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Professional training programs focus on providing training for certification and are designed to help professionals increase their knowledge and abilities. There are two main categories of certification courses including new homes and existing homes.

New Homes

Three organizations provide certification courses on new homes. These include:

• Energy & Environmental Building Association (EEBA) is an international organization that provides educational products and services for improved building performance to its members. Members of EEBA have the can register to participate in a "Master Builder" certification program. The program is offered year round through EEBA's Institute of Building Technology. Topics covered in the program include: Building Design Basics, Codes Comprehension, Design Components, Green and Sustainability, Commissioning and Testing, Indoor Environments and Health and Mechanical Systems.
  
  
• Residential Energy Services Network (RESNAT) is comprised of a national group of mortgage companies, real estate brokers, builders, appraisers, utilities and other housing and energy professionals interested in increasing the number of families qualified for homeownership through the expansion of mortgage financing options and home energy ratings. RESNAT in collaboration with other organizations offers its member the opportunity to enroll in a home energy rater certification program based on the HERS Rating Method.
  
  North American Technician Excellence (NATE) offers tests to both Installation and Service technicians. Posted on their website are course descriptions. NATE has a network of hundreds of Testing Organizations across the country, and testing takes place all year.

Existing Homes

A number of state and local government agencies as well as private companies offer weatherization certification programs for their residents. For additional information, please see your local governments' web site or click on the corresponding link above.

Good Installation Practices.

In order to have energy efficient products work well, they need to be installed well. The North American Technician Excellence (NATE) is an independent non-profit that provides comprehensive, nationwide testing and certification for HVAC technicians who work on or install residential and light commercial equipment and systems. NATE training, endorsed by the U.S. Department of Energy, increases the number of technicians skilled in the proper installation and service of HVAC equipment, which ensures that equipment runs at peak efficiency and helps achieve energy efficiency goals.


SOURCE:  HUD

Green Operation is operation of an Eligible Project that complies with the Green Retrofit Owner Commitments. Green Operation includes, without limitation:

a. The use of Green Components (as defined in the Green Retrofit Owner Commitments) where prudent and appropriate for operations and replacements;
b. Materially lower use of chemicals thought to be harmful to humans for cleaning and maintenance;
c. Adherence to Integrated Pest Management (IPM) principles;
d. Maintenance of a Green property management qualification as required by HUD;
e. Providing access to the project and its records for the preparation of any post-closing analyses required by HUD;

Green Retrofit.

Green Retrofit means a retrofit, acceptable to HUD, that has one or more of the following attributes, when compared with the comparable component that would normally be used by owners of similar properties in the same market area:

a. Materially lower electric / heating fuel / water consumption.
b. Materially lower emissions of chemicals thought to be harmful to humans.
c. Materially longer useful life.
d. Materially more biodegradable.
e. Materially more easily recycled.
f. Materially lower use of raw materials/materially more recycled content.
g. Materially lower transportation costs of products delivered to the project.
h. The determination of materiality shall be made in HUD's sole discretion.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

IPM is defined in detail in the Green Retrofit Owner Commitments. It is an approach to pest management focused on preventing the entry of pests and the early detection of infestations, in order to minimize the use of pesticides. IPM also involves selecting the least toxic pesticide that is likely to be effective in combating the identified infestation. IPM does not permit the use of pesticides (including low-toxicity pesticides) unless there is an identified infestation. IPM minimizes the use of fogging and spraying application techniques in favor of baiting techniques. Additional information on IPM is available from the GRP web site.

Products and Appliances.

If not currently installed: low-flow faucet aerators, low-flow shower heads, and low-flush toilets. The GRPCA shall recommend low-flow faucets if faucets need to be replaced.
ii. ENERGY STAR rated refrigerators, for existing refrigerators having 15 percent or less remaining useful life.


