Noda Advances Next-Generation Demand Flexibility in Commercial Buildings
WASHINGTON, DC – Noda, the leading energy data and automation solution for commercial real estate, today announced the release of new advanced demand flexibility capabilities, developed and tested in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). Focused on Noda’s Command solution, the new capabilities are documented in a case study that validates the role of advanced analytics and AI-powered automation in unlocking cost-effective, scalable demand flexibility across the commercial built environment.
The new functionality embedded within Noda Command enables building operators to automate peak demand reduction and grid-responsive load shedding – critically, without compromising occupant comfort or day-to-day operational performance. These advancements come at a crucial time, as building owners and operators face mounting energy costs, rising grid instability, and increasing expectations for building performance .
“By combining real-time analytics, expert engineering services, and AI-based automation, Noda is delivering the new and complete standard for energy intelligence and responsiveness,” said Kate Henningsen, CEO of Noda. “Together with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, we’ve shown that buildings can be both cost-effective and grid-supportive.”
Intelligent Control for Grid-Responsive Buildings
Noda Command includes performance-assured demand flexibility capabilities designed to help building teams avoid costly peak demand charges and respond to grid emergencies while also reducing overall energy consumption. Built on Noda’s scalable Connect AI data backbone, Command orchestrates coordinated load shedding across diverse HVAC assets, guided by AI and real-time site feedback.
Rather than requiring local controller reprogramming, Noda’s “push” paradigm uses a digital building twin and automated control sequences to modulate power draw in line with operator-set priorities and zone-level comfort thresholds. This ensures peak demand targets are met without degrading building performance.
In a series of field demonstrations with retail real estate leader Macerich, Noda Command reduced peak HVAC power demand by as much as 40%, achieving over $60,000 in cost avoidance across three sites within six months. These results show the potential for scalable, verified demand-side value that extends beyond traditional efficiency savings.
The Case for Demand Flexibility
While energy monitoring alone can deliver 3% energy savings on average according to a 2020 study by LBNL, the broader opportunity in demand flexibility remains largely untapped. Peak demand charges can account for up to 70% of a commercial building’s utility bill, and yet less than 40% of available demand flexibility capacity is realized in current programs. The Command module is engineered to change that, empowering real estate teams to capture daily cost savings and reduce overall building consumption while supporting grid resilience.
This capability is increasingly critical as the energy landscape evolves. Across the U.S. and globally, utilities are grappling with unprecedented grid strain driven by aging infrastructure and rapid load growth. In many regions, grid emergencies – once rare – are becoming seasonal or even routine, and the financial impact of uncontrolled peak demand is rising rapidly.
At the same time, electricity prices are becoming more volatile. As time-of-use pricing and demand response incentives become more common, building operators who can flexibly manage their loads stand to benefit not just from lower bills, but from access to new revenue opportunities tied to grid services. The demand flexibility enabled by Noda Command is thus no longer a nice-to-have; it’s fast becoming a strategic imperative for real estate portfolios aiming to future-proof operations while playing a proactive role in grid reliability.
"The future of high-performing, low-cost commercial buildings depends on integrating robust analytics with advanced control,” says Dr. Jessica Granderson, Division Director, Building Technology and Urban Systems Division at LBNL. “These innovations are increasing value for building owners and making our grid more reliable."
If you'd like download the full case study for free, you can do so here.
Media Contact:
Rachel Whalley
Chief of Staff
About Noda
Noda is a data and analytics company on a mission to make every building smarter, more efficient, and more sustainable. Recently ranked in the top 10 tech companies leading the charge on climate action, its AI-powered suite of products surface unique insights that empower real estate teams to reduce costs, decrease time spent on routine work, and find and act on opportunities to save energy and carbon. Discover how Noda's solutions can unlock the potential of your assets and accelerate the transition to net zero. Visit us at noda.ai to learn more.