Zero Energy Goals
In support of the nation working toward greater energy independence and a cleaner environment, the Building Technologies Program embraces the strategic goal of developing net-zero energy buildings to reduce national energy demand. On this page you'll find information about the program's zero energy goals, including what defines a net-zero energy building and current projects.
The Building Technologies Program's strategic goal is to create technologies and design approaches that lead to marketable zero energy homes by 2020 and zero energy commercial buildings by 2025. A net-zero energy building is a residential or commercial building with greatly reduced needs for energy through efficiency gains (60% to 70% less than conventional practice), with the balance of energy needs supplied by renewable technologies. These efficiency gains will have application to buildings currently being constructed, which will help provide energy savings immediately. These strategic goals are further detailed in the program's Multi-Year Program Plan.
The Department of Energy (DOE) and its partners bring together expertise in energy efficiency and renewable energy to research the design and construction of new buildings that produce energy as well as consume less energy. In the residential area, for example, home building teams are designing and constructing houses that are at least 50% more efficient than average homes and employ solar electric or solar hot water systems (or both) to offset energy from the utility provider. These prototype homes are also being used to conduct research to improve building design and technologies.
To improve various sectors of commercial building, the DOE is forming alliances with key industry partners. These alliances provide input into the research conducted by the Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative team and help work toward the goal of zero energy buildings.
Other Federal Activities
DOE and the National Science and Technology Council defined critical R&D activities that could decrease the use of natural resources and improve indoor environments while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other harmful pollutants from the building sector. For more information, read the Federal R&D Agenda for Net-Zero Energy, High-Performance Green Buildings (PDF 2.8 MB). Download Adobe Reader.