The Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings (GEB) Initiative was launched in 2018 to explore opportunities to remake buildings into flexible energy resources – combining energy efficiency and demand flexibility with smart technologies and communications to deliver greater affordability, comfort, productivity, and performance to America’s homes and buildings. This foundational work informs BTO’s grid-edge R&D, Connected Communities demonstrations, and has spurred interest among state energy officials and regulators to explore approaches for adopting these strategies.
The GEB Initiative convened and provided a variety of building sector stakeholders – including other federal agencies, state and local governments, utilities, builders, building component manufacturers, scientists, engineers, and more – with technical support to advance GEB capabilities across the country in the residential and commercial buildings of today and tomorrow.
GEB Technical Reports
To help inform the building research community and advance its research and development portfolio, BTO has published a series of technical reports that evaluate the opportunities for grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEBs).
GEB Working Groups and Other Resources
BTO partners’ working groups drive GEB integration.
GEB Blog Series and News Updates
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This first in a new series of stories that will document DOE’s Connected Communities project over the next five years, including the advancements and lessons learned of its 10 demonstration projects.June 28, 2023
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Acting Assistant Secretary Alejandro Moreno offers his thoughts on a recent visit to Ohio State UniversityNovember 8, 2022
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With funding from the Building Technologies Office, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory recently published a four-part, multi-year study looking at the interactive effects of energy efficiency and demand response.October 14, 2022
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Ten “Connected Communities” Will Equip More than 7,000 Buildings with Smart Controls, Sensors, and Analytics to Reduce Energy Use, Costs, and EmissionsOctober 13, 2021
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The time has arrived for buildings to stop being inefficient energy consumers and start being flexible energy resources.June 17, 2021
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Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency Alex Fitzsimmons Blog on Connected Communities FOAOctober 12, 2020
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DOE announces up to $65 million through its Connected Communities FOA to expand DOE's network of efficient building communities nationwide.October 13, 2020
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Grid-interactive and Efficient Buildings are Emerging as Dynamic Solutions to Many Energy ChallengesGrid-interactive and Efficient Buildings are Emerging as Dynamic Solutions to Many Energy ChallengesMarch 27, 2020
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DOE's EERE is seeking public input on a potential funding for grid-interactive buildings in Connected CommunitiesMarch 27, 2020
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EERE announced its intent to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement entitled, Connected Communities.February 13, 2020
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DOE announced $74 million for 63 selected projects to research, develop, and test energy-efficient and flexible building technologies.February 10, 2020
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Studying the load shifting and efficiency potential of heat pump water heaters relative to electric resistance water heaters in residential buildings.December 11, 2019
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The U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory recently completed preliminary testing of its promising Economic Dispatch.October 22, 2019
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DOE recently helped unveil a new community of 46 smart townhomes in Atlanta.August 1, 2019
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Understanding when efficiency occurs, and its value at those times, is a central component of BTO’s efforts.May 21, 2019
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As part of its grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEB) vision, BTO directs breakthrough research that will make building technologies smarter.December 20, 2018
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With a rapidly changing energy industry, Southern Company recognizes that accelerating technology development is more important than ever.May 1, 2018
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Enabling smarter grids has the potential to create a revolution in the building sector that will save energy and costs.April 25, 2018
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HVAC, water heating, and other appliances represent more than half of the total energy used in U.S. residential and commercial buildings.March 16, 2018
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The intersection of occupant comfort, productivity, and energy reduction is no secret.February 12, 2018
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It’s the last days of holiday shopping, and everyone is noticing all of the Internet-connected products out there.December 21, 2017
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Buildings are becoming more responsive and dispatchable, reacting to grid needs while also helping American businesses and families to save energy.October 19, 2017
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Every hour more than 200,000 new devices get connected to the Internet globally, and the U.S. market for these devices is the world’s biggest.September 12, 2017
GEB Factsheet