Improved Power Grid Stability and Efficiency with a Building-Energy Cyber-Physical System

This position article outlines some challenges of demand response in the context of the power grid and its interaction with buildings. We describe significant issues in energy-efficient operation of buildings, in particular questions such as system reliability, risk management and environmental impact. We also outline a strategy for the development of new technologies for a cyber-physical infrastructure system that integrates management of smart buildings with management of the power grid. Specific emphasis is given to the interaction of physical and computational processes through sensing, estimation and control.