Pilot Program Aims to Turn Chicago Office Buildings into a Virtual Generator

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Chicago's Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA/Chicago), the Korean Smart Grid Association and two of South Korea's largest energy and technology companies will use city office buildings to create a virtual generator to achieve more effective energy management and save on energy costs. The pilot program is said to be the first of its kind in the country. The commercial Smart Grid program is part of a larger initiative involving BOMA/Chicago, The Illinois Science and Technology Coalition, the Korean Smart Grid Association and the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) to support Smart Grid installations in Chicago commercial and residential buildings. The program will be financed by a coalition of private technology companies associated with the Korean Smart Grid Association that are known for their Smart Grid technologies and expertise. The commercial pilot program will use technologies such as smart meters, variable speed drives and digital controls to achieve the goals of more effective electricity consumption, cost savings and demand response program revenues. "This will be the first-ever test of the ability of large commercial and residential buildings to effectively aggregate their efforts in a large-scale demand response program. The success of the program will show that a green virtual generator can be created through these collaborative efforts, eliminating the need to build yet another expensive generating facility," said BOMA/Chicago Executive VP Michael Cornicelli.

Quick Take: This is an interesting coalition and an even more interesting concentration of Smart Grid components, including technologies, conservation-oriented management and demand response.

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