04/22/2026
D**g Zhao, an Associate Professor of Planning, Design, and Construction, and Lei Shu, a Ph.D. student in Construction Management, are using artificial intelligence to make sustainable living accessible to everyone. By developing an AI Energy Agent, they are providing homeowners with the expert knowledge needed to retrofit their houses for maximum energy efficiency and carbon reduction.
Beyond the raw processing power, the team particularly values how ICER seamlessly manages the massive datasets essential for their simulations. "While we utilize the facility for various initiatives, this project perfectly illustrates our reliance on its capabilities,” Dr. Zhao notes. “It’s a core part of our workflow."
As the research evolves, the team is looking past individual residences toward the broader horizon of smart cities. Meanwhile, Lei is preparing for a significant milestone of his own: he plans to graduate this summer, ready to take the next big step in his professional journey.
"Our future plan is to develop an urban energy planning AI agent," Lei explains. "It's not just focusing on one building, but the whole city."
Stay tuned to meet more of the researchers at ICER who are pushing the boundaries of what we know about our world!
Learn more: https://bit.ly/48LvJhA