US: Seeking applicants for funding advanced HVAC system development

Out of the initial $5.2 million (about €3.9 million) that the US Congress has appropriated, $1.2 million (about €0.9 million) will be for HVAC and building envelope projects. The focus of this funding opportunity is to develop specifically identified technologies for buildings that are cost effective and can have a tremendous impact on energy savings overall as well as lead to a market-ready solution within five years of project launch.

HVAC topics

The following subtopics are included in topic 1 ‘ Energy Saving Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems’:

• High Performance Air Source Cold Climate Heat Pumps: Advanced cold climate air source heat pumps for commercial applications could include multi-stage units, alternative refrigerants, and other innovative approaches that maintain performance and cost competitiveness. Applications must address applicability to commercial heating and cooling applications although residential applications may also be presented concurrently.

• Alternative Space-Heating Systems, other than conventional heating technologies using heat derived directly from the combustion of fossil fuels or electric vapor-compression heat pumps.

• Next-Generation Heat Exchangers for Electric Vapor-Compression Heat Pumps and Air Conditioners to improve their energy efficiency

Of particular interest will be technologies that can be applied to retrofit and replacement applications.

Apply by 17 April 2012

Applications are accepted until 17 April 2012. For more information on this funding opportunity, see DOE's Funding Opportunity Exchange website: https://eere-exchange.energy.gov/#e9d2ccef-cfe1-4aec-941d-5d91d23edf75.

The Energy Department plans to make additional requests totaling $10.8 million (about €8 million) to Congress over the next two years to support these innovative building efficiency technologies.