Energy Efficient Buildings Hub
Stored: Energy Efficient Buildings Hub
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Energy Efficient Buildings Hub (EEB Hub) is a DOE Energy Innovation Hub established to transform the commercial building sector by researching and demonstrating energy-efficient technologies and practices, headquartered at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in a retrofitted historic building, Building 661.
Launched in February 2011 and led by Pennsylvania State University, the EEB Hub focused on reducing energy consumption in existing mid-sized commercial buildings, culminating in the Consortium for Building Energy Innovation (CBEI) phase until its DOE funding ended in 2016, leaving a legacy of tools and retrofit strategies.
Mission
The EEB Hub’s mission was to pioneer data-intensive building design and retrofit techniques, integrating materials, technologies, and operational models to cut energy use by 20% in commercial buildings by 2020, while enhancing indoor environmental quality and economic vitality. It aimed to create a replicable, cost-effective systems-delivery approach, leveraging partnerships with national labs, universities, and industry to validate solutions and train a skilled workforce for the energy efficiency sector.
Parent organization
The EEB Hub operated under the Department of Energy, specifically through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, which funded and directed its efforts as part of the Energy Innovation Hubs initiative. The Department of Energy was the top organization, aligning the Hub with national energy efficiency and sustainability goals.
Legislation
The EEB Hub was not created by specific legislation but was established in February 2011 under DOE’s Energy Innovation Hubs program, with funding authorized through Congressional appropriations following a 2010 competitive selection process.
Partners
The EEB Hub’s key partners included:
- Pennsylvania State University (lead)
- Drexel University
- Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation
- National labs (e.g., Oak Ridge National Laboratory)
- Industry partners (e.g., United Technologies, IBM)
Number of employees
The EEB Hub did not have a fixed employee count; it engaged researchers, engineers, and support staff from its partner institutions, likely numbering in the dozens to low hundreds at its peak.
Organization structure
The EEB Hub was structured around research and deployment areas:
- Technology Development Team created retrofit innovations.
- Modeling Team advanced energy simulation tools.
- Demonstration Team tested solutions in real buildings.
Leader
The EEB Hub was led by a Director, initially Laurie Actman followed by Kevin Kampschroer during its CBEI phase, overseeing its research and operational efforts.
Divisions
The efforts included:
- Building Retrofit Research for energy-saving technologies.
- Simulation Modeling for predictive design tools.
- Workforce Development for training programs.
List of programs
Key EEB Hub initiatives included:
- Building 661 Retrofit Demonstration
- Energy Retrofit Modeling Studies
- Regional Workforce Training Programs
Last total enacted budget
The EEB Hub’s total budget was approximately $129 million over five years (2011-2016), with $122 million from DOE and additional cost-share from partners, concluding its primary funding cycle in 2016.
Staff
Staffing comprised researchers, engineers, and educators from Penn State, Drexel, and other partners, with no standalone headcount; estimates suggest dozens to over 100 contributors during its active years.
Funding
The EEB Hub’s funding of $129 million came from DOE appropriations ($122M initial award, plus extensions) and partner contributions, running from 2011 to 2016, aimed at reducing building energy use and fostering economic growth.
Services provided
The EEB Hub researched and demonstrated energy-efficient building technologies, developed advanced simulation models, and provided training, focusing on scalable retrofits for commercial buildings to reduce energy costs and emissions.
Regulations overseen
The EEB Hub did not oversee regulations but supported DOE’s energy efficiency policies by informing building codes and standards through its findings.
Headquarters address
4967 Admiral Peary Way, Philadelphia, PA 19112, USA (Building 661, Philadelphia Navy Yard)
History
The EEB Hub was announced on August 4, 2010, and formally established on February 1, 2011, as DOE’s second Energy Innovation Hub, with Penn State selected over 90 applicants to lead a $122 million effort at the Navy Yard. It retrofitted Building 661 as a model, evolved into CBEI by 2013, and concluded its DOE-funded mission in 2016, leaving tools like energy modeling software and retrofit best practices for industry use.