The U.S. Department of Energy Building Technologies Office has announced the Buildings Upgrade Prize (Buildings UP) Phase 1 winners, and our Energy Council was among the teams chosen to move on to Phase 2. Buildings UP offers more than $22 million in cash prizes and technical assistance over several phases to accelerate the deployment of equitable, widespread energy efficiency and efficient building electrification upgrades.

 

45 total teams were chosen as Phase 1 winners in one of two pathways: Equity-Centered Innovation and Open Innovation. Phase 1 winners in the Equity-Centered Innovation Pathway each receive $400,000 in cash prizes and Phase 1 winners in the Open Innovation Pathway each receive $200,000 in cash prizes. All teams will also receive technical assistance to create a pilot plan from their concepts in Phase 2.

 

The Energy Council submitted a joint application with the County of Ventura through the Equity-Centered Innovation pathway to develop an implementation plan around integrated building and transportation efficiency and electrification, along with technical and financial assistance to affordable multifamily properties across 12 counties in California. This implementation plan will be used to improve BayREN’s Bay Area Multifamily Building Enhancement (BAMBE) program, which StopWaste administers. The prize amount will be split, with the Energy Council receiving $200,000.

 

We look forward to beginning the planning process and bringing our initiative to life! Learn more about the prize, and the winning teams here.