Publications and Presentations

2026

• Maryam Almaian, Rawad El Kontar, Noof Alkubaisi, and Patrick Kastner (2026). EBuild AI: A Retrieval-Augmented Framework for Generating Global, Simulation-Ready Urban Building Datasets. IBPSA-USA SimBuild 2026 Conference.

• Rawad El Kontar, Maryam Almaian, Dylan Wald, Deepthi Vaidhynathan, and Ryan King (2026). Generalized and Localized Data-Driven Models for Urban Energy Characterization: A Comparative Analysis for UBEM Inputs Inference. IBPSA-USA SimBuild 2026 Conference.

• Sugirdhalakshmi Ramaraj, Rawad El Kontar, Hallie Dunham, Margaux Seward, Ben Polly, and Selina Pedi-Smith (2026). Framework for Modeling 3D-Printed Concrete Construction to Assess Energy Efficiency and Backup Power Trade-offs in a Mixed-Use, New Construction Neighborhood Development. IBPSA-USA SimBuild 2026 Conference.

• Dylan Wald, Rawad El Kontar, and Deepthi Vaidhynathan (2026). Combining Generative Modeling and Advanced Control for Building Scenario Generation. IBPSA-USA SimBuild 2026 Conference.

• Saumya Sinha, Alexandre Cortiella, Rawad El Kontar, Andrew Glaws, Ryan King, Patrick Emami (2026). Conditional distribution estimation of building characteristics with diffusion models for urban energy modeling. Energy and Buildings, Volume 361, 117392, ISSN 0378-7788.

• Wanni Zhang, Kaiyu Sun, Ben Polly, David Goldwasser, Katherine Fleming, Tianzhen Hong (2026). District-Scale Analysis of Electricity Load and Strategies to Improve Energy Reliability Using Prototype District Models. Sustainable Cities and Society, Volume 143, 107348, ISSN 2210-6707.

• El Kontar, Rawad (2026). AI-Driven Frameworks for Characterizing Urban Energy Systems. https://doi.org/10.2172/3014936

2025

• Robert Flores, Khanh Nguyen Cu, Sammy Houssainy, Weixi Wang, Xiao Nie, Noah Woolfolk, Ben Polly, Ramin Faramarzi, Jim Maclay, Jaeho Lee, Jack Brouwer (2025). Active and passive cooling approaches for a Southern California residential community. Advances in Applied Energy, Volume 19, 100234, ISSN 2666-7924.

• Amy Allen, Jing Wang, Shadi Abdel Haleem, Matt Mitchell, Nicholas Long, Gregor Henze, and Jay Tulley (2025). From Theory to Practice: Feasibility Study of a Thermal Microgrid at a DoD Installation. Preprint. 2025 ASHRAE Annual Conference.

• Simpson, Juliet G., Nicholas Long, and Whitney Trainor-Guitton (2025). Electrical and Thermal Load Impacts of Three District Heating and Cooling Designs for an Existing Community in Washington, DC. Preprint. 2025 Geothermal Rising Conference.

• Sebastian Zwickl-Bernhard, Nicholas Long, Simon Jordan, Felix Bauer, Juliet G. Simpson, Whitney Trainor-Guitton (2025). Optimizing district energy systems under uncertainty: Insights from a case study from Washington D.C., USA. Energy Conversion and Management, Volume 341, 119979, ISSN 0196-8904.

2024

• Robert Flores, Sammy Houssainy, Weixi Wang, Khanh Nguyen Cu, Xiao Nie, Noah Woolfolk, Ben Polly, Ramin Faramarzi, Jim Maclay, Jaeho Lee, Jack Brouwer (2024) Addressing building related energy burden, air pollution, and carbon emissions of a low-income community in Southern California Advances in Applied Energy Volume 14, 100169, ISSN 2666-7924

• El Kontar, Rawad, Joseph Robertson, Khanh Nguyen Cu, Alexandra Grayson, Jiazhen Ling, Hanna Sotiropoulos, and Tarek Rakha (2024). An Open-Source Framework for Characterizing Urban Energy Models: Integrating Top-Down and Bottom-Up Methods to Predict Residential Buildings Characteristics. Preprint. ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings.

• Wang, Jing, Matt Mitchell, Tanushree Charan, Brian Ball, Nathan Moore, Shadi Abdel Haleem (2024). Development of a sizing and modeling platform for district energy systems with geothermal heat pumps. Research Conference Proceedings of the IGSHPA.

