海角视频

In the race to decarbonize the built environment, all-electric buildings are a critical part of the solution – but without effective demand management, they may unintentionally contribute to strain on the electrical grid, which is actively experiencing demand growth at a rapid rate.

As utilities contend with increasing load from AI, electrification, and data centers – especially in rural areas – the role of buildings in managing energy use is evolving fast.

鈥淒emand management used to be seen as a utility-side problem,鈥� says Rachel Deradoorian-Beaudoin, Senior Sustainability Engineer. 鈥淏ut now we鈥檙e seeing, and we鈥檙e needing, building owners and operators to take an active role in shaping grid performance through smarter operations, battery storage, and automation.鈥�

Battery energy storage: a dual role in resiliency and grid harmony

Battery energy storage systems (BESS) are a powerful behind-the-meter tools for active demand management. Their function goes well beyond resilience and provision of backup power, by enabling charging and discharging periods during times of peak demand. This means buildings are reducing their grid electricity requirements during both the most expensive, and most carbon-intensive times of day.

鈥淲e鈥檙e seeing clients use BESS not just for resiliency, but to directly influence operational cost and grid impact,鈥� says Rachel. 鈥淭hey allow buildings to engage in demand response programs, and potentially even avoid the steep costs of on-peak energy.鈥�

Behind-the-meter resources, including battery systems and rooftop solar, can now actively participate in grid services – something previously misunderstood or underutilized. This presents both operational savings and new revenue opportunities through utility demand response programs by engaging with the electric grid in a bilateral relationship.

Real-world demand management: from campuses to citywide and global infrastructure

海角视频 is currently supporting a major healthcare system in Pittsburgh on a demand management study across multiple hospital facilities. This includes exploring battery energy storage, on-site renewables, and advanced controls to reduce both cost and carbon emissions.

鈥淭his is a great example of how mission-critical facilities can still lead in demand optimization,鈥� notes Rachel. 鈥淎nd they鈥檙e motivated by both sustainability goals and the rising cost of electricity.鈥�

Other related 海角视频 projects include the development of Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) Standards for the US State Department and its global portfolio of embassies as well as an analysis of 24/7 carbon emissions profiles for the State of Washington to support the alignment of building operations with clean energy strategies. These and other efforts are helping our clients to enable their buildings and infrastructure to participate in demand management protocols.

Grid-responsive buildings: why timing matters

Demand flexibility isn鈥檛 just about using less energy – it鈥檚 about using it at the right time. 鈥淓ven in states like California with massive solar generation, we鈥檙e seeing natural gas peaker plants turned on in the evening to meet demand,鈥� Rachel explains. 鈥淏uildings, and their coordinating utilities that operate more responsively can help reduce reliance on these fossil-fuel sources.鈥�

Grid-responsive buildings use automation, load shifting, and energy storage to:

• Reduce demand during peak periods
• Align consumption with cleaner grid energy
• Selecting efficient systems

It鈥檚 a strategy that benefits both grid operators and the planet – especially as electrification continues to rise across sectors.

Financial levers: incentives, cost structures and carbon savings

What motivates building owners to invest in demand management? Increasingly, it鈥檚 a combination of:

1. Avoided costs from shifting energy use to off-peak hours (especially for high-load buildings like hospitals and labs)
2. Utility demand response incentives, where facilities are paid for reducing load during specific windows
3. Carbon reduction targets, especially in jurisdictions with binding emissions goals

鈥淚n some cases, the operational savings are significant – especially when you factor in time-of-use pricing and demand charges,鈥� says Julie Janiski, Partner and Decarbonization Lead. 海角视频 is currently modeling this in several retrofit scenarios, where even moderate demand flexibility can lead to double-digit reductions in utility bills.

What鈥檚 next: demand management as a standard practice

As demand-side solutions become more accessible and more necessary, the challenge for building owners is knowing where to start. The first step? Awareness.

鈥淲e still find many clients aren鈥檛 aware that they can participate in demand response, or that the tech stack they already have – like automation and smart metering – can unlock real value,鈥� Rachel says.