Smart Campus Energy Systems

Stanford’s campus offers a unique opportunity to conduct real-world research on building energy efficiency, flexible operations, and system-wide optimization. In collaboration with Sustainability Utilities Infrastructure (SUI), the Benson Lab leads efforts to develop data-driven strategies for managing and optimizing energy demand across campus buildings. 

Two major research initiatives form the foundation of this work:

• COOLER focuses on enabling proactive demand response and improved chilled water management through building-level and zone-level control strategies.
• SEEKER investigates how a small number of zones within buildings disproportionately drive cooling demand and how targeted interventions can reduce energy use without affecting comfort.

Together, these projects support a broader goal: to develop data-driven, scalable approaches for optimizing energy systems on campus, positioning Stanford as a living lab for smart, resilient building operations.