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January 2022
Python Opens Up New Applications for EnergyPlus Building Energy Simulation
Buildings account for more than 40% of U.S. energy use and 70% of U.S. electricity use. Reducing that consumption and "shaping" it to match renewable generation requires us to design and operate buildings to be more efficient, flexible, and responsive. To do that, we must be able to better predict and model building energy use.
December 2021
Bringing Energy-Efficient Building Technologies Closer to Commercialization
DOE is accelerating emerging technologies from lab to market through its Technology Commercialization Fund (TCF). With an overarching goal to increase the number of commercialized energy technologies developed at national laboratories, the TCF Program awarded funding to support two NREL Buildings projects.
News Release: Researchers Publish First Comprehensive Building Stock Characterization Study for the United States
A new report and online dashboard by NREL is the first comprehensive characterization and segmentation of the U.S. building stock, providing a national typology of buildings.
November 2021
Path to Net-Zero Emissions Runs Through U.S. Buildings
Commercial buildings generate 16% of all U.S. carbon dioxide emissions.
Leader in Building Energy Modeling Research Reflects on Impact of NREL Career
Like many others, Luigi Gentile Polese was drawn to NREL by its mission and values. With a passion for energy and the environment, this innovator did not see an ambiguous job posting as a deterrent.
News Release: NREL Researchers Point Toward Energy Efficiency for Achieving 100% Renewable Grid
Incorporating energy efficiency measures can reduce the amount of storage needed to power the nation's buildings entirely with renewable energy, according to analysis conducted by researchers at NREL.
October 2021
News Release: New Data Set Quantifies How and When Energy Is Used Across All Major U.S. Building Types and Climate Regions
The data set released by NREL researchers, in collaboration with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Argonne National Laboratory, is critical for utility planners, regulators, state energy offices, researchers, and building owners to understand ways to best manage energy use.
Electric Vehicle Charging at Retail Locations Offers Convenience, Building Integration Opportunities
A new study from NREL compares load profiles from potential EV charging stations against those of big-box retail grocery stores to assess how the electricity demands of specific sites may change by adding EV charging.
Connecting the Dots To Enhance Energy Efficiency, Workforce, and Low-Carbon Buildings
A true living laboratory, NREL added a small but noticeable splash of color to its cafeteria building. Five quantum dot windows were installed this summer as a demonstration project evaluating innovative windows technologies, in collaboration with UbiQD and the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator program.
New NREL Partnership Is Nothing To Bawk At
NREL is partnering with the USDA-Agricultural Research Service (USDA-ARS) to design, build, and evaluate energy use models to increase energy efficiency in broiler houses.
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Last Updated May 5, 2025