The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is providing $46 million for 29 projects spanning 15 states to advance cutting-edge building technologies and retrofit practices. This funding aligns with President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and aims to foster healthier communities, reduce energy waste, and lower utility and operating costs. The initiative, known as Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers and Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT), aims to develop cost-effective solutions that electrify buildings nationwide while enhancing energy efficiency and demand flexibility. These projects contribute to decarbonization strategies that significantly curb greenhouse gas emissions, minimize wasteful energy use, and alleviate pressure on the national electric grid. Advancing resilient building technologies while addressing local pollution is crucial to realizing the President’s vision of combatting the climate crisis and fostering a cleaner energy future.
U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm highlighted the importance of exploring novel building approaches to combat emissions and address the climate crisis. The DOE’s funding empowers teams across the nation to transform creative concepts into practical solutions, fostering safer and more energy-efficient homes and buildings.
Residential and commercial buildings constitute the largest energy-consuming sector of the U.S. economy, responsible for a significant portion of energy consumption, electricity use, and carbon emissions. A considerable portion of energy used by buildings goes to waste, costing about $150 billion annually. Harnessing existing technologies and developing innovations are pivotal to enhancing energy efficiency, reducing emissions, and advancing environmental priorities.
The DOE is committed to minimizing energy intensity and carbon emissions in homes and commercial buildings by promoting effective technologies and practices. The selected projects will drive breakthroughs that contribute to continued progress. More than half of the chosen projects are focused on improving space conditioning and water heating, which are major contributors to energy use in American homes. The remaining projects will tackle other aspects influencing energy consumption in both homes and commercial structures.
Notably, selection for award negotiations does not guarantee funding issuance, as negotiations may be canceled for various reasons during the process.
The DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is expediting research, development, demonstration, and deployment of technologies and solutions to realize President Biden’s ambitious goal of achieving a net-zero greenhouse gas emissions economy by 2050. EERE aims to ensure that all Americans benefit from the clean energy economy, generating well-paying jobs, particularly for individuals and communities affected by the energy transition and those historically underserved by the energy system, burdened by pollution.
By FCCT Editorial Team
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