DoE Invests $46 Million in Building Energy Efficiency
The US Department of Energy has put another $46 million on the table to reduce commercial energy waste. The funds are a part of the Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers and Innovation Technologies and will benefit nearly 30 projects across 15 states.
DoE Building Efficiency Investment
The Building Energy Efficiency Frontiers and Innovation Technologies fund is designed to lower energy consumption in commercial and multi-family residential buildings. In the US, these large developments account for roughly 40% of total energy usage. That footprint also accounts for 35% of the nation’s total carbon emissions.
Related: 2023 Global Energy Trends
The Building Technologies project addresses several energy-intensive elements in commercial buildings, including HVAC, water heating, energy storage, lighting and more. This most recent rounding of funding allocations will support 29 new projects in 15 states, The process includes careful documentation to evaluate the immediate and long-term impact of these energy efficiency upgrades with a particular focus on:
Insulation retrofit technology
Air leakage diagnostics
Air sealing technologies
A full list of funding recipients is available on the Department of Energy website.
Passive Energy Efficiency May Save Lives
The additional investment comes as the DoE released a report on the impact of energy efficiency on health and safety during extreme weather. Buildings that meet or exceed current energy efficiency codes were up to 140% safer than buildings that were not at code. The DoE found that buildings with improved grid integrations, better insulation, modern HVAC systems and emergency backups saw fewer power outages, reduced risk of property damage, lower risk of occupant injury, and were more likely to exceed code provisions.
The report also found that these energy-forward buildings may save lives outside their doors. Lowering energy demand in one or several buildings frees up supply nearby, which may improve health outcomes and recovery efforts during extreme weather events.
It’s All About Energy
Energy codes have an immediate and far-reaching on energy resilience during natural weather phenomena or when energy supplies are low. For businesses, energy costs have an outsized impact on operating expenses during normal times; they may also be critical during emergencies, too Speak with a Keen energy consultant today to learn how we can help.