美国的能源行业正在迅速发展 - 较小的一代工厂的安装正成为一种趋势，可再生能源发电正在扩大，燃煤发电的电厂正在退休，现代相互联系和节能技术正在开发。为了跟上这些变化，公用事业公司正在利用它们所面临的机遇和挑战，并正在制定现代化电网的计划。
随着电网变换，建筑物处于独特的位置，可以帮助实现电网现代化目标。In recognition of this the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Office (BTO) introduced the concept of Grid Interactive Efficient Buildings (GEBs) – a concept that envisions a future in which buildings operate dynamically with the grid to make electricity more affordable and integrate distributed energy resources while meeting the needs of building occupants.