--- title: Building Energy Systems description: Overview of Fraunhofer CMI building energy systems R&D and latest news. --- [![cmi-usa](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/hubfs/cmi-usa.svg "cmi-usa")](https://55819.hs-sites.com/cmi-home.html?hsLang=en) [![subtext-2](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/hs-fs/hubfs/subtext-2.png?width=660&height=42&name=subtext-2.png "subtext-2")](http://cmi.fraunhofer.org) - [Fraunhofer USA](http://www.fraunhofer.org) - [![](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/hs-fs/hubfs/boston_univ_rgb.gif?width=67&height=30&name=boston_univ_rgb.gif)](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/en/about-us/boston-university.html?hsLang=en) - [DOING BUSINESS WITH US](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/en/about-us/Doing-business-with-us.html?hsLang=en) - [PROJECTS](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/en/services/projects-our-work.html?hsLang=en) - [CAREERS](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/en/about-us/career.html?hsLang=en) - [About Us](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/en/about-us.html) - [Mission](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/en/about-us/Mission.html) - [Business Model](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/en/about-us/business-model.html) - [Leadership](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/en/about-us/leadership.html) - [Fraunhofer Network](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/en/about-us/fraunhofer-network.html) - [Boston University](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/en/about-us/boston-university.html) - [Facilities](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/en/about-us/Facilities.html) - [Careers](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/en/about-us/career.html) - [Services](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/en/services.html) - [Custom Automation Systems](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/en/services/custom-automation-systems.html) - [Energy Systems](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/en/services/energy-systems.html) - [Biomedical Instruments and Devices](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/en/services/biomedical-instruments-and-devices.html) - [Process Management and Consulting](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/en/services/process-management-and-consulting.html) - [Industries](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/en/Industries.html) - [Publications](https://www.fraunhofer.org/en/media/publications-and-annual-reports1.html) - [News](https://www.fraunhofer.org/en/media/press.html) - [Contact](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/en/contact.html) ## Building Energy Systems ![icon.3.png](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Expertise/BEM%20icon.png?width=147&height=120&name=BEM%20icon.png) Fraunhofer CSE's Building Energy Systems group performs applied R&D to provide insights into the energy performance of building systems and develop new energy-saving technologies and practices. Our interdisciplinary team has expertise in several core disciplines, including field monitoring, data analytics, behavioral analysis, energy modeling, and thermal and fluid science. We create project teams tailored to the specific needs of each project to effectively and efficiently deliver for our clients. We: - Test, demonstrate, and evaluate the performance of emerging building technologies in the field - Develop building performance assessment and control algorithms - Evaluate the impact of people and behaviors on energy consumption - Characterize building energy consumption to inform policy decisions - Assess building technologies to identify high-impact opportunities #### Selected Projects - **[SHINES and SunDial](http://www.cse.fraunhofer.org/shines)** - **[Home Energy Assessments ](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/building-energy/communicating-thermostats-to-scale-home-energy-assessments?hsLang=en)[Using Communicating Thermostats ](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/building-energy/communicating-thermostats-to-scale-home-energy-assessments?hsLang=en)** - **[COOLNOMIX® Validation](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/building-energy/coolnomix-validation?hsLang=en)** - **[Human Error Probability in Electric Grid Operations](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/building-energy/human-error-probability-in-electric-grid-operation?hsLang=en)** - **[NSF CRISP - How Society Interacts With Electricity](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/building-energy/nsf-crisp-controls-approach?hsLang=en)** - **[Non-Intrusive Load Monitoring](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/building-energy/non-intrusive-load-monitoring?hsLang=en)** - **[Net-Zero Solar Energy Elevator Demonstration](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/building-energy/net-zero-solar-energy-elevator-demo?hsLang=en)** - **[Energy Consumption of Consumer Electronics](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/building-energy/energy-consumption-of-consumer-electronics?hsLang=en)** - **[Behavioral Strategies for Programmable Thermostats in Affordable Housing](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/building-energy/nyserda-behavioral-strategies-with-programmable-thermostats-in-affordable-housing?hsLang=en)** ### Recent Building Energy Systems News #### [Energy Storage Networks: The Executive Director of Fraunhofer CSE talks research, renewables & energy storage.](https://www.energystoragenetworks.com/the-executive-director-of-fraunhofer-cse-talks-research-renewables-energy-storage/) Froese, M., Hoepfner, C., WTWH Media, August 31, 2018. In this episode of Energy Works we speak with Dr. Christian Hoepfner, the Executive Director of the Fraunhofer Center... [Read More](https://www.energystoragenetworks.com/the-executive-director-of-fraunhofer-cse-talks-research-renewables-energy-storage/) #### [A Smart Grid Today podcast with Christian Hoepfner .](https://www.smartgridtoday.com/public/Christian-Hoepfner-of-Fraunhofer-CSE.cfm) Spencer, S., Hoepfner, C., Smart Grid Today, August 22, 2018. Let me start out with (…) SHINES SunDial. The idea is two-fold: How can we reduce the size of the electrical battery,... [Read More](https://www.smartgridtoday.com/public/Christian-Hoepfner-of-Fraunhofer-CSE.cfm) ### Upcoming Events ### Latest Presentations & Publications #### [Residential retrofits at scale: opportunity identification, saving estimation, and personalized messaging based on communicating thermostat data](https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-019-09797-9) Zeifman, M., Lazrak, A., Roth, K. (2019). In: Energy Efficiency. : Springer, pp. 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12053-019-09797-9 #### [Gas Demand Response: The Next Frontier.](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/hubfs/Fraunhofer-GasDR-GlobalCon-FINAL-updated.pdf?hsLang=en) Roth, K. - March 21, 2019. [*AEE East Energy Conference*](https://east.aeecenter.org/). AEE. Hynes Convention Center, Boston, MA. #### [New trends in solar: A comparative study assessing attitudes towards the adoption of rooftop solar](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421518308437) Abreu, J., Wingartz, N., Hardy, N. (2019). In: Elsevier - Energy Policy. 128 : Elsevier, pp. 347-363. The factors affecting the adoption of conventional solar PV have been broadly addressed in the recent literature.... [Read More](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/hubfs/Elsevier-New%20Trends%20in%20Solar-Abreu-2018.pdf?hsLang=en) ### Lab and Testing Facilities The Building Energy Systems group conducts field testing in occupied commercial and residential buildings across the U.S. We also perform behavioral testing and data acquisition development in the Center headquarters in Boston, and have access to Fraunhofer’s outdoor testing capabilities in Albuquerque, New Mexico and Revere, MA. **[Our Research Facilities](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/research-facilities?tab=building_energy&hsLang=en)** ##### Partnerships Fraunhofer CSE partners with a wide-array of leading governmental, industry, academic and research institutions around the world. **[Our Partners](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/partners?hsLang=en)** #### Building Energy Systems Links - **Building Energy Systems** - **[Areas of Research](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/building-energy/areas-of-research?hsLang=en)** - **[Presentations](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/building-energy/presentations?hsLang=en)** - **[Publications](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/building-energy/publications?hsLang=en)** #### Contact [![roth1.jpg](https://www.cmi.fraunhofer.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Staff_Photos/KRoth-1.png?width=200&height=200&name=KRoth-1.png)](http://www.cse.fraunhofer.org/people/kroth) ##### [Kurt Roth, Ph.D.](http://www.cse.fraunhofer.org/people/kroth) Director, Building Energy Systems Office +1 (617) 575-7256 [email](mailto:kroth@cse.fraunhofer.org) - QUICK LINKS - [Contact](http://www.cse.fraunhofer.org/contact) - [Fraunhofer USA](http://www.fraunhofer.org) - [Fraunhofer ISE](https://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/en.html) - [Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft](http://www.fraunhofer.de/en.html) - © 2026 Fraunhofer USA - [Site map](http://www.cse.fraunhofer.org/site-map) - [Intranet](http://www.fraunhofer.org/en/fraunhofer-usa-file-share-.html) - [Terms of Service](http://www.fraunhofer.org/en/publishing-notes.html) - [Data Protection](https://www.cse.fraunhofer.org/dataprotection)