Researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have created comprehensive data sets designed to estimate the energy consumption of any building in the contiguous United States by the year 2100.
These valuable resources offer planners crucial insights for anticipating how climate change will impact future energy needs.
Utilizing Historical Data and Future Projections
By focusing on existing buildings, the ORNL team meticulously analyzed energy use and weather records dating back to 1980.
They identified months with the most representative weather patterns and integrated this historical data with future projections from the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC).
The projections encompass four potential levels of atmospheric warming and four policy scenarios, considering factors like population and economic growth.
County-Level Insights and Visualization Tool
The resulting county-specific weather data, accessible through a free visualization tool, enables the prediction of a building’s energy use with remarkable precision, down to the day and hour.
This granular information empowers stakeholders to make informed decisions regarding future energy planning and infrastructure development.
Broad Applications and Unexpected Uptake
Although the data was only recently made public, ORNL project lead Joshua New reports that it has already exceeded expectations in terms of usage.
Power companies are leveraging the data to forecast future electricity demand, cities are utilizing it to develop climate-resilient building codes, and architects are incorporating the insights into the design of sustainable buildings.
The widespread adoption of this data highlights the growing recognition of the need for climate-conscious energy planning and the value of ORNL’s research in addressing this critical issue.