Skip Navigation to main content U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Building Technologies Program
 
About the ProgramProgram AreasInformation ResourcesFinancial OpportunitiesTechnologiesDeploymentHome
Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative

Commercial Building Research

The Commercial Building Initiative researches advanced technologies and systems to reduce the energy consumption of commercial buildings. Industry partners and national laboratories help to identify market needs and solutions that accelerate the development of net-zero energy buildings. This page outlines the Commercial Building Initiative's (CBI) key research areas.

Commercial Lighting Solutions

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Commercial Lighting Solutions are designed to stimulate market transformation for advanced lighting technologies and design practices. DOE is working through the Commercial Building Energy Alliances to better understand industry needs and develop interactive Web tools that will provide detailed lighting information.

The solutions help commercial building owners improve their lighting efficiency by at least 30% over ASHRAE 90.1-2004, by using a combination of commercially available but underused technologies, lighting controls, expert lighting design, and integrated systems.

Commercial Lighting Solutions Interactive Web Tool

DOE's interactive Web tool currently delivers lighting solutions for retail facilities; office and institutional buildings will follow. The tool, now in beta testing, allows a builder or designer to enter specifics about a project and provides a detailed report about possible lighting strategies.

Indoor Environmental Quality

The indoor environment of a commercial building affects worker health and productivity as well as energy costs. CBI's research to improve indoor environmental quality (IEQ) addresses:

  • Reducing the energy used for thermally conditioning and distributing ventilation air in buildings

  • Improving the indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal comfort for the benefit of building occupants

  • Understanding human exposures to environmental pollutants found in indoor and outdoor air.

Building Controls and Diagnostics

To achieve marketable net-zero energy buildings (NZEBs), the interacting components of the building must be effectively coordinated. DOE is researching formal optimal control methods and simpler control methods that approach optimal performance. These controls will automate the balance of minimizing energy consumption while maintaining required indoor environmental conditions.

To help research building controls, DOE is constructing a Building Controls Virtual Test Bed (BCVTB). DOE will use the BCVTB to develop and test integrated control strategies for active façades, lighting, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC).

Space Conditioning

According to the 2008 Buildings Energy Data Book, space conditioning accounts for 25% of total commercial building energy use. Improving the efficiency of heating and cooling is critical to achieving NZEBs.

One way DOE is addressing this issue is to continue its research in cost-effective integration of efficient low-lift base load cooling equipment. Low-lift cooling integrates five elements:

  1. Peak-load shifting by means of active or passive thermal energy storage (TES)
  2. Dedicated outdoor air supply with enthalpy heat recovery from exhaust air
  3. Radiant heating and cooling panels or floor system
  4. Low-lift vapor compression cooling equipment
  5. Advanced controls at the HVAC equipment and HVAC system (supervisory) levels.

Learn more: