Meet FLEXLAB, the world’s most advanced energy efficiency test bed for buildings. US Department of Energy Deputy Secretary Daniel Poneman officially christened the center Thursday at Berkeley Lab with a cast of star real estate players looking on. FLEXLAB is a testing ground for developing new, energy-efficient and low-carbon building technologies. Nearly 40% of all energy and over two-thirds of all electricity consumed in the US goes to operate commercial, industrial and residential buildings, notes Daniel. To power those buildings, Americans spend more than $400B every year. The University of California, which manages Berkeley Lab for the DOE, will use FLEXLAB to help reach its carbon neutrality goal by 2025.

Participating companies will test and deploy the most energy efficient technologies as integrated systems under real-world conditions. Genentech was the first company to try out FLEXLAB's rotating test bed (pictured) to track sun exposure impacts at its South S.F. HQ. In FLEXLAB’s pre-launch private sector experiment, Genentech contractor Webcor is using the rotating test bed to plan a 250k SF building, which includes a built-out space that mimics Genentech’s interior office space and will test for user comfort and utility. FLEXLAB could revolutionize the way Webcor plans and builds energy-efficient buildings, says Webcor CEO Jes Pederson.

PG&E is next up to use the facility to test technologies that focus on whole building systems for emerging technologies incentive programs. It's working with an advisory committee to identify system-scale efficiency improvements that make best sense for most businesses. And testing alternatives in FLEXLAB, starting with innovations in building envelopes, lighting and shading. Opening day featured a series of panel discussions focused on energy efficiency from a business perspective, with speakers from Microsoft, Siemens, Oracle, Wells Fargo, Colliers International, and Schneider Electric. The lab also got a recent visit from Congresswoman Jackie Speier, above.