Commercial Building Research and Development
The Building Technology Program funds research that can dramatically improve energy efficiency in commercial buildings.
Credit: Dennis Schroeder, NREL PIX 20181
The Building Technologies Program (BTP) invests in technology research and development activities that can dramatically reduce energy consumption and energy waste in buildings. Buildings in the United States use nearly 40 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) of energy for space heating and cooling, lighting, and appliances, an amount equivalent to the annual amount of electricity delivered by more than 3,800 500-megawatt coal-fired power plants. The BTP technology portfolio aims to help reduce building energy requirements by 50% through the use of improved appliances; windows, walls, and roofs; space heating and cooling; lighting; and whole building design strategies.
For detailed information about BTP's work on energy efficiency technologies and strategies for commercial buildings, see the Energy Efficiency Technologies section.