University of Houston researchers are partnering with the Harris County Office of County Administration's Sustainability Office, the Harris County Energy Management Team and other county staff to develop a comprehensive baseline of energy use and energy-use intensity for county's assets. Once established, the baseline will enable the team to track progress and evaluate the effectiveness of energy-saving measures over time, laying the groundwork for programs aimed at reducing energy consumption, maximizing savings, and increasing the use of renewable and resilient energy sources in county-owned buildings and operations.
As a first step of this ambitious project, the Harris County Sustainability Team and UH Cullen College of Engineering Associate Professor of Engineering Technology and Electrical and Computer Engineering Jian Shi, Moores Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Zhu Han and UH research intern Xidan "Delia" Zhang, have spent the past year working closely with Harris County energy managers Glen Rhoden and Yas Ahmadi.
"As the Energy University, UH has core strengths in the research and development of carbon neutralization and smart grid technologies," Han said. "This strategic partnership allows us to apply those strengths to real-world challenges, benefiting not only the 4.8 million residents in Harris County but also the broader region."
The team analyzed energy consumption data from hundreds of county facilities and successfully identified key summertime energy-saving opportunities and completed retro-commissioning —an optimization process for existing buildings— of four county buildings. These efforts have already saved over $230,000 annually in electricity costs, with an average simple payback period of two years.
"Over the past two years, Harris County has made significant strides in its energy initiatives, focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing resilience, and achieving cost savings," said Harris County Director of Sustainability Lisa Lin.
What's Next
The team plans to undertake additional building projects, including building automation system upgrades, LED lighting installations and the development of solar energy and heat pump initiatives. These initiatives aim to reduce electricity usage by at least 5% per year for county-owned buildings and operations by 2030 and cut greenhouse gas emissions from county-owned buildings by 50% over the next five years. The success of this project will support other energy-related initiatives, set a precedent for sustainable practices, and advance the county's vision of a resilient and sustainable energy future.
"Addressing climate change and the energy transition requires a collaborative effort that is not only data-driven and action-oriented but also human-centric. It's about more than just technology—it's about improving the quality of life for Texans," said Shi, whose research interests include deep decarbonization of multi-energy power grids, maritime electrification and decarbonization, energy justice and equity, community-based energy systems and smart grid cyber-security.
"This project is a prime example of how impactful research at UH can be when applied to real-world challenges, delivering tangible benefits to both the environment and the communities we serve," he said.
Alex Kemig and Rashda Khan contributed to this story.
