PNNL

Abstract

The central purpose of this paper is threefold: 1) to describe the Department of Energy’s (DOE) commercial buildings research and development (R&D) scope and the planning context; 2) to summarize some of the fundamental challenges to planning in commercial buildings R&D; and most importantly, 3) to provide an overview of the strategic framework for R&D decision-making that DOE is developing to realize the promise of net zero energy performance in the 2020-2025 time frame. The paper describes progress to date, and remaining work to be done, in developing a persuasive framework for making defensible and transparent decisions about R&D for both new and existing commercial buildings.