The Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers and Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) funding will help advance cost-effective solutions for electricying buildings across the nation while also improving their energy efficiency and demand flexibility. These projects support decarbonization strategies that, when deployed widely and properly, significantly reduce the building sector’s greenhouse gas emissions, eliminate unnecessary and wasteful energy consumption, and reduce strain on the nation’s electric grid.

Accelerating breakthroughs in innovative technologies that increase building resiliency while mitigating local pollution is essential to delivering on Biden’s plan to combat the climate crisis and build a clean-energy future, the DOE said.

“Exploring new ways to build and operate America’s buildings is key to cutting harmful emissions and combatting the climate crisis,” said Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm. “With this funding, the department is providing critical new resources to teams from across the nation to transform game-changing ideas into innovative solutions, creating safer and healthier homes and buildings while cutting energy costs.” 

Residential and commercial buildings are the largest energy-consuming sector of the U.S. economy, responsible for approximately 40% of the nation’s energy consumption, 74% of its electricity use, and 35% of its carbon emissions. Estimates indicate roughly one-third, or more, of the energy used by buildings is wasted, at a cost of $150 billion annually, the DOE said. 

DOE works to reduce the energy intensity and related carbon emissions of homes and commercial buildings by supporting cost-effective technologies and practices, and these projects will drive innovations that help drive breakthroughs and continued progress, the DOE said. More than half of the 29 projects selected for award negotiations are focused on improving energy efficiency in space conditioning or water heating, which account for just over half of all energy use in American homes.

For more information and a list of projects selected for award negotiations, click here.

Selection for award negotiations is not a commitment by DOE to issue an award or provide funding. Before funding is issued, DOE and the applicants will undergo a negotiation process, and DOE may cancel negotiations and rescind an award for any reason during that time. 

DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is accelerating the research, development, demonstration, and deployment of technologies and solutions to support Biden plan to transition the U.S. to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions economy-wide by 2050.