DOE Net Zero Building Initiative Selects Target, BoA, Whole Foods

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will work with Bank of America, Target and Whole Foods Market–among others–through its Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative (CBI).

The DOE annouced first phase of awards, valued at $15 million, for retailers, financial institutions and commercial real estate firms that will team with two of DOE’s National Laboratories to speed market adoption of energy-saving technologies in their commercial buildings.

DOE requested proposals from its National Labs and private sector
companies to achieve cost-effective savings of 50% above the
standard set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and
Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) for new commercial building designs, and a
savings of 30% for retrofits to existing buildings.

Each private
sector company proposed to have their design and facility management
team work with DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to design, build, tune and
operate at least one new prototype building and to retrofit an existing
building.

Retailers include Best Buy, JCPenney, John Deere, Macy’s, SuperValu, Target, Toyota, and Whole Foods Market.

Financial Institutions include Bank of America and the PNC Financial Services Group.

Commercial Real Estate Firms include CB Richard Ellis, Forest City Enterprises, Hines, InterContinental Hotels Group, The Opus Group, ProLogis, Regency Centers, Ryan Companies US, Simon Property Group, Tishman Speyer, and The Westfield Group.

Awards will include continuation decision points and may be
partially funded in future fiscal years, depending on project success
and annual appropriations.