Thursday, May 8th, 2025 | 12PM-1PM | EEI Conference Room
Ovais Khan, EEI Graduate Researcher
Christy Green, WCEC R&D Engineer
Join us on May 8th at EEI for our Energy Bites lunch and a talk featuring two of our energy researchers sharing their latest work!
Advancing Demand Flexibility in Cold Storage with Predictive Algorithms
Ovais Khan, EEI Graduate Researcher
Cold storage facilities are energy-intensive operations with significant potential for load flexibility. This presentation explores an integrated approach that leverages machine learning to forecast temperature dynamics and model predictive control to optimize compressor operations in real time—minimizing energy costs, maximizing demand response capability, and ensuring product quality.
Ovais Khan is a mechanical engineer and Energy Graduate Group alumnus, where he earned his Master of Science in Energy Systems as a Fulbright Scholar. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from NED University of Engineering and Technology in Pakistan. His research focuses on industrial decarbonization, with an emphasis on energy optimization tools and facility-level emissions reduction strategies. Before graduate school, he worked in the petrochemical and energy sectors as a project and mechanical engineer.
Evaluating VRF Performance in Office Buildings Nationwide
Christy Green, WCEC R&D Engineer
This presentation evaluates the greenhouse gas emissions and cost-effectiveness of variable refrigerant flow (VRF) heat pump systems in medium office buildings across six U.S. regions. Using EnergyPlus simulations and regional emissions data, the study compares VRF systems to traditional RTU VAV systems, revealing both the emissions reduction potential and the refrigerant-related trade-offs that can offset those gains—especially in cooling-dominant climates.
Christy Green is a Research and Development Engineer at the Western Cooling Efficiency Center. She holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, where her research focused on residential demand response and electric load disaggregation. Her work explores technologies for load flexibility, building energy modeling, and data-driven approaches to thermal systems modeling.
Lunch is provided for those that attend in-person! Please register in advance so we have an accurate head count.
