The United States Department of Energy announced $90 million in additional funding to help states and cities implement updated energy codes for commercial and residential buildings. The funding will support 25 new projects nationwide to ensure buildings meet the latest energy efficiency standards.
Part of the $225 million Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation initiative established by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and administered by DOE's Building Technologies Office, the aim of the funding is to lower energy bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The first $90 million in awards under the initiative was announced for 27 projects last year, and several glass-related companies have been awarded DOE funding, including AeroShield Materials, Luxwall, Vitro Architectural Glass and Oldcastle BuildingEnvelope.
This round of DOE funding focuses on rural communities, tribal nations and high-impact states with more construction volume and that may not be on the latest building codes and standards. It will also help advance the implementation of DOE's Decarbonizing the U.S. Economy by 2050: A National Blueprint for the Buildings Sector, which lays out a national strategy to significantly reduce building greenhouse gas emissions while providing affordable, equitable and resilient solutions for communities across America.
The upgrade of inefficient commercial windows and promotion of affordable secondary glazing systems are also encouraged by the DOE to address the national need to enhance the overall performance of building envelopes, increase resiliency and comfort, and reduce a building's energy consumption.
