Today, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building Technologies Office (BTO) awarded its second Zero Energy Design Designation (ZEDD) seal of recognition to 22 leading educational programs across the country that are preparing tomorrow’s high-performing building professionals to design and construct the most sustainable buildings possible. This DOE designation, which was first awarded to 17 programs in 2022, distinguishes post-secondary academic programs that teach the latest zero energy design best practices to students and require them to apply those building science concepts in projects.

“To meet our goals in the fight against climate change, our buildings professionals must be prepared to design and construct high-efficiency, resilient buildings,” said Mandy Mahoney, BTO director. “The institutions we are recognizing today are preparing students for 21st century buildings careers. Their graduates will be on the front lines in our fight against the climate crisis and ensure we all have a clean energy future to look forward to.”

The following educational programs, available at 14 institutions, earned the designation:

  • Drexel University – Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    • Bachelor of Architecture
  • Marywood University – Scranton, Pennsylvania
    • Bachelor of Architecture
    • Bachelor of Environmental Design in Architecture
    • Bachelor of Interior Architecture
  • New York City College of Technology – Brooklyn, New York
    • Bachelor of Architectural Technology
  • Oklahoma State University – Stillwater, Oklahoma
    • Master of Interior Design with Zero Energy Concentration
    • Bachelor of Interior Design with Zero Energy Concentration
  • Texas A&M University – College Station, Texas
    • Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering
  • University of Arizona – Tucson, Arizona
    • Bachelor of Architecture with Zero Energy Concentration
  • University of California, Riverside – Riverside, California
    • Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with General Mechanical Engineering Concentration
    • Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with an Energy/Environment Concentration
    • Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering with a Design/Manufacturing Concentration
  • University of Colorado Denver – Denver, Colorado
    • Zero Energy Systems Track for Master of Architecture
  • University of Florida – Gainesville, Florida
    • Bachelor of Science in STEM, Sustainability in the Built Environment LEED Lab
  • University of Miami – Coral Gables, Florida
    • Bachelor of Architecture
    • Master of Architecture
    • Net Zero Energy Certificate Program
  • University of Southern California – Los Angeles, California
    • Master of Building of Science
  • Virginia Tech University – Blacksburg, Virginia
    • Bachelor of Science of Building Construction
  • Washington State University – Pullman, Washington
    • Energy Conscious Construction Undergraduate Certificate Program
    • Energy Conscious Construction Graduate Certificate Program
  • Weber State University – Ogden, Utah
    • Bachelor of Architectural Design

The Zero Energy Design Designation program supports the Biden Administration’s goal of a net-zero emissions economy by 2050. As buildings are one of the main contributors to carbon emissions, building professionals must be trained to design and construct high-efficiency, low-carbon buildings to achieve this goal. The designation, offered to qualifying programs of study for three years, requires graduating students to:

  • Complete a building science curriculum that uses DOE’s Solar Decathlon Building Science Education learning modules or otherwise meets ZEDD’s learning objectives; and,
  • Participate in a Zero Energy Design Practicum, either by completing the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon Design Challenge or by engaging in a zero-energy design project that would earn the DOE Zero Energy Ready Home certification or a more stringent energy performance standard.