Challenge
Building construction faces high costs and long timelines due to fragmented permitting and poor data interoperability. Then, when buildings are operational, sometimes faulty building controls can cause increased energy bills.
AI Solution
AI can transform the entire building lifecycle from design through operation by enabling breakthroughs in automated design, physics-based modeling, rapid permitting, and optimized maintenance. DOE will partner with machine learning and agentic platform developers, and collaborate with building owners, laboratories, construction companies, and others with data that can help validate and accelerate learning.
Justification
DOE’s buildings expertise and national laboratory building science capabilities, along with its integrated building research infrastructure and public-private partnerships, make it uniquely suited to tackle this challenge.
National Impact
This effort will reduce construction timelines and costs, increasing housing availability and affordability while making homes and commercial buildings less costly to operate.