2023

• Jing Wang, Rawad El Kontar, Xin Jin, Jennifer King (2023) Decarbonizing all-electric communities via carbon-responsive control of behind-the-meter resources Advances in Applied Energy, Volume 10, 100139, ISSN 2666-7924

• Kaiyu Sun, Wanni Zhang, David Goldwasser, Tanushree Charan, Katherine Fleming, Lauren Klun, Ben Polly, Tianzhen Hong (2023) Development of Prototypical District-Scale Models. Preprint. IBPSA Conference and Exhibition, Building Simulation 2023

• Robert Flores, Sammy Houssainy, Weixi Wang, Joseph Robertson, Khanh Nguyen Cu, Ben Polly, Ramin Faramarzi, Jim Maclay, Jack Brouwer (2023) Developing and tuning a community scale energy model for a disadvantaged community Energy and Buildings, Volume 285, 112861, ISSN 0378-7788

2022

• Peter Schneider,Leslie Badger, Dusan Brhlik, David Goldwasser, Ben Polly (2022) Resilient, Rural, and Revolutionary: Salisbury Square’s Direct-Current Affordable Microgrid Community. Preprint. ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings

• Rawad El Kontar, Jing Wang, Xin Jin, Jennifer King, Tarek Rakha (2022) Probabilistic Modeling of Commercial Building Occupancy Patterns Using Location-Based Map Data. Preprint. ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings

• Wang, Jing, Rawad El Kontar, Xin Jin, and Jennifer King (2022). Feasibility Study of Real-Time Carbon Emission Responsive Electric Vehicle Charging Control in Buildings. Preprint. ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings.

• Jing Wang, Rawad El Kontar, Xin Jin, Jennifer King (2022) Electrifying High-Efficiency Future Communities: Impact on Energy, Emissions, and Grid Advances in Applied Energy, Volume 6, 100095, ISSN 2666-7924

• Allen, A., Henze, G., Baker, K., Pavlak, G, and Murphy, M. (2022). An optimization framework for the network design of advanced district thermal energy systems, Energy Conversion and Management, 266, 115839.

• Lämmle, M., Allen, A., Henze, G., Pless, S. (2022). Valuation of Novel Waste Heat Sources and a Path Towards Adoption. Preprint. ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings.

• Zahra Fallahi, P., Houssainy, S., Ling, J., Leach, M., Klun, L., Slovensky, M. (2022). Designing for Zero Energy and Zero Carbon on a Multi-Building Scale using URBANopt. Preprint. ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings.

2021

• Meyer, Ryan, Bridgeland, Brett, Woldekidan, Korbaga, Webster, Brett, Charan, Tanushree, Lewe, Jung-Ho, Olgyay, Victor, & Zaleski, Sarah. (2021) GT Flex: A Coordinated Multi-Building Pilot Study.

• Charan, T., Mackey, C., Irani, A., Polly, B., Ray, S., Fleming, K., El Kontar, R., Moore, N., Elgindy, T., Cutler, D., Roudsari, M. S., & Goldwasser, D. (2021). Integration of Open-Source URBANopt and Dragonfly Energy Modeling Capabilities into Practitioner Workflows for District-Scale Planning and Design.

• De Rosa, L., Domingo, C. M., Gómez, T., Roman, S., Kontar, R. El, Polly, B., Fleming, K., & Elgindy, T. (2021). Integrated models for electrical distribution network planning and district-scale building energy use. IEEE Madrid PowerTech.

• Hinkelman, Kathryn, Jing Wang, Wangda Zuo, Antoine Gautier, Michael Wetter, Chengliang Fan, and Nicholas Long. (2021). Modelica-Based Modeling and Simulation of District Cooling Systems: A Case Study. Applied Energy.

• Allen, A., Long, N. L., Moore, N., & Elarga, H. (2021). URBANopt District Energy Systems HVAC Measures.. National Laboratory of the Rockies.

• Long, Nicholas, Antoine Gautier, Hagar Elarga, Amy Allen, Ted Summer, Lauren Klun, Nathan Moore, and Michael Wetter. (2021). Modeling District Heating and Cooling Systems with URBANopt, GeoJSON to Modelica Translator, and the Modelica Buildings Library. In Building Simulation 2021. Bruges, Brussels.

2020

• Rawad El Kontar, Ben Polly, Tanushree Charan, Katherine Fleming, Nathan Moore, Nicholas Long, & David Goldwasser. (2020) URBANopt: An Open-Source Software Development Kit for Community and Urban District Energy Modeling. ASHRAE/IBPSA-USA Building Performance Modeling Conference And SimBuild.

• Houssainy, Sammy, Faramarzi, Ramin, Farahmand, Farhad, Pande, Abhjieet, and Griesser, Jon. (2020). Community-Scale Energy Efficiency Assessment for Zero Net Energy Using the URBANopt Simulation Platform. ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, 17-21 August 2020.

• Shanti Pless, Ben Polly, Sammy Houssainy, Paul Torcellini, William Livingood, Sarah Zaleski, Matt Jungclaus, Tom Hootman, & Mindy Craig. (2020). A Guide to Energy Master Planning of High-Performance Districts and Communities. Technical Report, NLR.

Earlier Publications

• Polly, Benjamin J. (2018). “Zero Energy Districts”. United States. IMPACT Conference, St. Paul, Minnesota. Presentation.

• Polly, B., Kutscher, C., Macumber, D., & Schott, M. 2016. From Zero Energy Buildings to Zero Energy Districts. (2016) ACEEE Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings, August, 1–16.

• Macumber, D., Gruchalla, K., Brunhart-lupo, N., Gleason, M., Robertson, J., Polly, B., Fleming, K., & Schott, M. (2016). City Scale Modelling with OpenStudio. ASHRAE and IBPSA-USA SimBuild 2016 Building Performance Modeling Conference, September, 133–140.

Additional Publications

Visit the DES Workflow page for additional publications related to district energy systems.

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