Analysis tool for calibrating energy models with utility data.
Thermal image for a building envelope element.听
Energy model for an existing nonprofit building.
A research group from the Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering听is set to receive $8 million through the to provide technical assistance that helps nonprofits reduce energy use, with the saved funds redirected toward the nonprofits鈥� mission-driven initiatives. Professor Moncef Krarti serves as principal investigator, while Professors Gregor Henze and John Zhai serve as co-principal investigators for this award.
The project will be supported for four years with a budget of $5.7 million from DOE funds and $2.3 million as cost-share, primarily from industry contributions.
鈥淚n addition to assisting numerous听nonprofit organizations in the Rocky Mountain region, CU Boulder鈥檚 project places a significant emphasis on involving听and training听students in all stages of听renovating existing buildings,鈥� said Krarti, who also is the project鈥檚 director.听
The project involves creating tools to measure and analyze the impact听of听energy efficiency strategies in facilities owned and operated by nonprofits听in the Rocky Mountain region, including baby直播app, Utah, Wyoming, Montana and Idaho.
The students鈥� involvement spans from using advanced tools for energy auditing, to preparing construction bids, conducting听retro-commissioning tasks听and assessing the impacts听of deploying diverse听energy efficiency strategies. Futhermore, the students will have the opportunity to develop and demonstrate innovative approaches for听evaluating, managing听and maximizing听the sustainability benefits of energy retrofit projects.听
The DOE launched the $50 million Renew America鈥檚 Nonprofits Program, also known as the Energy Efficiency Materials Pilot Program, under President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This program aims to reduce carbon emissions, improve health and safety, and lower utilities costs for buildings owned and operated by 501(c)(3) nonprofits. This first-of-its-kind investment in the nonprofit sector aims to facilitate high-impact energy efficiency improvements, creating cleaner, healthier community spaces, while generating sustainable savings that can be redirected toward mission-driven work. Additionally, it aims to stimulate widespread energy improvements in the nonprofit sector, fostering partnerships between stakeholders to establish a pipeline of energy and cost-saving projects that will continue beyond the grant's duration.听听听