Hoyer Announces DOE Partnership with NAHB Research Center in Upper Marlboro, MD

WASHINGTON, DC –  The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced 15 research and deployment partnerships to help improve the energy efficiency of American homes, including a partnership with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center in Upper Marlboro, MD.  Leveraging their industry expertise, NAHB will provide technical assistance to retrofit projects to support DOE's energy efficiency retrofit programs, building on the Department's efforts to make cost-effective energy efficiency retrofits more easily accessible to hundreds of thousands of American homes and businesses.

"I am pleased that NAHB has been chosen to work in partnership with the Department of Energy to develop solutions and tools to reduce residential energy use," stated Rep. Hoyer.  "This announcement is an important recognition of NAHB's experience and expertise in their field and marks another step in our continued efforts to promote a more energy-efficient America, develop ways to help consumers lower their energy costs and consumption, and continue creating green jobs here in Maryland."

The following is a brief description of the partnership, which will allow NAHB to receive between $500,000 and $2.5 million depending on their performance:

• National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center Industry Partnership for High Performing Homes:  The NAHB Research Center is located in Upper Marlboro, MD and has over 40 years of experience as an integrated, system-based technology advancement center with the primary mission of removing technological and regulatory barriers to innovation by leveraging its access to remodelers and home builders.  Team members include Southface Energy Institute, USDA Forest Products Laboratory, Business Excellence Consulting, Brick by Brick, Residential Building Industry Consulting Services, Concurrent Technologies Corporation, Greenbelt Homes and many others.

This effort will support the Department's Retrofit Ramp-Up initiative, announced by Vice President Joe Biden in April, which brings communities, governments, private sector companies and non-profit organizations together to deliver energy-efficiency upgrades – or retrofits – to whole neighborhoods and cities. 

The selection was made though the DOE Building Technologies Program, which forges research partnerships across the residential building industry to develop cost-effective solutions that dramatically reduce the average energy use of housing while improving comfort and quality. To find out more, visit the Buildings Technology Program website.

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