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DOE To Pursue Zero-Net Energy Commercial Buildings

August 10, 2008 by Jeff Shepard

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the launch of DOE’s Zero-Net Energy Commercial Building Initiative (CBI) with the establishment of the National Laboratory Collaborative on Building Technologies Collaborative (NLCBT). These two efforts both focus on DOE’s ongoing efforts to develop marketable Zero-Net Energy Commercial Buildings, buildings that use cutting-edge efficiency technologies and on-site renewable energy generation to offset their energy use from the electricity grid by 2025.

The announcement was made at the California Clean Tech Open, a competition that supports innovative and sustainable new businesses which focus on energy efficiency, smart power, renewable energy, transportation, green building technologies, pollution control and resource management. DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will help sponsor the 2008 California Clean Tech Open, a business plan competition that supports the development of clean technology companies.

"DOE’s Commercial Building Initiative and the Collaborative are urgently needed to accelerate innovation and market adoption in the field of high performance buildings," said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, David Rodgers. "Now we are bringing to bear the unprecedented collaboration in scientific resources of five National Laboratories to bring about the needed transformation of the built environment, lower our carbon footprint in buildings and accelerate commercial deployment of clean, efficient building technologies."

In 2005, commercial buildings used 18% of energy in the United States, accounting for 18% of greenhouse gas emissions. The Zero-Net Energy CBI strives to make new commercial buildings capable of generating as much energy as they consume available by 2025. Energy generation will be achieved through advanced energy efficiency technologies and on-site renewable energy generation systems, such as solar power and geothermal energy.

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 2007) authorizes the Department to collaborate with the private sector, DOE’s National Laboratories, other federal agencies, and non-governmental organizations to advance high-performance commercial green buildings. DOE’s Building Technologies Program will support high performance Green Building activities in EISA 2007, including: technology research and development; sponsorship of pilot and demonstration projects across multiple climate zones; provision of technical assistance to encourage widespread technology adoption; development of training materials and programs for builders; public education on the need for efficiency in new and existing buildings; work with code-setting bodies to ensure technologies are properly deployed; analysis of incentives for builders, landlords, and tenants to ensure that cost-effective investments are made on a life-cycle basis; and, development of a means for measurement and verification of energy savings.

NREL, in its capacity as a DOE-sponsored national laboratory, is providing $100,000 to the California Clean Tech Open on behalf of the DOE/ NLCBT to facilitate initiation and development of a green buildings award category under the competition.