Hub December 2024 Newsletter

Building Energy Resource Hub December 2024 Newsletter

2024 Year in Review



• One: New full-time Hub team member hired—Rimjhim Agrawal
• Two: New Hub Advisory Board members welcomed
• Three: Utility incentive webinars hosted
• Four: Finance Friday education programs introduced
• Five: Building Performance Partnership collaborators: BE-Ex NYC, BE-Ex St. Louis, BE-Ex Kansas City, Building Innovation Hub, IMT
• Seven: Benchmarking data jams offered
• Eight: Cool industry partner resources shared
• Nine: New community partnerships formed
• Ten: Adapted building guides added to our resource library
• Eleven: Monthly Hub newsletters sent
• Twelve: New volunteer subject matter experts recruited

Coming in 2025

The future is bright for the Building Energy Resource Hub! In the first quarter of 2025, we are excited to roll out new interactive resources including an online discussion forum, our help desk, and one-on-one technical assistance. Whether you need assistance with energy benchmarking, compliance with advanced building codes, accessing financial resources for retrofits, or technical guidance on energy efficiency measures, we’re here to help. 

• The Help Desk will provide free, comprehensive support for building professionals, including commercial and multi-family building owners, contractors, and municipal representatives. 
  
  
• One-on-One technical assistance will offer a variety of help through Hub staff and volunteers to provide customized guidance to community-based organizations and in-need buildings on energy benchmarking, financing tools and capital planning to reduce energy use and save money.   
  
  

The online discussion forum will connect technical expert volunteers with building professionals to collaborate on topics like energy benchmarking, financing initiatives, efficient building technologies, and more. 

Hub Resources Roundup

Over the last year we have created a variety of guidance documents and technical primers to assist all sectors of the building industry. Check out the list below and review any resources you haven’t discovered yet! 

LED Lighting Technology Primer

This resource details how LED lighting retrofits can enhance building performance and occupant well-being. 

Plug Loads and Tenant Energy Use Reduction Technology Primer

This adapted resource details how tenants use energy and lays out multiple strategies to reducing plug loads and tenant energy use in multifamily and commercial buildings.

Building Electrification Guide - NEW

The guide reviews provides an overview of the benefits of building electrification as well as the systems and components available for electrification. 

Energy Efficiency Checklist - NEW

This resource provides beginner guidance for building professionals interested in starting the pursuit of energy efficiency for their building. 

Architect's Playbook - NEW

This playbook provides guidance for architects to create energy-efficient, high-performing buildings by leveraging benchmarking data, staying updated on regulations, and incorporating early energy modeling. 

Operations and Maintenance Guide - NEW

This document seeks to provide property owners and facilities managers, as well as operations, engineering, and maintenance personnel, with a guide for O&M procedures designed to increase energy efficiency. 

Contractor Corner

Energy Skilled for Contractors

The DOE’s Energy Skilled™ program and ENERGY STAR are collaborating to bring together the leading efficiency technologies and the workforce to deliver them to consumers. Learn more about this new designation to discover the importance of the right workforce skills for optimized building performance. Jobs in building trades serve an important role in keeping occupants safe, healthy, and comfortable. They also have a significant impact on energy costs in a home. With the right training and certification, contractors can grow their skills and knowledge needed to perform high quality energy assessments and work with new energy-efficient technologies.

Upcoming Partner Events

The Heating System Balancing Act: Heat Pumps and Beyond
Hosted by U.S. Department of Energy
January 7 @ 10:00 AM

Heat pump technologies are transforming the ways buildings are heated, with rapid advancements and widespread adoption across the market. This webinar explores effective strategies for implementing heat pumps across portfolios, examining the business case for installation and how to balance building load with equipment choices to optimize both costs and benefits. Learn about the successes, challenges, and cost-effective pathways for meeting energy efficiency goals with heat pumps.

Supporting Contractors in Workforce and Business Development
Hosted by Interstate Renewable Energy Council
January 22 @ 1:00 PM

Join this dynamic discussion with leaders from the IREC, Building Performance Institute (BPI), and Building Performance Association (BPA) as they explore critical opportunities for contractors in energy efficiency and home energy performance. This session will highlight pathways available for contractors to grow their businesses in this evolving sector, focusing on the tools and resources designed to help them succeed. Participants will hear from each organization on their unique contributions to developing and supporting contractors, with practical guidance on certifications, workforce training, and access to additional programs and resources that drive contractor success.