The U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory and the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop a strategic approach for improving the energy performance of aging buildings at Fermilab Village in Batavia, Illinois.
The collaboration will combine ORNL’s expertise in building science, field testing, sensors, controls and energy modeling with Fermilab’s knowledge of the village’s buildings and operations. MEEA will provide expertise in energy efficiency programs, utility engagement and building retrofit initiatives. Together, the partners will evaluate phased retrofit pathways designed to reduce energy use and operating costs, improve occupant comfort and address the practical challenges of upgrading older structures.
Fermilab Village includes 114 buildings used for housing, laboratories, offices and support functions. Some structures are more than 100 years old, and many were adapted from homes and farm buildings that predate the laboratory. Fermilab has identified 81 buildings as potential candidates for analysis. Previous improvements have focused primarily on heating, ventilation and air conditioning equipment in approximately 30 buildings rather than comprehensive upgrades to building envelopes and other systems.
”The technology demonstrations made possible through this project will allow innovative solutions to be tested and validated here, with the potential for broader deployment across industries and communities throughout the region,” said Fermilab Director Norbert Holtkamp.
Field measurements and energy modeling guide phased building upgrades
Planned work will begin with a review of buildings expected to remain in use. Researchers will classify the buildings by type, size, age, condition, energy performance and building systems, then select representative structures for detailed study. Sensors and meters will be installed to measure indoor temperature and humidity, energy use, and heating, ventilation and air conditioning operation. These measurements would provide a baseline that captures seasonal conditions and current building performance. ORNL researchers will use the field data to develop and calibrate baseline energy models for the buildings. These models will help the team assess each building’s current performance and identify opportunities for improvement at different levels of retrofit.
The models also will estimate potential energy and cost savings from ORNL-developed and commercially available technologies, helping the team determine which solutions to implement and how best to deploy them. Technologies under consideration include building-envelope upgrades, high-performance windows, advanced HVAC systems and controls, and other energy-efficiency measures.
“Fermilab Village gives us a rare opportunity to study aging buildings as part of an interconnected community,” said Robert Wagner, ORNL’s associate laboratory director for Energy Science and Technology. “By pairing field measurements with calibrated energy models, we can help Fermilab compare practical options, understand their costs and benefits, and make informed decisions about improvements that can be implemented over time. The approach could also help other campuses and communities address similar challenges.”
Community-scale analysis explores coordinated energy systems and measurable savings
At the village scale, the team will evaluate future opportunities to coordinate buildings as an integrated energy system. Options could include shared infrastructure, district thermal systems, microgrids, load shifting and controls that coordinate energy use across multiple buildings. Selected strategies could then be demonstrated in representative buildings and evaluated through post-retrofit monitoring.
Measurement and verification will be central to the research. By comparing post-retrofit performance with measured baselines and calibrated simulations, researchers can quantify energy and cost savings, evaluate occupant comfort and indoor conditions, and identify adjustments needed to support long-term performance. ORNL researchers estimate that comprehensive retrofit pathways could reduce energy consumption by more than 40 percent. The estimate is preliminary, and actual savings will depend on field measurements, the measures selected, available funding, operating conditions and the scope of implementation.
“MEEA is excited to partner with ORNL and Fermilab to explore and pilot new technologies that can make aging buildings more energy efficient and comfortable for the people who live and work in them,” said Paige Knutsen, executive director of MEEA. “This project offers a valuable opportunity to connect research and development with real-world applications in the Midwest. We plan to work with our network of member companies across the energy efficiency industry to identify opportunities to leverage utility incentives and collaborate on technology validation and piloting. By connecting national laboratory expertise with our members’ experience, we can help turn promising innovations into practical solutions – advancing MEEA’s mission and helping other Midwest communities improve their buildings, reduce energy costs, and enhance comfort.”
The project is expected to produce a phased strategy identifying near-term measures, medium-term upgrades and longer-term comprehensive retrofits. The approach could also provide a model for other national laboratories, research campuses and communities seeking to improve the performance of diverse aging buildings while maintaining ongoing operations.
The Building Technologies Research and Integration Center at ORNL is a Department of Energy applied energy facility that supports research in grid-flexible solutions, high-performance equipment, building envelopes and industrialized construction, energy storage and multifunctional products, and systems integration. The facility’s capabilities span laboratory testing, field demonstrations and whole-building simulation, enabling researchers to evaluate technologies from early development through real-world validation.
Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory is America’s national laboratory for particle physics and accelerator research. Fermi Forward Discovery Group manages Fermilab for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
The Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance is a collaborative network that promotes energy efficiency to optimize energy generation, reduce consumption and create jobs across Midwestern communities. MEEA serves a 13-state region that includes Ohio, Kentucky, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas.
UT-Battelle manages ORNL for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science, the single largest supporter of basic research in the physical sciences in the United States. The Office of Science is working to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time. For more information, visit energy.gov/science .