Buildings are responsible for 40% of the nation’s energy spend. Jiang plans to use his expertise in sensors, wearables, cyber-physical systems, and data analysis to help building occupants track their personal energy use in real-time and receive recommendations for actionable steps to reduce their “energy footprint.”

“The system we are proposing could move us toward a more environmentally responsible and sustainable future,” said Jiang. “By providing real-time visibility into the energy cost of each action, people will have at their fingertips the information they need to reduce their personal energy usage and reduce building energy waste.”