Energy Storage-Ready Residential Design and Construction
SEAC is getting ready to publish a guidance document addressing ways to plan for energy storage system integration into the new home construction process. Request your copy now.
Are you a builder or an architect looking for ways to integrate energy storage systems into your projects?
Energy storage systems (ESS) are becoming a necessary component of modern life. They provide a reliable source of backup power and give residents more control over energy usage. But retrofitting homes with ESS can be costly and complicated due to space requirements, replacement of existing equipment, and other considerations.
To avoid passing unnecessary costs to future homeowners, builders should consider energy storage-ready construction to enable the simple addition of energy storage and mitigate the replacement of serviceable equipment.
Energy storage readiness simply means providing space during construction for the placement of energy storage, control, and electrical interconnection components, such as batteries, inverters, conduits, and raceways. This equipment allows for future wiring to be connected from an electric service panel board to the energy storage space and to probable locations for photovoltaic panels and other renewable energy equipment.
SEAC’s Storage Snapshot Working Group has put together a document on how to make new construction energy storage ready and how to make retrofitting energy storage more cost effective.
It provides practical suggestions for integrating ESS with conventional electrical services in single-family houses and townhomes. Some of the key concepts discussed include:
- Factors to consider in ESS design
- Location and space considerations for ESS
- Accomplishing ESS interconnection
Combining input from manufacturers, contractors, industry professionals, and fire safety officials, the document is a non-technical guide meant for architects and contractors doing new constructions or renovations. SEAC plans to publish the document soon.
SEAC makes this information publicly accessible to anyone who fills in the download form on this page. Your privacy is important to us. We do not sell or share your personal data.
This material is based upon work supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) under the Solar Energy and Technologies Office Award Number DE-EE0009001.0000. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the U.S. Department of Energy or the United States Government.
