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November 2023
Leading the Charge: 105 Solar Decathlon Teams Tackle Zero-Energy Building Designs
By designing high-performance, zero-energy buildings, 105 teams from 93 collegiate institutions are leading the charge to tackle climate change as part of the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon® 2024 Design Challenge.
JUMP Into STEM Competition Prepares Next Generation of Building Scientists To Take on Clean Energy
Developing a diverse and knowledgeable workforce for building science is critical to meeting future decarbonization goals set by the U.S. Department of Energy.
October 2023
Statewide Residential Building Upgrade Planning Just Got Easier Thanks to New Dashboard
Communities and states looking to develop decarbonization plans for residential buildings now have a new tool at their disposal thanks to NREL researchers.
NREL-Supported Projects Receive Nearly $6 Million in Funding To Advance Building Decarbonization Efforts
As a sub-recipient on nine awards through the Buildings Energy Efficiency Frontiers and Innovation Technologies (BENEFIT) funding opportunity, NREL will be diligently working with a variety of partners to advance building technologies and retrofit practices that enable healthier households and communities.
September 2023
Moving Toward Equity, One House at a Time
NREL has worked with eight rural villages across Alaska on HUD Healthy Homes projects to improve the health, safety, and energy efficiency of homes in extreme climates.
Boosting Building Efficiency in Unincorporated Norcross, Georgia
Community members from Unincorporated Norcross, Georgia, partnered with NREL researchers through the U.S. Department of Energy's Clean Energy to Communities Expert Match program to learn how to improve the energy efficiency of hundreds of commercial buildings.
NREL Researchers Reveal How Buildings Across United States Do—and Could—Use Energy
Buildings are responsible for 40% of total energy use in the United States, including 75% of all electricity use and 35% of the nation's carbon emissions. Although today's decarbonization efforts often focus on renewable electricity or electric vehicles, decarbonizing the building stock is also essential.
July 2023
Lower Energy Costs, Healthier Air: How Energy CLASS Prize Winners Are Transforming Their School
Twenty-five local education agencies were awarded $100,000 at the close of the first phase of the American-Made Energy CLASS Prize. Teams will now receive training and personalized coaching to implement health and efficiency upgrades in their schools.
Distinguished Researcher Birdie Carpenter Sets Sail After Naval Career
Alberta (Birdie) Carpenter, one of seven newly named NREL Distinguished Researchers, enjoys science but also embraces unexpected opportunities.
June 2023
Department of Energy's ZEDD Program Recognizes Institutions Preparing the Next Generation's Zero-Energy Workforce
DOE's Zero Energy Design Designation (ZEDD) recognizes college programs that are committed to zero-energy education. There's still time to apply for the 2023 ZEDD cohort.
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Last Updated May 5, 2025