The Emerging Technologies (ET) Program of the Building Technologies Office (BTO) supports applied research and development (R&D) for technologies and systems that contribute to reductions in building energy consumption. In the United States, the ET Program has the broad aim of supporting the development of cost-effective technologies that can reduce aggregate building energy use intensity by 30% by 2020, and 45% by 2030, relative to the consumption of 2010 energy-efficient technologies. The ET Program strives to meet this goal by researching and developing cost-effective, energy-efficient technologies to be introduced into the marketplace. A portion of the ET budget provides support for the Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratories in five areas: solid-state lighting, heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVAC&R) (includes water heating and appliances), sensors & controls, windows & envelope, and modeling & tools. The remaining budget is distributed through competitive solicitations, including Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) like this one, to allow all interested parties (corporations, universities, non-profits, as well as the national labs) to innovate advanced technologies that lead to reduced primary energy consumption in buildings.In prior years, the BENEFIT FOA consisted of two sections (Innovations: early-stage; Frontiers: later-stage, roadmap-driven) to complement the core funding provided by the program ([1], [2], [3], below). This FOA consists of four topic areas within these two sections (e.g., “Innovations” and “Frontiers”), as well as a new third “Scale-up” section for pre-commercial prototype development. Two targeted “Frontiers” topics are focused on Advanced HVAC&R and Miscellaneous Electric Loads (MELs), and two open topics are focused on early-stage R&D applications (“Innovations”) and pre-commercial prototype development and scale-up (“Scale-up”), respectively. This pursuit of early-stage (Innovations), as well as later-stage (Scale-up) investments in the open topics will provide balance to the BTO R&D portfolio and targeted technology topic and program areas.
[1] DE-FOA-0001383: Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers and Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) – 2016, https://eere-exchange.energy.gov
[2] DE-FOA-0001166: Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers and Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) – 2015, https://eere-exchange.energy.gov
[3] DE-FOA-0001027: Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers and Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) – 2014, https://eere-exchange.energy.gov
For questions and answers pertaining to this FOA, please reference the DE-FOA-0001632 BENEFIT 2017 FAQ Log in FOA Documents.
The eXCHANGE system is currently designed to enforce hard deadlines for Concept Paper and Full Application submissions. The APPLY and SUBMIT buttons automatically disable at the defined submission deadlines. The intention of this design is to consistently enforce a standard deadline for all applicants.
Applicants that experience issues with submissions PRIOR to the FOA Deadline: In the event that an Applicant experiences technical difficulties with a submission, the Applicant should contact the eXCHANGE helpdesk for assistance (exchangehelp@hq.doe.gov). The eXCHANGE helpdesk and/or the EERE eXCHANGE System Administrators (eXCHANGE@ee.doe.gov) will assist the Applicant in resolving all issues.
Applicants that experience issues with submissions that result in a late submission: In the event that an Applicant experiences technical difficulties with a submission that results in a late submission, the Applicant should contact the eXCHANGE helpdesk for assistance (exchangehelp@hq.doe.gov). The eXCHANGE helpdesk and/or the EERE eXCHANGE System Administrators (eXCHANGE@ee.doe.gov) will assist the Applicant in resolving all issues (including finalizing the submission on behalf of, and with the Applicant's concurrence). DOE will only accept late applications when the Applicant has a) encountered technical difficulties beyond their control; b) has contacted the eXCHANGE helpdesk for assistance; and c) has submitted the application through eXCHANGE within 24 hours of the FOA's posted deadline.
Informational Webinar: The Informational Webinar mentioned in the FOA occured on December 6, 2016 at 3:00 PM ET Eastern Standard Time. Please see documents below in the Documents section for the powerpoint presentation and audio recording.