A -- Research with Residential Industry Teams for the Accelerated Development of Zero Energy Homes

As part of the U.S. Department of Energy Building America Program (BAP), the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) anticipates issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) in Spring of 2007 to create industry partnerships to provide research support for the accelerated development of cost effective Zero Energy Homes (ZEH). A ZEH offsets as much source energy as it consumes on an annual basis by integrating energy efficient design with use of residential photovoltaic systems. The goal of the BAP is to develop innovative system engineering approaches to advanced housing that will enable the U.S. housing industry to deliver energy efficient, affordable and environmentally sensitive housing while maintaining the profitability and competitiveness of US homebuilders and product suppliers in domestic and overseas markets. For innovative building energy technologies to be viable candidates over conventional approaches, it must be demonstrated that new technologies can cost-effectively increase overall housing value and quality while significantly reducing energy use when used in community scale developments. To make this determination, an extensive system research program is necessary to develop, test and design advanced residential energy systems for all major U. S. climate regions in conjunction with material suppliers, equipment manufacturers, developers, builders, designers, utilities, and state and local stakeholders. The BAP is based on systems research with industry teams to identify opportunities for cost and performance trade-offs that improve whole-building performance and value while minimizing source energy use and minimizing increases in overall building cost. Price participation (cost sharing) will be required. Building America research specifically targets technical barriers that limit residential energy performance including analysis of technology pathways leading to ZEH, evaluation of advanced energy systems relative to residential needs, testing of prototype houses, testing of initial production scale housing, and final evaluation of community scale developments. Work will include analysis of system performance and cost tradeoffs as they relate to whole building energy performance and cost optimization, including interactions between advanced envelope designs, mechanical and electrical systems, lighting systems, space conditioning systems, hot water systems, appliances, miscellaneous electric loads, energy control systems, and onsite power generating systems. Use of a systems approach will create construction process and technology innovations that improve efficiency and flexibility of housing production and increase control over component interactions that improve house efficiency and performance. Use of a systems approach will also accelerate development and adoption of new technologies by promoting effective coordination between the design and construction process, increasing system performance, increasing system cost effectiveness, and increasing system reliability and durability. Community-scale evaluation of advanced system concepts in partnership with builders, contractors, utilities, and state and local governments, will provide opportunities for industry leaders to directly contribute key results to the BA research program. Multiple awards are expected under the RFP. Total annual funding for awards under the RFP is estimated to be $30 million/year. Each award will be reviewed and renewed on an annual basis based on satisfactory performance for a total period not to exceed 5 years. More information on BAP research activities can be found at www.buildingamerica.gov. This information is intended to provide notice of an anticipated NREL solicitation so that interested organizations may anticipate the solicitation release. This notice is not intended, and should not be construed, as a request for proposals, information, or interest and no response is requested at this time. When issued, the solicitation will be posted at the following website: http://www.nrel.gov/business_opportunities/solicitations_rfps