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Plug and process loads (PPLs) in commercial buildings account for almost 5% of U.S. primary energy consumption. Minimizing these loads is a primary challenge in the design and operation of an energy-efficient building. PPLs are not related to general lighting, heating, ventilation, cooling, and water heating, and typically do not provide comfort to the occupants. They use an increasingly large fraction of the building energy use pie because the number and variety of electrical devices have increased along with building system efficiency. Reducing PPLs is difficult because energy efficiency opportunities and the equipment needed to address PPL energy use in office spaces are poorly understood.

This report discusses miscellaneous electrical loads, which are building loads that are not related to general lighting, heating, ventilation, cooling, and water heating, and typically do not provide comfort to the occupants. MELs in commercial buildings account for almost 5% of U.S. primary energy consumption.

In typical computer centers you can feel the energy consumption from racks of servers radiating heat, while icy air blows through the room to cool them. NREL’s fully contained hot and cold aisle data center configuration minimizes this problem. The configuration includes effective air-side economizer cooling with an evaporative boost when needed.

This document highlights the key accomplishments in Green IT of the 17 DOE labs.