U.S. Energy Department Awards $32 Million for Next-Generation Building Retrofit Projects

The U.S. Energy Department on March 14 announced a $32 million grant to fund over thirty projects aimed at improving affordable housing technology. The seven recipients will pilot renovation methods that reduce disruptions to residents while advancing the energy and environmental execution of buildings speedily, inexpensively, and efficiently. These techniques include prefabricating walls and replacing water systems, heating systems, and air conditioning systems with plug-and-play options. The initiative is expected to provide the means to decarbonize 130 million establishments at the pace necessary to address climate change issues and achieve the Biden administration’s target of a net-zero carbon economy by 2050.

The building sector accounts for 35 percent of U.S. carbon emissions, according to the energy department. The buildings consume 40 percent of the nation’s energy and 75 percent of electricity. It is estimated that by installing insulation, changing windows, and using high-efficiency equipment, buildings will be able to save 30 percent of their energy costs today. Further, innovative solutions can reduce the use of thermal energy by 75 percent in buildings with industrialized solutions.

The new projects will demonstrate quick and cheap low-carbon renovation and construction methods in low-income communities across the nation. It is expected that these projects will spur the development of new technologies, practices, and approaches for delivering low-carbon innovations to the industry. The funds will allow these projects to implement innovations developed from prior DOE’s 2019 funding, as part of the agency’s Advanced Building Construction with Energy-Efficient Technologies & Practices Funding Opportunity.

These selected awardees will also contribute to advancing the DOE-funded Advanced Building Construction Collaborative, which connects companies engaged in industrialized construction techniques with manufacturers, builders, developers, financiers, and utilities to modernize the construction industry and buildings sector.