Dr. Gregor P. Henze holds a Ph.D. in civil engineering from the University of Colorado at Boulder (Building Systems Program, 1995), with a focus on controls, optimization, and energy conservation in buildings. He received the Diplom-Ingenieur (Dipl.-Ing.) and undergraduate degree in energy and process engineering from the Technical University of Berlin (1989 and 1992) and the M.S. in mechanical engineering from Oregon State University (1991). Before joining the University of Nebraska, Dr. Henze worked in the energy services industry at Johnson Controls, a manufacturer of building automation systems. As the engineering manager, he established a business unit for energy savings performance contracting in Germany. At UNL, his teaching focuses on thermal environmental engineering, control theory, building control and automation systems, building mechanical systems design, and measurement systems. His research emphasizes model-based predictive optimal control and model-free reinforcement learning control of thermal energy storage systems and building thermal mass, building occupancy detection using distributed sensor belief networks, building energy simulation, as well as connectionist approaches to control and time series prediction. He is an active member of the American Society of Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) chairing the technical committee on building operation dynamics (TC7.4).

I am an associate professor of architectural engineering at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln.

My teaching focuses on thermal environmental engineering, control theory, building control and automation systems, building mechanical systems design, and measurement systems.

My research emphasizes model-based predictive optimal control and model-free reinforcement learning control of thermal energy storage systems and building thermal mass, building occupancy detection using distributed sensor belief networks, building energy simulation, as well as connectionist approaches to control and time series prediction.

Our program is physically located in the Peter Kiewit Institute on the University of Nebraska at Omaha campus.

1. Predictive Optimal Control of Active and Passive Building Thermal Storage Inventory (PI, DOE)
2. Real-Time Predictive Optimal Control of Active and Passive Building Thermal Storage Systems (Co-PI with U. of Colorado, DOE)
    

3. Converging Redundant Sensor Network Information for Improved Building Control (Co-PI with PI D. Tiller, DOE)
    

4. Integrated Wireless Systems for Assistive Technology (Co-PI with PI L. Perez, UNL Strategic Cluster Award)
    

5. Evaluation of Building Thermal Mass Savings (PI, ASHRAE)
    

6. Thermal Activation of Building Fabric (Co-PI with TU-Dresden)
    

7. Evaluation of Modelica for Control Systems Analysis (PI, Johnson Controls)

1. Henze, G.P., J. Pfafferott, S. Herkel, and C. Felsmann “Impact of Adaptive Comfort Criteria and Heat Waves on Optimal Building Thermal Mass Control.” Energy and Buildings; accepted for publication 6/19/2006.
2. Henze, G.P., T.H. Le, A.R. Florita, and C. Felsmann “Sensitivity Analysis of Optimal Building Thermal Mass Control.” Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, New York; accepted for publication 5/19/2006.
3. Liu., S. and G.P. Henze “Reinforcement Learning Control for Building Active and Passive Thermal Storage Inventory.” Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, New York; accepted for publication 4/1/2006.
4. Dodier, R.H., G.P. Henze, D.K. Tiller, and X. Guo “Building Occupancy Detection through Sensor Belief Networks.” Energy and Buildings, September 2006, Vol. 38, No. 9, pp. 1033-1043.
5. Liu, S. and G.P. Henze (2006) “Experimental Analysis of Simulated Reinforcement Learning Control for Active and Passive Building Thermal Storage Inventory – Part 1: Theoretical Foundation.” Energy and Buildings, Vol. 38, No. 2, February 2006, pp. 142-147.
6. Liu, S. and G.P. Henze (2006) “Experimental Analysis of Simulated Reinforcement Learning Control for Active and Passive Building Thermal Storage Inventory – Part 2: Results and Analysis.” Energy and Buildings, Vol. 38, No. 2, February 2006, pp. 148-161.
7. Bunz, K.R., G.P. Henze, and D.K. Tiller (2006) “A Survey of Sustainable Building Design Practices in North America, Europe, and Asia.” Journal of Architectural Engineering, Volume 12, Issue 1, pp. 33-62.
8. Le, T.H., G. Knabe, G.P. Henze (2005) “Operating Behavior of Single Split Coil Systems under Modulating and Two-Position Control.” ASHRAE Transactions, Technical Paper No. 4788, Vol. 111, Pt. 2, pp. 35-44, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Atlanta, Georgia.
9. Henze, G.P., S. Plamp, and G. Strassberger (2005) “A Mobile Laboratory for Building Automation and Control Systems – Part 1: Laboratory Development.” ASHRAE Transactions, Technical Paper No. 4785, Vol. 111, Pt. 2, pp. 3-12, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Atlanta, Georgia.
10. Henze, G.P. and S. Plamp (2005) “A Mobile Laboratory for Building Automation and Control Systems – Part 2: Application in Education.” ASHRAE Transactions, Technical Paper No. 4793, Vol. 111, Pt. 2, pp. 96-108, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Atlanta, Georgia.
11. Henze, G.P. (2005) “Energy and Cost Minimal Control of Active and Passive Building Thermal Storage Inventory.” Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Vol. 127, No. 3, pp. 343-351, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, New York.
12. Henze, G.P., D. Kalz, S. Liu, and C. Felsmann (2005) “Experimental Analysis of Model-Based Predictive Optimal Control for Active and Passive Building Thermal Storage Inventory." HVAC&R Research, Vol. 11, No. 2, pp. 189-214, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Atlanta, Georgia.
13. Zhou, G., M. Krarti, and G.P. Henze (2005) “Parametric Analysis of Active and Passive Building Thermal Storage Utilization.” Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Vol. 127, No. 1, pp. 37-46, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, New York.
14. Tiller, D.K., G.P. Henze, R. Goepfert, and X. Guo (2004) “Domestic Hot Water End Use Analysis Methods and Preliminary Results.” ASHRAE Transactions, Vol. 110, Part 2, pp. 218-235, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Atlanta, Georgia.
15. Ihm, P., M. Krarti, and G.P. Henze (2004) “Development of a Thermal Energy Storage Model for EnergyPlus.” Energy and Buildings, Vol. 36, No. 8, pp. 807-814, Elsevier Science, New York, New York.
16. Henze, G.P., D. Kalz, C. Felsmann, and G. Knabe (2004) “Impact of Forecasting Accuracy on Predictive Optimal Control of Active and Passive Building Thermal Storage Inventory." HVAC&R Research, Vol. 10, No. 2, pp. 153-178, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Atlanta, Georgia.
17. Liu, S. and G.P. Henze (2004) “Impact of Modeling Accuracy on Predictive Optimal Control of Active and Passive Building Thermal Storage Inventory.” ASHRAE Transactions, Technical Paper No. 4683, Vol. 110, Part 1, pp. 151-163, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Atlanta, Georgia.
