The Building Technologies Office research is helping make buildings become smarter about the amount and timing of energy use and emit less carbon through the Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings (GEB) Initiative. The GEB Initiative works to remake buildings into a clean and flexible energy resources by combining energy efficiency and demand flexibility with smart technologies and communications to inexpensively deliver greater affordability, comfort, productivity, and performance to America’s homes and buildings.
The GEB Initiative leads the fundamental research, development, demonstration and deployment of GEBs. The GEB Initiative also convenes and provides a variety of building sector stakeholders – including other federal agencies, state and local governments, utilities, builders, building component manufacturers, scientists, engineers, and more – with the technical support they need to advance GEB capabilities across the country in the residential and commercial buildings of today and tomorrow.
A series of Technical Reports that evaluate the opportunities for GEBs.
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BTO partners’ working groups drive GEB integration.
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GEB Blog Series and News Updates
June 28, 2023
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.
November 8, 2022
Acting Assistant Secretary Alejandro Moreno offers his thoughts on a recent visit to Ohio State University
November 2, 2022
Today, DOE kicked off the inaugural cohort of Connected Communities at the Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
October 14, 2022
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.
June 3, 2022
DOE’s Building Technologies Office (BTO) has released a Request for Information (RFI) to inform BTO’s strategic direction and future investments in technology research and development (R&D) on energy management control systems. The RFI solicits feedback f
October 13, 2021
Ten “Connected Communities” Will Equip More than 7,000 Buildings with Smart Controls, Sensors, and Analytics to Reduce Energy Use, Costs, and Emissions
October 13, 2021
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) awarded $61 million from it Connected Communities funding opportunity announcement for 10 projects that will demonstrate how grid-interactive technologies can transform homes and workplaces into connected communities.
June 17, 2021
The time has arrived for buildings to stop being part of our climate emergency and start being part of the solution. DOE’s new National Roadmap for Grid-Interactive Efficient Buildings can help facilitate this transition.
October 12, 2020
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency Alex Fitzsimmons Blog on Connected Communities FOA
October 13, 2020
DOE announces up to $65 million through its Connected Communities FOA to expand DOE's network of efficient building communities nationwide.
Grid-interactive and Efficient Buildings are Emerging as Dynamic Solutions to Many Energy Challenges
March 27, 2020
Grid-interactive and Efficient Buildings are Emerging as Dynamic Solutions to Many Energy Challenges
March 27, 2020
DOE's EERE is seeking public input on a potential funding for grid-interactive buildings in Connected Communities
February 13, 2020
EERE announced its intent to issue a Funding Opportunity Announcement entitled, Connected Communities.
February 10, 2020
DOE announced $74 million for 63 selected projects to research, develop, and test energy-efficient and flexible building technologies.
December 11, 2019
Studying the load shifting and efficiency potential of heat pump water heaters relative to electric resistance water heaters in residential buildings.
October 22, 2019
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory recently completed preliminary testing of its promising Economic Dispatch.
August 1, 2019
DOE recently helped unveil a new community of 46 smart townhomes in Atlanta.
May 21, 2019
Understanding when efficiency occurs, and its value at those times, is a central component of BTO’s efforts.
May 8, 2019
We will dig deeper into why the timing of energy efficiency matters. To put it simply, it’s a matter of economics.
December 20, 2018
As part of its grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEB) vision, BTO directs breakthrough research that will make building technologies smarter.
May 1, 2018
With a rapidly changing energy industry, Southern Company recognizes that accelerating technology development is more important than ever.
April 25, 2018
Enabling smarter grids has the potential to create a revolution in the building sector that will save energy and costs.
March 16, 2018
HVAC, water heating, and other appliances represent more than half of the total energy used in U.S. residential and commercial buildings.
February 12, 2018
The intersection of occupant comfort, productivity, and energy reduction is no secret.
December 21, 2017
It’s the last days of holiday shopping, and everyone is noticing all of the Internet-connected products out there.
October 19, 2017
Buildings are becoming more responsive and dispatchable, reacting to grid needs while also helping American businesses and families to save energy.
September 12, 2017
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.
Learn more about the basics and benefits of Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings.
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