Ongoing assessments

GSA, in collaboration with DOE, selected 17 emerging and sustainable technologies for real-world evaluation in GSA’s real estate portfolio. GSA plans to invest $9.6 million to install and evaluate these technologies as part of a $30 million Inflation Reduction Act investment announced last year to expand the GSA Proving Ground program.

Some of these technologies will be tested at GPG Learning Labs to identify replicable combinations of technologies that help deliver net-zero operational emissions.

Automated Aerosol-Based Duct Sealing [PDF - 192 KB] seals holes and seams in ductwork up to ⅝” with a non-toxic, non-flammable sealant that is aerosolized into 4–10 micron-sized particles and distributed under pressure throughout the duct system.
Building Envelope Remote Sensing Drones [PDF - 202 KB] use infrared sensors to map heat transfer and perform more comprehensive energy audits in less time with fewer costs than manual assessments.
Non-Metalized Window Film [PDF - 201 KB] increases window thermal performance with increased durability, reduced reflectivity, and no cell signal interference. The exterior version is an efficient option even on coated or dual-pane tinted glass.
Secondary Interior Window Framing with Advanced Glazing [PDF - 191 KB] incorporates vacuum-insulated glazing to improve the insulating power of low-performing windows without the expense of replacing the windows themselves. GPG is evaluating two new innovative implementations of secondary windows.
Vacuum-Insulated Glazing [PDF - 190 KB] can replace the glass without having to remove the original framing and uses a 1/2” gas space to simulate insulation properties, improving acoustics and creating a more energy-efficient window.

Digital Energy Demand Management [PDF - 192 KB] integrates with building automation and control systems to provide real-time energy analytics and optimize energy utilization using artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).
Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings (GEBs) [PDF - 190 KB] deliver cost savings by leveraging technologies and strategies that provide continuous demand management and load flexibility. GPG is evaluating four different GEB solutions.
Net Zero Portfolio Analysis and Tracking [PDF - 187 KB] uses AI and building data to rank the potential for retrofits and onsite renewable projects across an entire building portfolio.
Portfolio Carbon Accounting [PDF - 189 KB] provides accurate and real-time carbon emissions data by automatically ingesting, aggregating, and normalizing near-real-time scope 1/2/3 emissions data to create complex building models from advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) streams.

Modular Ice Energy Storage [PDF - 205 KB] is a thermal energy storage (TES) system that has the potential to bring more balance to the grid. By discharging and reducing loads at peak hours, it is estimated that the technology can reduce peak-time cooling loads by up to 95%.
Phase Change Material Ceiling Tile [PDF - 202 KB] provides an opportunity to add thermal mass to any building. The technology promises to reduce costs and energy consumption by lessening HVAC loads and shifting operation away from peak hours.

Battery-Buffered DC Ultra-Rapid Charger [PDF - 190 KB] reduces the impact of EV chargers on the overall power demand of a site or building by using a battery storage system.
Bi-Directional EV Charging [PDF - 205 KB] turns EVs into energy storage assets, increasing resilience and lowering the cost of EV ownership.
Centrally Managed DC Ultra Rapid Charging [PDF - 190 KB] separates charging stations from the power source, enabling more efficient power management and cost reduction through simultaneous or sequential charging.
Modular Charging Station [PDF - 202 KB] combines a 4.3 kW solar array with lithium-ion battery storage and emergency power panels to deliver a grid-independent and transportable energy source.

Biotech IAQ Verification and Energy Assessment [PDF - 203 KB] provides building operators with baseline data to make science-based decisions for operational improvements and cost savings.
Germicidal Ultraviolet (GUV) [PDF - 191 KB] uses next-generation LEDs and far-UV light to disinfect air without increasing ventilation and support healthier buildings while reducing energy use.
Integrated GUV Air Cleaners [PDF - 221 KB] are designed for safety and efficacy and use UV-C light from low-pressure mercury lamps to sterilize air, reducing the spread of airborne pathogens and disease transmission.
IoT Light Exposure Sensors [PDF - 201 KB] track spectral power distribution (SPD), a measure of the energy of a light source at each wavelength of the visible spectrum. SPD data is used to make calculations that can quantify circadian impact and the non-visible effects of light.

