U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Building Technologies Office

Program Plans, Implementation, and Results

The Building Technologies Office (BTO) carries out technology research, development, and deployment through an ongoing process of planning and analysis, implementation, and review. This Web page includes links to documents that guide, support, and document the program management process and associated results and public benefits.

• Program Overview
• Program Plans
• Program Implementation
• Program Results
• Relevant Laws

Program Overview Documents

• Better Buildings, Brighter Future: an overview of BTO activities.
• Program Presentation: outlines the program's priorities and goals for improving the energy efficiency of buildings.
• Building Energy Codes Overview
• Energy Efficiency Trends in Residential and Commercial Buildings report: provides an overview of trends in the construction industry, including profiles of buildings and the resulting impacts on energy consumption.
• 2011 Project Portfolio: Solid-State Lighting: provides an overview of currently funded projects, and those completed from 2003 through 2010.

Back to Top

Program Plans

Includes budgets, plans, and analysis that set the direction of program priorities and activities.

Program Budgets

Multiyear Program Plans

• The Building Technologies Program Multi-Year Work Plan FY11-FY15 sets forth the goals and structure for all BTO activities.

• The Building Regulatory Programs Multi-Year Program Plan FY11-FY15 sets forth goals and activities specifically to advance energy efficient design and construction codes for new and upgraded residential and commercial buildings.

Back to Top

Program Implementation

Find more information about how the program controls, implements, and adjusts its plans and manages its activities.

Technology Roadmaps

• Solid-State Lighting R&D Manufacturing Roadmap July 2011

Systems Engineering

• Building America – Systems Engineering Approach
• Whole Building Design for Commercial Buildings

Technology Evaluations

• Solid-State Lighting Technical Reports
• Assessment of the Energy Impacts of Outside Air in the Commercial Sector
• Challenges and Opportunities to Achieve 50% Energy Savings in Homes

Deployment and Diffusion

• Better Buildings Challenge Overview  
• Better Buildings Neighborhood Program
• Commercial Buildings Integration Program Alliances and Partnerships
• High Performance Roof top Unit Challenge
• ENERGY STAR®
• U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon
• Guiding Market Introduction of High-Performance SSL Products  
• Home Energy Score

Codes, Standards, and Regulations

• Building Energy Codes, including Building Energy Codes Software and Tools
• Appliances and Commercial Equipment Standards, including Appliances and Commercial Equipment Standards Schedule Setting
• Standards Development for Solid-State Lighting

Education and Workforce Development

• Building Energy Codes University
• Commercial Building Energy Alliances Resources
• Building America Best Practices Series
• Solid-State Lighting — Using Light-Emitting Diodes
• Solid-State Lighting Webcasts
• Guidelines for Home Energy Professionals

Competitive Solicitations and Grants

• Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Funding Opportunities

Back to Top

Program Results

Learn about the Program's technological, commercial, and other outputs and outcomes.

Research & Development

• Buildings R&D Breakthroughs: Technologies and Products Supported by the Building Technologies Program, April 2012

Case Studies

• Energy Saving Success Stories
• Building America Case Studies
• High-Performance Buildings Research Case Studies
• Better Buildings Neighborhood Case Studies

Peer Reviews and Process Assessments

• Appliances and Commercial Equipment Standards Peer Review
• 2013 DOE Building Technologies Office Program Peer Review

Intellectual Property

• Solid-State Lighting Patents Submitted as a Result of DOE-Funded Projects, January 2008

External Recognition

• Dynamic Insulation – Fire-Resistive Phase Change Material Wins R&D 100 Award
• Solid-State Lighting — Cantilever Epitaxy Process Wins R&D 100 Award

Back to Top

Relevant Laws

Public Laws

• P.L. 94-163, "Energy Policy and Conservation Act" (EPCA) (1975)
• P.L. 94-385, "Energy Conservation and Production Act" (ECPA) (1976)
• P.L. 95-91, "Department of Energy Organization Act" (1977)
• P.L. 95-618, "Energy Tax Act" (1978)
• P.L. 95-619, "National Energy Supply Policy Act" (NECPA) (1978)
• P.L. 95-620, "Power Plant and Industrial Fuel Use Act" (1978)
• P.L. 96-294, "Energy Security Act" (1980)
• P.L. 100-12, "National Appliance Energy Supply Act" (1987)
• P.L. 100-357, "National Appliance Energy Supply Amendments" (1988)
• P.L. 100-615, "Federal Energy Management Improvement Act" (1988)
• P.L. 102-486, "Energy Policy Act" (1992)
• P.L. 109-58, "Energy Policy Act of 2005" (2005)
• P.L. 110-140, "Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007" (2007)

Back to Top