Energy-Efficient Building Systems Design Hub
Stored: Energy-Efficient Building Systems Design Hub
| Type | Program |
|---|---|
| Sponsor Organization | Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster |
| Top Organization | Department of Energy |
| Creation Legislation | None |
| Website | Website |
| Purpose | The Energy-Efficient Building Systems Design Hub aimed to improve energy efficiency in commercial buildings by integrating advanced design and retrofit technologies. It sought to reduce energy use by 20% in existing buildings and stimulate economic growth through job creation and private investment. |
| Program Start | 2010 |
| Initial Funding | $129 million |
| Duration | 5 years |
| Historic | No |
The Energy-Efficient Building Systems Design Hub (EEB Hub), later known as the Consortium for Building Energy Innovation (CBEI), was a Department of Energy initiative launched in 2010 to transform the building sector by advancing energy-efficient design and retrofit technologies for commercial structures. Managed by the Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster (GPIC), led by Pennsylvania State University, it focused on average-sized commercial buildings in the Greater Philadelphia region, achieving significant energy savings through systems-level innovations and demonstration projects, such as the retrofit of Building 661 at the Philadelphia Navy Yard.[1] The program concluded in 2016, transitioning its efforts into broader DOE building efficiency programs, with no direct replacement named.
Goals
- Achieve a 20% reduction in energy use across targeted commercial building stock by 2015.
- Develop scalable, cost-effective retrofit processes to enhance building efficiency nationwide.
- Create jobs and boost private sector investment in energy-efficient technologies.[2]
Organization
The Energy-Efficient Building Systems Design Hub was administered by the Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster, a consortium spearheaded by Pennsylvania State University, with partners including national labs, universities, and industry players like Bayer MaterialScience. It was led by a Hub Director, a position overseeing interdisciplinary teams focused on building systems design, occupant behavior, and modeling.[3] Funding came primarily from a $129 million DOE grant, supplemented by partner contributions, driving research, development, and regional demonstrations.
Partners
- Pennsylvania State University
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
- Carnegie Mellon University
History
The EEB Hub was established in 2010 as one of DOE’s Energy Innovation Hubs, spurred by the need to address the 40% of U.S. energy consumed by buildings, with no single legislative act but aligned with broader energy policy goals.[4] It began with a focus on retrofitting existing buildings, achieving early success with projects like Building 661, which became a model for adaptive reuse and efficiency by 2013. Rebranded as CBEI in 2013, it concluded in 2016 after meeting key objectives, with its legacy influencing ongoing DOE efforts like the Better Buildings Initiative.
Funding
The program started with a $129 million DOE grant in 2010, covering its five-year duration through 2016, with additional in-kind support from partners.[5] Funding began in late 2010, supporting research, retrofits, and workforce training, with no further allocations post-2016 as it wound down. Costs financed lab facilities, demonstration sites like the Navy Yard, and collaborative projects across the consortium.
Implementation
The EEB Hub implemented its goals through a systems-delivery approach, integrating design tools, retrofit strategies, and real-world validations like the Building 661 retrofit, completed in 2013.[6] It rolled out in phases: initial research (2010-2012), followed by demonstrations and industry adoption (2013-2016). The program ended in 2016, having influenced building codes and retrofit practices without a set successor.
Related
External links
- https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/energy-efficient-buildings-hub
- https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy11osti/50821.pdf
Social media
References
- ↑ "Energy Efficient Buildings Hub". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/energy-efficient-buildings-hub.
- ↑ "EEB Hub Overview". National Renewable Energy Laboratory. https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy11osti/50821.pdf.
- ↑ "Energy Efficient Buildings Hub". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/energy-efficient-buildings-hub.
- ↑ "Energy Efficient Buildings Hub". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/energy-efficient-buildings-hub.
- ↑ "EEB Hub Overview". National Renewable Energy Laboratory. https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy11osti/50821.pdf.
- ↑ "Energy Efficient Buildings Hub". Department of Energy. https://www.energy.gov/eere/buildings/energy-efficient-buildings-hub.