The US Department of Energy (DOE) has announced 45 Phase 1 winners in the Buildings Upgrade Prize (Buildings UP), which awards more than $22 million in cash prizes and technical assistance to teams developing scalable and replicable initiatives for widespread energy efficiency and efficient electrification building upgrades.

 

These innovative models aim to accelerate greenhouse gas reduction, equity, economic development, and health goals.

 

“We received an unprecedented number of submissions to this prize, demonstrating nationwide enthusiasm for developing solutions that drive scalable building energy efficiency and electrification upgrades across the country,” said Jeff Marootian, principal deputy assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy (EERE). “No two buildings have the same upgrade needs due to variations in size, use, age, location, and more. Phase 1 winning teams developed robust initiative concepts that center equity and will accelerate energy upgrades in a wide range of buildings. We look forward to seeing these Phase 1 concepts take shape in the next phase of this prize.”

 

In Phase 1 of Buildings UP, state governments, local governments, tribes, community-based organisations, building owners, utilities, nonprofit organisations, energy efficiency program implementers, and other organisations were encouraged to create cross-sectoral teams and submit concepts to address persistent administrative, financial, social, and other barriers to building energy upgrades.

 

The multistakeholder teams selected to advance to Phase 2 of the prize will make an impact through their own projects and serve as a blueprint for others across the United States.

 

“We are thrilled to have so many high-quality concepts move to the next phase of the prize,” said Holly Carr, prize manager, BTO. “Buildings UP was developed as a ‘coopetition’ because we hope teams will work together, rather than compete, to bring as many of their initiatives to life as possible. Through their successes and lessons learned, these teams will make a library of resources available to others developing similar programs.”

 

Phase 1 winners were chosen in two prize pathways: Equity-Centered Innovation and Open Innovation.

 

Thirty-nine teams in the Equity-Centered Innovation Pathway were selected to move onto Phase 2 of the prize for their concepts to deliver scalable and replicable upgrades to buildings in disadvantaged communities, low- and moderate-income households, and underserved commercial, nonprofit, and public buildings. 

 

Six teams in Phase 1 Open Innovation Pathway were selected to move to Phase 2 for proposing a new, replicable, and scalable initiative or an innovation to an existing initiative that addresses a persistent barrier to building energy upgrades.

 

Equity-Centered Innovation Pathway Phase 1 winners each received a $400,000 cash prize. Open Innovation Pathway Phase 1 winners each received a $200,000 cash prize. All winning teams will also receive technical assistance to identify resources as they advance their concepts into pilot plans in Phase 2.--OGN/ TradeArabia News Service