ENERGY STAR rated dishwashers, for existing dishwashers having 15 percent or less remaining useful life.
b. Heating and Cooling.
i. Recommended HVAC unit sizes and efficiency ratings determined by the GRPCA provider using methodology acceptable to HUD.
ii. ENERGY STAR rated HVAC systems, for existing systems having 15 percent or less remaining useful life. However:
A. The GRPCA provider may recommend evaporative cooling in lieu of air conditioning for Eligible Projects in appropriate climate zones. B. If the Eligible Project has Packaged Terminal Air Conditioner (PTAC) units, the GRPCA provider may recommend Packaged Terminal Heat Pumps, PTAC units, or conversion to central air conditioning.
c. Water Heaters. High efficiency domestic hot water heaters, for existing hot water heaters having 15 percent or less remaining useful life. If natural gas is used for domestic hot water heating, the GRPCA provider shall recommend ENERGY STAR rated natural gas fired hot water heaters. Otherwise, the GRPCA provider shall recommend the highest efficiency units that are cost-justified for the Eligible Project, using analytical methods approved by HUD.

Building Envelope.

i. ENERGY STAR rated windows, for all existing single-pane windows and for any other existing windows having 15 percent or less remaining useful life.
ii. ENERGY STAR rated sliding glass doors, for all existing sliding glass doors having 15 percent or less remaining useful life.
iii. ENERGY STAR rated storm doors, for all existing storm doors having 15 percent or less remaining useful life, but not when used with ENERGY STAR rated exterior doors.
iv. ENERGY STAR rated exterior doors, for all existing doors opening to unheated/uncooled areas having 15 percent or less remaining useful life, but not when used with ENERGY STAR rated storm doors.
v. Additional insulation in accessible areas, to the current new construction code requirement. If additional insulation beyond the new construction codes requirement can be cost-justified, using analytical methods approved by HUD, the GRPCA provider shall recommend such addition insulation.

Lighting.

i. ENERGY STAR rated interior compact fluorescent light bulbs.
ii. Replacement of lighted exit signs with LED fixtures.

Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality.

i. ENERGY STAR rated ceiling fans, for all existing ceiling fans having 15 percent or less remaining useful life.
ii. Bath and kitchen exhaust ducted to the outside, if practicable.
iii. ENERGY STAR rated bath and kitchen exhaust fans to replace existing ducted fans having 15 percent or less remaining useful life.

Building Envelope.

i. ENERGY STAR rated windows, for all existing single-pane windows and for any other existing windows having 15 percent or less remaining useful life.
ii. ENERGY STAR rated sliding glass doors, for all existing sliding glass doors having 15 percent or less remaining useful life.
iii. ENERGY STAR rated storm doors, for all existing storm doors having 15 percent or less remaining useful life, but not when used with ENERGY STAR rated exterior doors.
iv. ENERGY STAR rated exterior doors, for all existing doors opening to unheated/uncooled areas having 15 percent or less remaining useful life, but not when used with ENERGY STAR rated storm doors.
v. Additional insulation in accessible areas, to the current new construction code requirement. If additional insulation beyond the new construction codes requirement can be cost-justified, using analytical methods approved by HUD, the GRPCA provider shall recommend such addition insulation.

Lighting.

i. ENERGY STAR rated interior compact fluorescent light bulbs.
ii. Replacement of lighted exit signs with LED fixtures.

Ventilation and Indoor Air Quality.

i. ENERGY STAR rated ceiling fans, for all existing ceiling fans having 15 percent or less remaining useful life.
ii. Bath and kitchen exhaust ducted to the outside, if practicable.
iii. ENERGY STAR rated bath and kitchen exhaust fans to replace existing ducted fans having 15 percent or less remaining useful life.
iv. No or Low-volatile organic compound (no/low-VOC) cabinets, or sealing open surfaces and cut edges, when replacing kitchen cabinets and bath vanities.
v. Use of no/low-VOC paint and sealants for interior applications.
vi. Carbon monoxide alarm on each occupied floor of the unit, near the bedroom, if there is a nearby combustion source.

Other Green Features.

i. Any recommended landscaping improvements are required to evaluate practical water conservation measures including xeriscaping.
ii. Any physical changes needed to facilitate integrated pest management approaches.
iii. Up-front changes to facilitate recycling of household wastes, if practicable considering the property configuration and the local recycling options.
iv. Maintenance of a collection point within the Eligible Project for hazardous wastes (e.g., electronic equipment, computer printer ink, compact fluorescent bulbs, lithium batteries) of tenants and of the Eligible Project, and environmentally sound disposal of such wastes, if the Owner determines that to do so is operationally practicable and financially reasonable.

Green management of rehabilitation/construction debris.

Optional Green Alternatives.

In the interest of simplifying implementation of the GRP, HUD provides participating Owners with the option for the GRPCA not to evaluate certain advanced and/or high-cost Green alternatives that the Owner is not seriously interested in pursuing. When the Owner applies to participate in the GRP, the Owner may indicate its willingness to consider each of the optional Green alternatives listed below. More information on each of these optional Green alternatives is available from the GRP web site, and HUD encourages Owners to carry out their own due diligence as well. The GRPCA will evaluate each optional Green alternative only if the Owner states a serious willingness to consider it:

a. Combined heat and power ("CHP", sometimes also referred to as co-generation). CHP utilizes a generator to produce electric power for use in the building, and captures the resulting heat for use to heat the building. Ideal candidates for CHP are large buildings, with central hot water generation, that can or could utilize centrally generated hot water for heating, in areas with electricity costs above 10 cents per kilowatt hour.

b. Green energy. Solar, wind or geothermal system installations that would provide an alternate energy source for the Eligible Project. Solar installations are photovoltaic panels that convert sunlight into electricity. Wind installations are windmills or wind turbines which, in areas with frequent wind activity, convert wind into electricity. Geothermal installations take advantage of the near constant temperature below ground and use that as a source of heat in the winter and cooling in the summer.

c. Fuel Cells. Fuel cells owned by a property to produce electricity from natural gas or hydrogen are becoming less expensive and can be an efficient source of electric power.

More information from HUD

Under federal 2009 ARRA funding, California Community Services Division is receiving $185.2 million for the Department of Energy Weatherization Assistance Program to install energy efficiency and health and safety measures in low-income California dwellings. Of that sum, CSD may use a portion to defray the cost of training workers in weatherization, energy audits, and post-installation inspection standards - all of which are considered "green" jobs.

Over the next 27 months, CSD estimates its local providers will expend approximately $15.7 million ($9.6 million per CSD's estimates and $6.1 million reserve set-aside to be used for the inclusion of new grantees) to support sending their field supervisors, weatherization and energy audit employees, and dedicated subcontractors to CSD-approved weatherization training centers to meet DOE training requirements.

Six Core Subjects of Weatherization Job Training

CSD's weatherization training curriculum consists of 6 core subjects, to include:

Basic Weatherization - instruction on performing the basic and more simplistic forms of energy-efficiency measures, including: caulking, CFL installations, weather-stripping of windows and doors, minor home repairs, etc.

Advanced Weatherization - instruction on performing the more advanced forms of energy-efficiency and health and safety measures, including but not limited to: lighting fixture replacements, window and exterior door replacements, small appliance assessment and replacements, CO alarm installations, advanced forms of minor home repairs, etc.

Diagnostic Testing - instruction on the protocols for carrying-out pressurized diagnostic testing to determine the integrity of heating/cooling duct systems for leakage and the extent of outside air infiltration with indoor condition living space

Combustion Appliance Testing - instruction on the proper testing methods for evaluating the operational safety (carbon monoxide emissions) of combustion appliance located with living spaces and procedures for mitigating appliance hazardous conditions.

Health and Safety Environmental Awareness - instruction on the proper techniques to minimize exposure to lead paint hazards during the course of performing weatherization measure activities, and other safe practices intended to ensure the safety and will being of both weatherization crew members and recipients of weatherization services.

Dwelling Assessment - instruction on the proper method for performing health and safety assessments and energy audits of residential dwellings.

Weatherization Training In The Classroom and Online

CSD's weatherization training curriculum is hosted and delivered at two training centers within the state, the PG&E Training Center located in Stockton, California and the Community Action Partnership of San Bernardino County Training Center. CSD will further supplement training center efforts by developing a series of online training courses, employment recruitment tools, and field trainings all intended to further improve the competency and skill of the weatherization workforces. The online training will offer refresher courses and other educational resources to prepare new employees for the classroom training offered at the state's training centers.

Weatherization Green Job Training Recruitment Tools

Recruitment tools will assist agency providers in their recruitment efforts for hiring new staff or retaining the services of subcontractors to ensure that these recruitment efforts result in the hiring individuals possessing basic skills and aptitude to perform weatherization work, and competent subcontractors.

Quality Control

Lastly, CSD will retain the services of a third-party consultant to evaluate the quality of weatherization work and provide infield training to agency employees and subcontractor workforce.

CSD anticipates expending approximately $7.9 million for these various forms of training and technical assistance activities.

On June 18, 2009, the Department of Energy  announced provision of more than $453 million in Recovery Act funding to expand weatherization assistance programs in 15 additional states.

These funds, along with additional funds to be disbursed after the states meet certain Recovery Act milestones, will help these states achieve their goal of weatherizing more than 165,000 homes, lowering energy costs for low-income families that need it, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and creating green jobs across the country. 

The following states will receive 40% of their total weatherization funding authorized under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act today:

• California,
  
• Delaware,
  
• District of Columbia,
  
• Florida,
  
• Maryland,
  
• Montana,
  
• North Carolina,
  
• North Dakota,
  
• Nebraska,
  
• Nevada,
  
• Ohio,
  
• South Carolina,
  
• South Dakota,
  
• Utah, and
• West Virginia.
  

Under the Recovery Act, states may spend up to 20% of funds to hire and train workers.

"These awards demonstrate the Obama Administration's strong commitment to  creating jobs and doing important work for the American people--while ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly," said Secretary Chu. "Today's investments will save money for hard working families, reduce pollution, strengthen local economies and help move America toward a clean energy future."

DOE's Weatherization Assistance Program will be available to families making up to 200% of the federal poverty level--or about $44,000 a year for a family of four.

Weatherization projects allow low-income families to save money by making their homes more energy efficient, which results in average savings of 32% for heating bills and savings of hundreds of dollars per year on overall energy bills. States will spend approximately $6,500 to weatherize each home.

The funding allocations for the Weatherization Assistance Program follow a stage-gate process: on March 12, funding allocations by state were announced and the initial 10% of total funding was available to states and territories to support planning and ramp-up activities; comprehensive state applications were due on May 12; following a DOE reviews for each state, 40% allocations are awarded; and the remaining 50% of funds will be released when states meet reporting, oversight, and accountability milestones required by the Recovery Act.

This installment adds to the initial 10% of the states' funding allocations that were awarded previously for training and ramp-up activities. Following a review of their comprehensive state plans, these 15 states have now received 50% of their Recovery Act Weatherization Assistance Program funding. Arizona, Kansas, Mississippi and Oregon previously received this 40% funding allocation.

The Recovery Act includes a strong commitment to oversight and accountability, while emphasizing the necessity of rapidly awarding funds to help create new jobs and stimulate local economies.

Innovations in energy-efficient building envelopes, equipment, lighting, daylighting, and windows--in conjunction with advances in passive solar, photovoltaic, fuel cells, advanced sensors and controls and combined heating, cooling, and power--have the potential to dramatically transform today's buildings.

These technologies--coupled with a whole building design approach that optimizes the interactions among building systems and components--will enable tomorrow's buildings to use considerably less energy, while also helping to reduce emissions and increase energy security.

President Obama and Secretary Chu have announced a $346 million investment from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to expand and accelerate the development, deployment, and use of energy efficient technologies in all major types of commercial buildings, as well as new and existing homes.

This funding includes:

Advanced Building Systems Research ($100 million)

These projects will address research focused on the systems design, integration, and control of both new and existing buildings. Buildings need to be designed, built, operated, and maintained as an integrated system in order to achieve the potential of energy efficient and eventually net zero-energy buildings. These projects will move beyond component-only driven research and address the interactions in buildings as a whole, in order to progress development of integrated, high performance buildings and achieve net zero-energy buildings.

Residential Buildings Development and Deployment ($70 million)

Expanded work in residential buildings will increase homeowner energy savings by supporting energy efficient retrofits and new homes while raising consumer awareness of the benefits of increased health, safety, and durability of energy efficiency. The projects will provide technical support to train workers and create jobs, developing a new workforce equipped to improve the nation's homes and will permit a major initiative to provide builders with technical assistance and training through states, utilities, and existing programs to increase the market share of new homes achieving substantial whole house energy savings. To address existing homes, DOE will work with municipalities with a variety of housing types and vintages as well as subdivisions with similar housing stock to encourage a large number of energy efficiency retrofits.

Commercial Buildings Initiative ($53.5 million)

These Recovery Act funds will be used to accelerate and expand partnerships with major companies that design, build, own, manage, or operate large fleets of buildings and that commit to achieving exemplary energy performance. This funding will be used to expand the number of these partnerships from 23 to about 75 through a competitive process beginning in September 2009.

Buildings and Appliance Market Transformation ($72.5 million)

In order to achieve energy savings, and ultimately lead to zero-energy buildings, the marketplace must be conditioned to accept the necessary advanced technologies and activities and ensure that the current technologies are performing as intended via current energy efficiency standards. Key activities include expanding ENERGY STAR to accelerate development of energy efficient products and expand the ENERGY STAR brand into new areas; preparing the design, construction, and enforcement community to implement commercial building energy codes that require a 30 percent improvement in energy efficiency over the 2004 code in 2010; and accelerating and expanding DOE's appliance standards program to evaluate innovative technologies and develop new test procedures that are more representative of today's energy use and equipment.

Solid State Lighting Research and Development ($50 million)

The objective of the solid state lighting activities is to advance state-of-the-art solid-state lighting (SSL) technology and to move those advancements more rapidly to market through a coordinated development of advanced manufacturing techniques. This project will both aid in the development and reduce the first cost of high performance lighting products. Continuing advances can accelerate progress towards creating a U.S.-led market for high efficiency light sources that save more energy, reduce costs, and have less environmental impact than other conventional light sources.

HR 1778 - The Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance (REEP) Program Act

 
Rationale: 

Buildings are responsible for 40 percent of all energy consumption,

70 percent of all electricity consumption, and

50 percent of all carbon emissions in the United States. 

Buildings in the United States account for 10 percent of global carbon emissions. 

Energy efficiency in buildings can be maximized with existing technologies to reduce building energy consumption by 25 percent or more. 

Expanding the residential and commercial efficiency will create jobs directly in performing retrofits, reduce energy bills for consumers, and address global carbon emissions.

Program Goals:  The purpose of the Retrofit for Energy and Environmental Performance (REEP) program is to facilitate the retrofitting of existing buildings across the United States to achieve cost-effective energy efficiency improvements of 20 percent and significant improvements in water use.  The program will provide federal financial assistance to state and local agencies for direct cash incentives and for the management of this program.  State and local agencies will have broad flexibility in the structure of program operations and choice of retrofit agencies or contractors.

Administration:  The Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency will develop and implement the REEP program.  State Energy Offices will then implement the REEP Program in accordance with standards and requirements adopted by the Administrator for the residential program and the Secretary for the commercial program.  States will be given maximum flexibility to implement the program through the agency with the greatest familiarity with overall building performance.  States may also delegate performance of the REEP program, upon their request and subject to state law, to counties, municipalities, public agencies, and other divisions of local government, provided that the State retains accountability for the funds and maintains responsibility to meet federal standards and requirements.  States and local government entities may in turn employ public or regulated investor-owned utilities, building auditors and inspectors, contractors, non-profit organizations, and other entities to perform actual audits and retrofit services.

Financial Incentives for Residential and Commerce Buildings:  The goal of REEP is to support direct incentives for efficiency improvements in residential and commercial buildings, compared to the building's previous energy use.  Both residential and commercial buildings are eligible to receive additional incentives for properties achieving at least 20% energy savings in the use of water.

For homes:
•    $1000 for a combination of prescriptive measures designed to reduce energy consumption by more than 10% (but not less than 10%), and $2000 for prescriptive measures designed to reduce energy consumption by 20%;
•    $3000 for actual demonstrated savings of 20% utilizing the performance based structure, and $150 per additional percentage point of energy savings achieved;
•    Incentives may accumulate to a maximum incentive not to exceed 50% of retrofit costs.

For commercial buildings:
•    a maximum of $0.15 per square foot of retrofit area for energy use reductions from 20% to 30%;
•    $0.75 per square foot for energy use reductions from 30% to 40%;
•    $1.60 per square foot for energy use reductions from 40% to 50%; and
•    $2.50 per square foot for energy use reductions exceeding 50%.
•    Incentives may accumulate to a maximum incentive not to exceed 50% of retrofit costs.

Standards:  Both the residential and commercial REEP program requires RESNET certification of building energy and environment auditors, inspectors, and raters and Building Performance Institute (BPI) certification or licensing by states of building energy and environmental retrofit contractors.  Standards will be developed for the determination of energy savings in the performance-based program.  State Energy Offices will be required to apply standards for training, certification of contractors, certification of buildings, and post-retrofit inspection as developed by EPA and DOE for residential and commercial buildings, respectively.  Regular audits of the program are required.

Flexibility to Implement Efficiency Programs:  The REEP program will allow alternate means of creating incentives or reducing financial barriers to improve energy and environmental performance in buildings.  These include utilizing the incentive to provide credit enhancement, interest rate subsidies, or other traditional credit support; to provide initial capital for public revolving-fund financing of retrofits (examples include: Montgomery County, MD;  Babylon, NY; and Berkeley, CA) with repayments by beneficiary building owners over time through their tax payments, calibrated to be net positive cash flow to building owner; or to support qualified utility-operated retrofit programs.

Federal Support:  During the initial year of the REEP program, financial support will be provided to each state in accordance with the State Energy Program formula.  In the second year and thereafter, half of available or appropriated funds will be allocated in accordance with the State Energy Program, and half in accordance with the relative performance of the states during the prior year, with higher allocations going to states showing greater success in improving energy and environmental performance of the buildings retrofitted in that state during that prior year.  The program calls for $2.5 billion each year for distribution to State Energy Offices and $500 million for administration of the program for Fiscal Years 2010-2014.

Co-sponsors: Chris Van Hollen, George Miller, Steve Israel, Patrick J. Murphy, Carolyn B. Maloney, Mike Honda, Carolyn C. Kilpatrick, André Carson, Kathy Dahlkemper, Frank Pallone, Steve Cohen, Elijah Cummings, Jim Langevin, Keith Ellison, Maurice Hinchey, Paul Tonko, Earl Blumenauer, Carol Shea-Porter, Donna Christensen, Bruce Braley, George Miller, Harry Teague, William Delahunt, Jay Inslee, Joe Courtney, Martin Heinrich, Russ Carnahan, Jim Himes, Ed Perlmutter, Lois Capps, Jared Polis

Supporting organizations include: Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), EfficiencyFirst, the American Council for an Energy-Efficiency Economy (ACEEE), the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and the US Green Buildings Council

Summary provided to VNRC by Congressman Peter Welch's office - www.welch.house.gov

H.R. 1778

EPA notes that it is easier for a 5,500-square-foot house to get the Energy Star seal than a 1,500-square-foot house -- even though the bigger house likely consumes much more energy.

The EPA is preparing to roll out tougher rules to ensure the logo represents robust environmental standards. But it has to walk a fine line, particularly during the recession. If it pushes too hard, builders are likely to bow out of the voluntary program due to the added expense.

EPA's concerns come as the Obama administration is pushing for what amounts to a mandatory nationwide building-efficiency rule.   Builders worry it will raise the sticker price of new houses.

Talk of energy efficiency typically focuses on fuel economy on the road. But buildings burn more than automobiles.

Together, residential and commercial buildings account for about 40% of U.S. energy use, compared with about 17% for cars and light trucks.

A recent Department of Energy study concluded that a typical house's energy use could be cut by at least 30%.

And it found the monthly mortgage payment needed to cover the higher construction costs would be more than offset by lower monthly energy bills.

The Energy Star standard is compared to a "model" building-efficiency guideline used by state and local governments. To earn the Energy Star label, a new house must score at least 15% better than what that "model" guideline stipulates. The rating takes into account such things as insulation, windows, heating-and-cooling ducts and appliances.

Energy Star has succeeded in popularizing efficient products. It has become the most consistent guide for consumers who want to know the energy efficiency they're getting for their money -- boosting demand and driving down costs. The modern residential thermal window, which curbs energy waste, used to be expensive but is now common in entry-level houses.

But the program's shortcomings show how difficult it can be to achieve widespread energy savings.

Big houses would lose their advantage under the tougher rule the EPA is preparing. It includes what would amount to a gas-guzzler penalty for houses.

Learn more at EfficiencyFirst

The National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), part of DOE's national laboratory system, is owned and operated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). NETL supports DOE's mission to advance the national, economic, and energy security of the United States.

NETL implements a broad spectrum of energy and environmental research and development (R&D) programs that will return benefits for generations to come:

• Enabling domestic coal, natural gas, and oil to economically power our Nation's homes, industries, businesses, and transportation ...
• While protecting our environment and enhancing our energy independence.

NETL has expertise in coal, natural gas, and oil technologies, contract and project management, analysis of energy systems, and international energy issues.

NETL
NETL.DOE.GOV for Energy R&D

Offices:

U.S. Department of Energy National Energy Technology Laboratory
PITTSBURGH, PA 626 Cochrans Mill Road P.O. Box 10940 Pittsburgh, PA   15236-0940	MORGANTOWN, WV 3610 Collins Ferry Road P.O. Box 880 Morgantown, WV   26507-0880
TULSA, OK One West Third Street Suite 1400 Tulsa, OK  74103-3519	FAIRBANKS, AK 2175 University Avenue South, Suite 201 Fairbanks, AK 99709
ALBANY, OR 1450 Queen Avenue SW Albany, OR 97321-2198

David Rodgers, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency , appeared before Congress to discuss the potential for increased energy efficiency in new and existing buildings to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Public Education and Outreach for Market Penetration

The Department of Energy is also focusing on broad public education and outreach in order to facilitate widespread market penetration of energy efficient technologies

Public campaigns, such as the "Change a Light, Change the World" campaign, have been used to drive public awareness. Each fall the Department, in cooperation with the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Housing and Urban Development, encourages consumers to change out old incandescent bulbs for new compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) that have earned the ENERGY STAR seal of approval. The "Change a Light, Change the World campaign" is now in its seventh year.

DOE Outreach Partnership with Walt Disney

In order to further encourage consumer adoption of energy efficient technologies like compact fluorescent lamps, DOE has embarked upon an innovative partnership with the Walt Disney Corporation. DOE announced in 2007 that it had teamed up with Disney in a nationwide campaign to promote energy efficiency through a TV spot based on the Disney Pixar film "Ratatouille." The 30-second animated spot features the characters from the movie, and urges viewers to make the switch from incandescent bulbs to ENERGY STAR compact fluorescent lights. The spot, showcased nationwide during primetime viewing hours, reached more than 117 million households between June 15 and August 15, 2007, through networks including HGTV, Food Network, and DIY.

DOE Campaign to Target 8 to 12 Year Old Children

Also, we are working on a campaign to be launched late this summer targeting 8 to 12 years old on they can  learn to become more energy efficient.

DOE Military Base Campaign

Another campaign, launched this past Earth Day, challenges military bases nationwide to replace their incandescent light bulbs with CFLs in on-base housing. The joint DOE and Department of Defense campaign, called "Operation Change Out," will help bases across the country increase energy efficiency, save money on utility bills and reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

DOE Influences Policymakers, Industry and Consumers

Through these and other campaigns, the Department is committed to motivating policymakers, industry, and consumers to embrace energy efficiency values in their states, cities, and homes.

DOE Building Technologies Program Best Practices Website

The Department's Building Technologies Program website is also a helpful educational resource for the public.

The site details best practice guidelines for realizing 30% energy savings, and is aimed at homeowners, builders, or designers who seek to incorporate energy-efficient building practices into a new or existing home.

The Building Technologies guidelines address each step of the home-building process, based on an integrated or whole building, approach. They cover the planning and financing of a home or renovation project, the design and construction phase, and ongoing maintenance. While many best practice guidelines apply regardless of geography, others are tailored to the challenges of a specific climate zone, a key consideration in creating an energy-efficient home.

SOURCE: 
Testimony of David Rodgers, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency before the Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, United States House of Representatives. Topic: Buildings Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gases, July 17, 2008, EERE Energy Efficiency

David Rodgers, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency , appeared before Congress to discuss the potential for increased energy efficiency in new and existing buildings to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

R&D Research for Market Deployment of Net-Zero Energy Buildings and Efficiency Technologies

DOE is conducting R&D in energy efficient technologies for advanced solid-state lighting, for net-zero energy buildings and the advanced components needed to achieve net-zero performance, in addition to other building technologies that will be needed to achieve sustained energy reductions. And we work with industry leaders and stakeholders in coordinated support and investment, not only in R&D, but also in accelerated market deployment of new efficiency technologies.

DOE's Building America Program

DOE's Building America program is conducting research through competitively selected industry teams that work directly with leading builders to develop and implement energy-saving construction practices in new residential homes.

Current Building America prototype homes are targeting energy savings of 40% or more than their predecessors, with an ultimate goal of a 70% reduction.

When combined with renewable energy technologies now in development, the goal is to achieve net zero energy home performance capability in the five major climate zones in the continental U.S. by 2020.

The progress being made in the Building America program is the foundation for the Builder's Challenge already discussed.

Goal of Net-zero Energy Commercial Buildings by 2025.

In the commercial sector we are focusing our public-private partnership efforts on achieving net-zero energy commercial buildings by 2025.

Retail buildings in the United States account for approximately 20% of commercial sector energy consumption and represent the fastest growing subsector, making them an important opportunity for savings.

Retailers Energy Alliance

In February 2008 we established the Retailers Energy Alliance with companies such as WalMart, Whole Foods, McDonalds, Home Depot, and many more.  To date, 23 companies with over two billion square feet of building space have joined the alliance in order to share best practices, engage equipment manufacturers in discussions of their common needs and to eventually procure the products with the performance they want and need. DOE is working to apply this model to a Commercial Real Estate Alliance and an Institutional Buildings Alliance in the next twelve to eighteen months. We will be reaching out to national accounts to provide research technical assistance to those that want to improve the efficiency of their existing portfolio of buildings by 30% while developing new prototypes that save 50% or more over current code. 

Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA)

Our current and planned activities are consistent with the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) Commercial Buildings Initiative provisions--Sections 421 (Commercial High-Performance Green Buildings) and Section 422 (Zero Net Energy Commercial Buildings Initiative). If the (current) Retailer Alliance Members upgraded one third of their existing buildings by 30% over the standard, then approximately 3 million metric tons of C02 would be avoided annually.

R&D for Technology Gaps in Equipment and Components

As we work with home building and commercial buildings industries we are identifying technology gaps and improvement opportunities at the equipment and component levels.

Solid-State Lighting program: Cree, Inc.

The Department's Solid-State Lighting program earlier this year announced up to $20.6 million in funding over a number of years, subject to appropriation, for solid-state lighting research and development.

Recent progress includes the cost-shared research DOE conducted with Cree, Inc., a manufacturer of semiconductors that enhance the value of light-emitting diode (LED) solid-state lighting. Cree produced a high powered white light LED that set a new record for brightness and efficacy. This is a great accomplishment as solid state lighting technologies could potentially at least double the efficiency of today's general lighting systems.

Based on the rapid progress made in the SSL industry, in part with DOE support, in September 2007 DOE announced ENERGY STAR criteria for 5 niche SSL products which become available on the market on September 30th of this year. DOE has also announced its intention to add more ENERGY STAR SSL products in 2009, sending a signal of expected quality and performance to both consumers and industry.

R&D in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning Equipment

In addition to lighting efficiency, we are pursuing advancements in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment; dynamic and highly insulating window technologies; advanced building shell materials and structures; solar heating and cooling equipment and systems; and energy simulation and analysis software--all aligned to achieving the goal of net-zero energy homes by 2020 and net-zero energy commercial buildings by 2025.

These research and development activities provided the foundation for continuous improvement in our building stock, and the potential to contribute significant energy, cost and carbon savings to the economy.

SOURCE: 
Testimony of David Rodgers, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency before the Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, United States House of Representatives. Topic: Buildings Energy Efficiency and Greenhouse Gases, July 17, 2008, EERE Energy Efficiency by DOE