Lead Performer: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory – Berkeley, CA
Partners:
-- Oak Ridge National Laboratory – Oak Ridge, TN
-- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
-- ICF International
-- National Resource Defense Council
-- University of California, Davis
-- MoHURD Science and Technology Committee
-- Tsinghua University
-- Tongji University
-- Tianjin University
-- Chongqing University
-- China Academy of Building Research
-- China Society of Urban Studies
DOE Total Funding: $2,500,000/year for 10 years. CERC is supported by public and private funding, split evenly between the two countries. All U.S. government resources flow to U.S.-based partners and all Chinese government resources flow to Chinese-based partners.
Cost Share: Expected $2,500,000/year from U.S. industry.
Project Term: 2011 – 2020
Funding Type: Direct Lab Funded

Project Objective

The U.S.-China Clean Energy Research Center (CERC) is a pioneering research and development (R&D) consortium bringing together governments, key policymakers, researchers, and industry to develop a long-term platform for sustainable U.S.-China joint R&D. These building energy efficiency technologies and strategies researched and developed in the United States and China will be applicable worldwide. Researchers are working to improve efficiency in new and existing buildings, save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase indoor comfort, and reduce stress on the electric grid.

Together, U.S. and Chinese research-industry teams will:

  • Focus on real-world impact through the early commercialization of technologies and by developing intellectual property, software, tools, guidebooks, codes, policies, and more
  • Bring new technologies to market
  • Create a sustainable platform and build lasting partnerships
  • Cover the whole business model by involving various stakeholders such as government, academia, and the private sector

This consortium works to accelerate innovation, leading to commercial successes and real world impact. The strategy to achieve these outcomes is implemented through a collaborative research agenda organized around these topics: building design and operation, building envelope, building equipment, renewable energy utilization, whole building, and policy and market promotion.

The Building Technologies Office works with CERC on multiple technology research and development projects, including:

Project Impact

CERC researchers and partners will make significant reductions in building energy consumption in both countries, by creating and deploying building energy efficiency technologies and tools that benefit society.

Contacts

DOE Technology Manager: Antonio Ruiz
Lead Performer:  Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory