D.O.E. Announces 18 New Energy-Savings Projects for Commercial Buildings
Interested in a sneak preview of some of the new energy-saving technologies on the horizon for commercial buildings? Thanks to a new government-funded initiative, we’re all privy to a number of innovations currently on the drawing table and ready for development.
The U.S. Department of Energy (D.O.E.) recently announced that it is making a $19 million investment in a variety of projects focused on improving the energy efficiency of buildings across the United States. From schools and offices, to restaurants, hospitals and stores, the aim of this latest initiative is to develop new building technologies that will help home and building owners save money on their utility bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. They expect that the project will also have a positive impact on creating new jobs.
According to the D.O.E., buildings are the largest user of energy – about 40% of the total amount of energy used in the U.S. each year. The utility bill for that energy is about $430 billion annually; $80 billion of which could be saved if these programs are successful in helping reduce energy consumption by 20 percent. The D.O.E. estimates that nearly a third of the current energy used by buildings is wasted through less-than-optimal building practices, HVAC duct leakage and other addressable issues.
The 18 new research projects are aimed at developing smarter more efficient buildings. This includes the development of sensors and energy modeling tools that make buildings smarter, improving HVAC&R performance, developing a higher efficiency heat pump and reducing refrigerant leaks. The project will also address issues related to building envelope sealing, the use of natural sunlight in building design, and improved energy storage strategies.
“Improving the efficiency of our nation’s buildings presents one of our best opportunities for cutting Americans’ energy bills and slashing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Secretary of Energy, Ernest Moniz. “These innovative technologies will make our buildings smarter, healthier, and more efficient, driving us toward our goal of reducing the energy use intensity of the U.S. buildings sector by 30 percent by 2030.”
The projects earmarked for this new program address the development of new solutions in four areas: HVAC-related technologies, sensors and controls, windows and the building envelope, and energy modeling. Here is a sample of some of the specific projects being funded: