Commercial Building National Accounts

National Accounts is part of DOE's Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative (CBI), which was mandated by the 2007 Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA). EISA enabled DOE to bring together parties from the private sector, DOE national labs, other federal agencies and nongovernmental organizations to advance research into low- and zero-net-energy buildings. CBI's goal is to develop market-ready, net zero-energy commercial buildings by 2025. A net zero-energy building makes as much energy as it uses over a year .

As of 2009, estimates indicated that retail and office buildings consume 18 percent of the nation's total energy and half of nation's overall building energy (including homes, schools, and other structures). The program partners will work to build new facilities that use 50 percent less energy and retrofit older buildings to use 30 percent less energy.

Two DOE National Laboratories, NREL and PNNL, are working with 23 National Accounts Companies (NACs), including nine retailers, 13 real estate management companies, and one distribution facility. Through the program, the team will create, test, and validate design concepts that will move the industry towards net-zero energy commercial buildings.

Each NAC receives state-of-the-art assistance from NREL that may include:

• State-of-the-art energy modeling
• Integrated design processes that incorporate energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies
• Guidance to help procure materials and equipment
• Low-energy building designs that can be replicated across company portfolios
• Detailed documentation, including business case studies with information about both process and results
• Research quality results
• Recognition as leaders in their industry.
• The state-of-the-art energy modeling saves building owners time and effort as they develop low-energy buildings.

References

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