Congress earlier this month approved a fiscal 2010 budget of $200 million for the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Building Technologies Program (BTP), which is designed to promote energy efficiency in buildings. President Obama is expected to sign into law the legislation encompassing the BTP appropriation soon.
In partnership with the private sector, state and local governments, national laboratories, and universities, BTP aims to improve the efficiency of buildings and the equipment, components, and systems within them. The program supports research and development activities and provides tools, guidelines, training, and access to technical and financial resources. Core components of BTP are advanced technologies and zero energy building design, according to DOE.
"While Congress has not provided as much for DOE energy-efficiency programs as the administration had requested, it is a generous appropriation, particularly given the level of economic recovery funding for energy efficiency," stated Brad Penney, director of government relations for the advocacy group Alliance to Save Energy. "Final enactment of the generous DOE appropriation for energy-efficiency programs indicates that Congress and the administration agree that saving taxpayers money, creating home-grown jobs, and curtailing our nation's energy use can best be achieved through investments in energy-efficiency technologies."
BTP and its partners strive to integrate energy-efficient technologies into the marketplace through the following technology validation and market introduction activities: Building Challenge; Building Energy Codes; EnergySmart Hospitals; EnergySmart Schools; Energy Star; Rebuilding Green in Greensburg, Kan.; Solar Decathlon; and the Utility Solar Water Heating Initiative.
Congress also approved $96 million for the Industrial Technologies Program, $32 million for the Federal Energy Management Program, and $210 million for the Weatherization Assistance Program."While Congress has not provided as much for DOE energy-efficiency programs as the administration had requested, it is a generous appropriation, particularly given the level of economic recovery funding for energy efficiency," stated Brad Penney, director of government relations for the advocacy group Alliance to Save Energy. "Final enactment of the generous DOE appropriation for energy-efficiency programs indicates that Congress and the administration agree that saving taxpayers money, creating home-grown jobs, and curtailing our nation's energy use can best be achieved through investments in energy-efficiency technologies."
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