18. Henze, G.P., C. Felsmann, and G. Knabe (2004) “Evaluation of Optimal Control for Active and Passive Building Thermal Storage.” International Journal of Thermal Sciences, Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 173-183, Elsevier Science, New York, New York.
19. Dodier, R.H. and G.P. Henze (2004) “Statistical Analysis of Neural Networks as Applied to Building Energy Prediction.” Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Vol. 126, No. 1, pp. 592-600, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, New York.
20. Henze, G.P. (2003) “An Overview of Optimal Control for Central Cooling Plants with Thermal Energy Storage.” Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Vol. 125, No. 3, pp. 302-309, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, New York.
21. Henze, G.P. and J. Schoenmann (2003) “Evaluation of Reinforcement Learning Control for Thermal Energy Storage Systems.” HVAC&R Research, Vol. 9, No. 3, pp. 259-276, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Atlanta, Georgia.
22. Henze, G.P. and R.H. Dodier (2003) “Adaptive Optimal Control of a Grid-Independent Photovoltaic System.” Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Vol. 125, No. 1, pp. 34-42, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, New York.
23. Henze, G.P. (2003) “Impact of Real-Time Pricing Rate Uncertainty on the Annual Performance of Cool Storage Systems.” Energy and Buildings, Vol. 35, No. 3, pp. 313-325, Elsevier Science, New York, New York.
24. Henze, G.P. (2003) “Parametric Study of a Simplified Ice Storage Model under Conventional and Optimal Control Strategies.” Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Vol. 125, No. 1, pp. 2-12, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, New York.
25. Henze, G.P., M. Krarti, and M.J. Brandemuehl (2002) “Guidelines for Improved Performance of Ice Storage Systems.” Energy and Buildings, Vol. 35, No. 2, pp. 111-127, Elsevier Science, New York, New York.
26. Henze, G.P. (2002) “Economic Performance of Thermal Energy Storage Systems.” Journal of Architectural Engineering, Vol. 8, No. 4, pp. 133-141, American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston, Virginia.
27. Henze, G.P. and R.E. Hindman (2002) “Control of Air-Cooled Chiller Condensers Using Clustering Neural Networks.” ASHRAE Transactions, Technical Paper No. 4574, Vol. 108, Part 2, pp. 232-244, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Atlanta, Georgia.
28. Henze, G.P., D.K. Tiller, M. Fischer, and M. Rieger (2002) “Comparison of Event Inference and Flow Trace Signature Methods for Hot Water End Use Analysis.” ASHRAE Transactions, Technical Paper No. 4595, Vol. 108, Part 2, pp. 467-479, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Atlanta, Georgia.
29. Henze, G.P. (2001) “Building Energy Management as a Continuous Quality Control Process.” Journal of Architectural Engineering, Vol. 7, No. 4, pp. 97-106, American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston, Virginia.
30. Henze, G.P. and M. Krarti (1998) “Ice Storage System Controls for the Reduction of Operating Costs and Energy.” Journal of Solar Energy Engineering, Vol. 120, No. 4, pp. 275-281, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, New York.
31. Henze, G.P., R.H. Dodier, and M. Krarti (1997) “Development of a Predictive Optimal Controller for Thermal Energy Storage Systems.” HVAC&R Research, Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 233-264, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Atlanta, Georgia.
32. Henze, G.P., M. Krarti, and M.J. Brandemuehl (1997) “A Simulation Environment for the Analysis of Ice Storage Controls.” HVAC&R Research, Vol. 3, No. 2, pp. 128-148, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Atlanta, Georgia.
    Proceedings – Full Paper Refereed as Basis for Acceptance
33. Tiller, D.K. and G.P. Henze (2005) “Converging Redundant Sensor Network Information for Improved Building Control.” Proceedings of CLIMA2005 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
34. Tiller, D.K. and G.P. Henze (2005) “Construction Trends and Current Domestic Hot Water Use in the United States.” Proceedings of CLIMA2005 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
35. Becker, M., G.P. Henze, A. Köhler, R. Koenigsdorff, M. Lehnertz, H. Scherer (2005) “Integrated Autonation and Simulation Test Environments for Building Energy Systems.” Proceedings of CLIMA2005 in Lausanne, Switzerland.
36. Liu, S. and G.P. Henze (2005) “Calibration of Building Models for Supervisory Control of Commercial Buildings.” Proceedings of the 2005 International Building Performance Simulation Association Conference in Montreal, Canada; pp. 641-648.
37. Le, T.H., G. Knabe, and G.P. Henze (2005) “Fault Detection and Diagnosis of Control Strategies for Air-Handling Units.” Proceedings of the 2005 International Building Performance Simulation Association Conference in Montreal, Canada, pp. 609-616.
38. Liu., S. and G.P. Henze (2005) “Reinforcement Learning Control for Building Active and Passive Thermal Storage Inventory.” Proceedings of the 2005 International Solar Energy Conference in Orlando, Florida; American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, New York.
39. Henze, G.P., T.H. Le, and A.R. Florita (2005) “Sensitivity Analysis of Optimal Building Thermal Mass Control.” Proceedings of the 2005 International Solar Energy Conference in Orlando, Florida; American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, New York.
40. Liu, S. and G.P. Henze (2004) “Investigation of Reinforcement Learning for Building Thermal Mass Control.” Proceedings of SimBuild 2004 in Boulder, Colorado; International Building Performance Simulation Association.
41. Henze, G.P. (2004) “Trade-Off between Energy Consumption and Utility Cost in the Optimal Control of Active and Passive Building Thermal Storage Inventory.” Proceedings of the 2004 International Solar Energy Conference in Portland, Oregon, pp. 111-119; American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, New York.
42. Henze, G.P. (2004) “Effect of Design Parameters on the Performance of Thermal Energy Storage Systems.” Proceedings of the 2004 International Solar Energy Conference in Portland, Oregon, pp. 135-143; American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, New York.
43. Zhou, G., M. Krarti, and G.P. Henze (2004) “Parametric Analysis of Active and Passive Building Thermal Storage Utilization.” Proceedings of the 2004 International Solar Energy Conference in Portland, Oregon, pp. 193-203; American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, New York.
44. Tiller, D.K., G.P. Henze, and X. Guo (2004) “Online Domestic Hot Water End Use Database (1172-RP).” ASHRAE Transactions, Vol. 110, Part 2, pp. 682-689, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Atlanta, Georgia.
45. Zhou, G., P. Ihm, M. Krarti, S. Liu, and G.P. Henze (2003) “Integration of Optimization Routines Within EnergyPlus”, Proceedings of the Eighth International IPBSA Conference Building Simulation 2003, pp. 1475-1482, Eindhoven, Netherlands.
46. P. Ihm, M. Krarti, and G.P. Henze (2003) “Integration of a Thermal Energy Storage Model within EnergyPlus”, Proceedings of the Eighth International IPBSA Conference Building Simulation 2003, pp. 531-538, Eindhoven, Netherlands.
47. Henze, G.P. and R.H. Dodier (2002) “Adaptive Optimal Control of a Grid-Independent Photovoltaic System.” Proceedings of the 2002 International Solar Energy Conference in Reno, Nevada; pp. 139-148, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, New York.
48. Henze, G.P. (2002) “Parametric Study of a Simplified Ice Storage Model under Conventional and Optimal Control Strategies.” Proceedings of the 2002 International Solar Energy Conference in Reno, Nevada; pp. 83-95, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, New York.
49. Krarti, M., G.P. Henze, and D. Bell (1999) “Planning Horizon for a Predictive Optimal Controller for Thermal Energy Storage Systems.” ASHRAE Transactions, Vol. 105, Part 2, pp. 543-552, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Atlanta, Georgia.
50. Henze, G.P. and M. Krarti (1999) “The Impact of Forecasting Uncertainty on the Performance of a Predictive Optimal Controller for Thermal Energy Storage Systems.” ASHRAE Transactions, Vol. 105, Part 2, pp. 553-561, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Atlanta, Georgia.
51. Henze, G.P. and M. Krarti (1996) “Ice Storage System Controls for the Reduction of Operating Costs and Energy.” Proceedings of the 1996 International Solar Energy Conference in San Antonio, Texas; pp. 395-404, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, New York.
52. Dodier, R.H. and G.P. Henze (1996) “Statistical Analysis of Neural Networks as Applied to Building Energy Prediction.” Proceedings of the 1996 International Solar Energy Conference in San Antonio, Texas; pp. 495-505, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, New York, New York.
53. Henze, G.P. and M. Laguna (1995) “Optimal Control of Thermal Energy Storage.” Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences (INFORMS), New Orleans, Louisiana.
54. Henze, G.P., M. Laguna, and M. Krarti (1995) “Heuristics for the Optimal Control of Thermal Energy Storage.” Proceedings of the Metaheuristics International Conference, Norwell, Massachusetts: Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Proceedings – Abstract Refereed as Basis for Acceptance

