Completed Assessments

The GPG program, working with the U.S. Department of Energy national laboratories, tested the following technologies in federal buildings. The published reports are listed below and grouped by technology category.

🏢 Building envelope

The building envelope acts as a thermal barrier. As such, it plays a vital role. It helps regulate interior temperatures. It also helps determine the amount of energy required to establish a comfortable indoor environment.

🪫 Energy management

Energy management technologies gather data from meters and sensors to analyze and reduce energy use. They provide better visibility and control for building operations.

🌀 HVAC

In commercial buildings, space heating, cooling, and ventilation take up 44% of energy used on-site, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.

💡 Lighting

According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s s Energy Star program, lighting consumes close to 35% of the electricity used in U.S. commercial buildings. It also affects other building systems through its electrical requirements and the waste heat it produces.

⚡ On-site power and renewables

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 requires new buildings and major renovations of federal buildings to reduce fossil fuel consumption 100 percent by 2030, relative to 2003. As we approach that date, using on-site power generation becomes more critical.

💧 Water

Water usage in commercial buildings accounts for nearly 10 percent of all water used in the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Buildings that use cooling towers for evaporative cooling can reduce water usage by employing more efficient water treatment technology.