Active Power Management [PDF - 205 KB] regulates incoming power and mitigates sags, swells, over voltage, under voltage, and phase imbalance.
Carbon Capture [PDF - 203 KB]collects C02 from boiler flue gas and turns it into potassium carbonate (aka pearl ash) to make fertilizers, soap, and other detergents.
CO2-Based Heat Pump [PDF - 205 KB] promises to increase heating and cooling efficiency by capturing and reusing thermal energy while reducing global warming potential. Using carbon dioxide as the refrigerant, this heat pump can deliver cooling down to -22°F and heating up to 250°F.
Cold Climate Air-to-Liquid Heat Pumps [PDF - 197 KB] transfer heat from the atmosphere to liquid for heating and back to the atmosphere when the building requires cooling. They can be used as a primary heat source or supplement a heat pump that loses efficiency at lower temperatures
HVAC Pretreatment Dehumidification [PDF - 184 KB] controls the building’s humidity level by treating outside air before it enters the HVAC system.
Hydronic Additive [PDF - 202 KB] promises to improve the heat transfer properties of water to reduce energy use in closed-loop HVAC systems.
Tech Spec for Very High-Efficiency HVAC [PDF - 213 KB] separates the heating and cooling function from the ventilation function to optimize the efficiency of each. The technology can help achieve full electrification of buildings without upgrading the existing electrical service.

Internet-of-Things (IoT) Lighting System [PDF - 193 KB] offers three levels of control to provide a future-proof solution, allowing functionality to be added as needs evolve.

Low-Carbon Concrete [PDF - 212 KB] uses rocks or industrial byproducts to replace limestone and an electric-powered pulverization process or electrochemical process rather than kilns and fossil fuels. This technology matches or exceeds the strength of conventionally produced concrete and can be worked with in exactly the same ways.

Building Integrated Photovoltaic Sunshades [PDF - 202 KB] combine the benefits of exterior sun-shading with PV solar energy production, generating onsite power while reducing solar heat gain.
DC Microgrid [PDF - 188 KB] connects on-site energy generation and storage devices to direct current (DC) loads, eliminating conversion losses and optimizing the efficiency of on-site power.
Modular Vertically Integrated Microgrids [PDF - 191 KB] address some of the challenges that have prohibited widespread adoption of microgrid infrastructure, provide a scalable solution to power distribution, are contained in weatherproof enclosures, and can be implemented in any climate condition.
Modular PV and Storage System [PDF - 187 KB] is a DC-coupled infrastructure that extends rooftop solar PV projects and offers the potential to expand grid resiliency.
Precise Geothermal Drilling [PDF - 202 KB] optimizes a ground loop heat exchanger design to reduce space requirements and uses smaller than standard drill rigs, requiring only a 10 ft vertical clearance.
Roof Edge Mounted Wind Turbines [PDF - 187 KB] employ spoiler technology that shapes the airflow closest to the roof, which is naturally faster at the edge. Airfoils on the turbines passively increase wind speed, maximizing energy production.
Single-Axis Solar PV Tracker [PDF - 203 KB]promises to increase commercial rooftop solar photovoltaic production by adapting a proven utility tracking technology with a new low-profile rocker design that reduces friction, motor size, and the cost of sun-tracking.

The Center for Emerging Building Technologies’ programs: GSA Proving Ground, Learning Labs, and Pilot to Portfolio enable GSA to make sound investment decisions in next-generation building technologies based on their real-world performance.

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Ongoing assessments

Building envelope

Energy management and reporting

Energy storage

Electric vechicle supply equipment

Healthy buildings

HVAC

Lighting

Materials

On-site power and renewables

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