Author Description

Energy use in buildings depends on a combination of good architecture and energy systems design and on effective operations and maintenance once the building is occupied. It should also be understood that different climates probably require different designs and equipment, and that the performance and value of any component technology depends on the system in which it is embedded. The primary purposes of building energy management are the reduction/management of building energy use; the reduction of electricity bills while increasing occupant comfort and productivity; and the improvement of environmental stewardship without adversely affecting standards of living. Building energy management systems provide a centralized platform for managing building energy usage. Since buildings consume a large fraction of the output of electric utilities, they can greatly impact utility operations. Specifically, buildings' ability to shift energy demand away from peak periods, such as on hot summer afternoons, can greatly reduce both cost and GHG emissions by allowing utilities to reduce the need for their least efficient and most polluting power plants. Coordinating building energy systems, on-site generation, and energy storage with other buildings and the utility can lower overall costs, decrease GHG emissions, and increase system-wide reliability.Energy Harvesting Technologies in Buildings presents the state of the art studies of the application of energy harvesting in commercial and residential buildings. Electromagnetic, kinetic, thermal and airflow-based energy sources are well-known as potential energy sources within buildings and the available energy is measured in a range of buildings. It presents insights into the high potential of energy harvesting technology in buildings and the relative attractions of various harvester technologies looking at the future of energy harvesting in buildings.