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Energy and Environment Directorate

Nick Fernandez

Nick Fernandez

(509) 375-6568

Biography

Nick Fernandez was born in Columbia, MD. He is a 2002 graduate of Wilde Lake High School and a 2006 graduate of The University of Maryland in College Park, MD. Nick received a Master's in mechanical engineering from the University of Maryland in 2008 at the Center for Environmental Energy Engineering. Nick’s master thesis studied the performance and oil retention characteristics of a CO2 heat pump water heater. Nick began working for PNNL in 2009 in the building energy systems (BES) group. He has worked on a variety of projects, including commercial building retuning, residential building energy codes, community-scale net-zero energy systems, and self-correcting controls for HVAC systems. Most of his work involves using EnergyPlus to model prototype or existing buildings to understand opportunities for energy savings.

Research Interests

  • Building energy efficiency modeling and analysis
  • Passive solar building energy systems
  • Renewable energy deployment and integration
  • Intersections between peak oil and economics

Education and Credentials

  • M.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, 2008
  • B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Maryland, 2006

PNNL Publications

2021

  • Katipamula S., R.M. Underhill, N. Fernandez, W. Kim, R.G. Lutes, and D.J. Taasevigen. 2021. "Prevalence of typical operational problems and energy savings opportunities in U.S. commercial buildings." Energy and Buildings 253. PNNL-SA-166590. doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2021.111544

2020

  • Fernandez N., D.J. Taasevigen, B.K. Boyd, N.V. Panossian, and P. Volkman. 2020. "Energy cost savings and expected payback for Re-tuning the controls of US Army buildings." Energy Efficiency 13, no. 5:835-851. PNNL-SA-144083. doi:10.1007/s12053-020-09852-w

2018

  • Cort K.A., J.A. McIntosh, G. Sullivan, T.D. Ashley, C.E. Metzger, and N. Fernandez. 2018. Testing the Performance and Dynamic Control of Energy-Efficient Cellular Shades in the PNNL Lab Homes. PNNL-27663 Rev 1. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.
  • Fernandez N., S. Katipamula, W. Wang, Y. Xie, and M. Zhao. 2018. "Energy Savings Potential from Improved Building Controls for the U.S. Commercial Building Sector." Energy Efficiency 11, no. 2:393-413. PNNL-SA-121880. doi:10.1007/s12053-017-9569-5
  • Wang W., N. Fernandez, S. Katipamula, and K.J. Alvine. 2018. "Performance Assessment of a Photonic Radiative Cooling System for Office Buildings." Renewable Energy 118. PNNL-SA-122490. doi:10.1016/j.renene.2017.10.062

2017

  • Fernandez N., D.J. Taasevigen, and R.M. Underhill. 2017. "Success of Commercial Building Re-tuning in Federal Buildings: Results and Case Studies." Journal of Architectural Engineering 23, no. 1. PNNL-SA-112623. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)AE.1943-5568.0000216
  • Fernandez N., S. Katipamula, and R.M. Underhill. 2017. "Optimizing Control of Dedicated Outdoor Air Systems with Energy Recovery in Commercial Buildings." Journal of Energy Engineering 143, no. 1. PNNL-ACT-SA-10075. doi:10.1061/(ASCE)EY.1943-7897.0000368
  • Fernandez N., S. Katipamula, W. Wang, Y. Xie, M. Zhao, and C.D. Corbin. 2017. Impacts of Commercial Building Controls on Energy Savings and Peak Load Reduction. PNNL-25985. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Impacts of Commercial Building Controls on Energy Savings and Peak Load Reduction

2016

  • Hammerstrom D.J., C.D. Corbin, N. Fernandez, J.S. Homer, A. Makhmalbaf, R.G. Pratt, and A. Somani, et al. 2016. Valuation of Transactive Systems. PNNL-25323. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Valuation of Transactive Systems

2015

2014

  • Fernandez N., S. Katipamula, W. Wang, Y. Huang, and G. Liu. 2014. "Energy Savings Modelling of Re-tuning Energy Conservation Measures in Large Office Buildings." Journal of Building Performance Simulation 8, no. 6:391-407. PNNL-SA-89524. doi:10.1080/19401493.2014.961032
  • Somasundaram S., R.G. Pratt, B.A. Akyol, N. Fernandez, N. Foster, S. Katipamula, and E.T. Mayhorn, et al. 2014. Transaction-Based Building Controls Framework, Volume 1: Reference Guide. PNNL-23302. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Transaction-Based Building Controls Framework, Volume 1: Reference Guide

2013

2012

2011

2010

  • Brown D.R., J.A. Dirks, N. Fernandez, and T.E. Stout. 2010. The Prospects of Alternatives to Vapor Compression Technology for Space Cooling and Food Refrigeration Applications. PNNL-19259. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The Prospects of Alternatives to Vapor Compression Technology for Space Cooling and Food Refrigeration Applications
  • Fernandez N., M.R. Brambley, S. Katipamula, H. Cho, J.K. Goddard, and L.H. Dinh. 2010. Self-Correcting HVAC Controls Project Final Report. PNNL-19074. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Self-Correcting HVAC Controls Project Final Report
  • Katipamula S., N. Fernandez, M.R. Brambley, and T.A. Reddy. 2010. "Building Scale vs. Community Scale Net-Zero Energy Performance." In 2010 ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, 2-151 - 2-168. Washington, District Of Columbia:American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. PNNL-SA-71275.
  • Katipamula S., P. Armstrong, W. Wang, and N. Fernandez. 2010. "Efficient Low-Lift cooling with Radiant Distribution, Thermal Storage and Variable-Speed Chiller Controls." In Proceedings of CLIMA 2010, 10th REHVA World Congress: Sustainable Energy Use In Buildings, May 9-12, 2010, Antalya, Turkey. Brussels:Federation of European HVAC Associations. PNNL-SA-70386.
  • Katipamula S., P. Armstrong, W. Wang, N. Fernandez, H. Cho, W. Goetzler, and J. Burgos, et al. 2010. Development of High-Efficiency Low-Lift Vapor Compression System - Final Report. PNNL-19227. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Development of High-Efficiency Low-Lift Vapor Compression System - Final Report
  • Katipamula S., P.R. Armstrong, W. Wang, N. Fernandez, H. Cho, W. Goetzler, and J. Burgos, et al. 2010. Cost-Effective Integration of Efficient Low-Lift Baseload Cooling Equipment: FY08 Final Report. PNNL-19114. Richland, WA: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Cost-Effective Integration of Efficient Low-Lift Baseload Cooling Equipment: FY08 Final Report

2009

Energy and Environment

Core Research Areas

Contacts