by Jbs062109 c3 — July 1, 2009—Partners from the private sector, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), and two national labs, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) are working together to reduce energy consumption in commercial buildings in the United States.
NREL and PNNL are currently working with 23 National Accounts Companies (NACs), including nine retailers, 13 real estate management companies, and one distribution facility. Through the program, the team will create, test, and validate design concepts that will move the industry towards net-zero energy commercial buildings.
National Accounts is part of DOE’s Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative (CBI), which has as a goal to develop market-ready, net zero-energy commercial buildings by 2025. DOE defines a net zero-energy building as one that makes as much energy as it uses over a year.
The CBI program is currently funded as a public/private cost share. DOE is contributing $15 million through the technical expertise of NREL and PNNL. Companies kick in 20 percent of the project value. Construction costs and capital improvement fees to retrofit older buildings are not included in the program.
Currently, retail and office buildings consume 18 percent of the nation’s total energy and half of nation’s overall building energy (including homes, schools, and other structures). The program partners will work to build new facilities that use 50 percent less energy and retrofit older buildings to use 30 percent less energy, explains NREL.
