Research

Integrated Design

Research conducted at the IDEAL will incorporate a broad range of building design concepts and construction technologies. This will include using the latest design and analysis tools being developed at NREL, such as OpenStudio and the Building Component Library, to advance the high performance building industry. Here at the IDEAL, we recognize that making more sustainable buildings goes beyond initial design and construction and requires focusing on the long-term operation. IDEAL work focuses on operation and controls, fault detection, and energy analytics. The IDEAL aims to ally with building operators to form a clear understanding of how buildings are designed and operated presently, and how they can be improved in the future to meet a growing demand for sustainability.

Member Input

Founding members of the IDEAL will help outline research and development direction semiannually at member conferences. Producing impactful approaches and solutions for the building industry is the first and foremost goal of the IDEAL, and by working with member companies, research can be directed toward the technologies and approaches that are most effective and efficient.