1. 1. G.P. Henze, 2006, “Sustainable Building Design in the U.S.A.” Seventh Biberach Forum Building Systems Engineering, Biberach, Germany, March 22, 2006.
2. 2. Henze, G.P. (2002) “Order-of-Magnitude Analysis for the Approximate Solution of Engineering Problems.” International Conference on Engineering Education, Manchester 2002.
   Trade Magazines
3. Henze, G.P. (1996) "Performance Contracting in the Context of Political Agendas" (in German) Facility Management, Issue 5/96, pp. 66-68, Guetersloh: Bertelsmann Fachzeitschriften GmbH.
4. Moehl, U. and G.P. Henze (1996) "Elegant: Investing Without Financing, Performance Contracting Increases the Value of Buildings" (in German) Contracting Wärmedienst, Issue 5/96, pp. 37-44, Düsseldorf: Krammer Verlag.
   Reports
5. Henze, G.P. and S. Liu (2005) “U.S. Department of Energy Cooperative Agreement DE-FC-36-03GO13026 - Real-Time Predictive Optimal Control of Active and Passive Building Thermal Storage Inventory - Final Report for Phase II: Laboratory Testing.” Architectural Engineering, Peter Kiewit Institute, University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska.
6. Houser, K.W., E. Erdogmus, G.P. Henze, M. Liu, K. Merkel, D.K. Tiller, L.M. Wang, C.E. Waters, G.K. Yuill (2005) “Self-study Report– Architectural Engineering, College of Engineering & Technology, University of Nebraska – Lincoln” confidential report to the University of Nebraska – Lincoln ABET accreditation June 2005.
7. Tiller, D.K. & Henze, G.P. (2004). Converging redundant sensor network information for improved building control. Topical Report for Cooperative Agreement DE-FC26-04NT41971: Reporting Period December 1st 2003-November 30th 2004. Henze, G.P. and M. Krarti (2005) “U.S. Department of Energy Cooperative Agreement DE-FC-26-01NT41255 – Predictive Optimal Control of Active and Passive Building Thermal Storage Inventory – Final Report.” Architectural Engineering, Peter Kiewit Institute, University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska.
8. Tiller, D.K. & Henze, G.P. (2003). “Final Report on ASHRAE Project 1172-TRP: Metering Residential Hot Water by End Use (Development of Standard Protocol).” Architectural Engineering, Peter Kiewit Institute, University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska.
9. Henze, G.P. and M. Krarti (2003) “U.S. Department of Energy Cooperative Agreement DE-FC-26-01NT41255 – Predictive Optimal Control of Active and Passive Building Thermal Storage Inventory – Final Report for Phase II: Laboratory Testing.” Architectural Engineering, Peter Kiewit Institute, University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska.
10. Henze, G.P. (2003) “ASHRAE New Investigator Award – Final Report.” Architectural Engineering, Peter Kiewit Institute, University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska.
11. Henze, G.P. and M. Krarti (2002) “U.S. Department of Energy Cooperative Agreement DE-FC-26-01NT41255 – Predictive Optimal Control of Active and Passive Building Thermal Storage Inventory – Final Report for Phase I: Analysis, Modeling, and Simulation.” Architectural Engineering, Peter Kiewit Institute, University of Nebraska, Omaha, Nebraska.
12. Tiller, D.K., Henze, G.P. & Goepfert, R. (2002). “Sample Data from 1127 – TRP: Standard Protocol for Measuring Domestic Hot Water Use.” Architectural Engineering, Peter Kiewit Institute, University of Nebraska, Omaha, NE.
13. Rieger, M., Henze, G.P. & Tiller, D.K. (2001). “Progress Report on ASHRAE project 1172-TRP: Metering Residential Hot Water by End Use (Development of Standard Protocol).” Architectural Engineering, Peter Kiewit Institute, University of Nebraska, Omaha, NE.
14. Krarti, M., M.J. Brandemuehl, and G.P. Henze (1995) "Final Project Report for ASHRAE 809-TRP: Evaluation of Optimal Control for Ice Storage Systems." American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Atlanta, Georgia.
15. Krarti, M., G.P. Henze, D. Bell, J.F. Kreider, M.J. Brandemuehl, and L.K. Norford (1997) "Model Based Optimizer Systems With TES: Final Report." JCEM Technical Report TR/97/15, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado.
    

Dissertation

1. Henze, G.P (1995) "Evaluation of Optimal Control for Ice Storage Systems." Ph.D. Thesis, University of Colorado at Boulder, Boulder, Colorado.

Undergraduate Courses:
ARCH 333 – Interior Architectural Systems
AE 3100 – Building Energy I: Fundamentals
AE 4400 - Architectural Engineering Management

Graduate Courses:
AE 8010 – Graduate Design Project
AE 8120 – Building Control and Automation Systems PowerPoint Notes!
AE 8150 – Building Energy Simulation and Performance Contracting
AE 8170 – Theory and Application of Thermal Systems Measurement
AE 8940 - Fundamental Control Theory