market landscape, including industry and trade publications, conferences and seminars.

The overriding objective throughout the work has been to provide valid and relevant information. This has led to a continual review and update of the information content.