$9M Slated for Commercial Energy Work : PaintSquare News

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$9M Slated for Commercial Energy Work

MONDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2014

Energy-efficiency improvements that can be scaled up for widespread adoption in commercial buildings may now be eligible for millions of dollars in federal backing.

The U.S. Energy Department's Building Technologies Office (BTO) has announced the availability of nearly $9 million in funding for scalable tools, solutions and resources to improve energy efficiency in U.S. commercial buildings.

Photos: U.S. Department of Energy

The Energy Department is trying to build on existing DOE-supported technologies, such as the implementation model developed by the Cleveland Clinic for the DOE's Better Buildings Challenge.

Photos: U.S. Department of Energy

The Energy Department is trying to build on existing DOE-supported technologies, such as the implementation model developed by the Cleveland Clinic for the DOE's Better Buildings Challenge.

"Advancing Solutions to Improve the Energy Efficiency of U.S. Commercial Buildings" (DE-FOA-0001168) seeks to build on technologies and methods already developed by DOE to help commercial building owners, managers and professionals "overcome barriers to efficiency."

Program Focus

To that end, the agency is seeking to support five to 10 projects that can accelerate marketplace adoption of programs and initiatives such as these:

The implementation models developed by DOE's Better Buildings Challenge;
Data and analysis platforms such as the Commercial Building Energy Asset Score, the Standard Energy Efficiency Data Platform, and the Buildings Performance Database;
Better Buildings Workforce Guidelines and training programs;
The Better Buildings rooftop unit or low-cost wireless submeter challenge specifications; and
Owner-tenant collaboration strategies developed as part of the Green Lease Library project

What DOE Wants

DOE is interested in proposals with maximum impact—those with the potential to:

Impact a significant geographic and/or commercial buildings market sector;
Affect a minimum of 100 buildings;
Achieve energy savings of at least 20 percent over 10 years;
Train workers;
Create jobs; and
Build programs that will be self-sustaining after the DOE funding period ends.

The Energy Department has also invested in Abengoa’s facility in Hugoton, KS, a commercial-scale cellulosic ethanol biorefinery that will produce 25 million gallons of cellulosic ethanol per year.

Officials are urging organizations to partner on applications, to leverage current deployment channels, market orientation, and strategic relationships.

This funding opportunity is open to organizations, companies, non-profits, universities and consortiums operating in the U.S. The final funding amount is subject to Congressional appropriations.

How to Apply

More information, including application requirements, may be found on the Funding Opportunity Announcement.

Concept papers must be submitted by 5 p.m. ET Nov. 17, 2014; full applications are due by 5 p.m. ET Jan. 20, 2015.

Questions about this FOA may be emailed here.

BTO's Commercial Buildings Integration Program, which is managing the project, will also hold a webinar on the funding announcement from 2 to 3 p.m. ET Oct. 27. Participants may register here.

Tagged categories: Commercial Buildings; Energy efficiency; Government; Green roofs; Information technology; Maintenance + Renovation; North America; U.S. Department of Energy

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