2011 was the US Department of EnergyThe Better Buildings Initiative was founded. Today, the public-private partnership includes over 900 businesses, state, local governments, utilities and housing authorities. All of these organizations are working together to achieve ambitious energy, water, waste, and/or climate gas reduction goals. Better Buildings partners pledge to expand their investments in Energy-saving technologiesShare best practices with one another and measure their progress towards predetermined goals.
Each year, the Department of Energy publishes a report outlining the progress made by Better Buildings Initiative over the past year. According to the 2022 Report, the program has saved participants more than $15 billion since its inception and avoided 155 million metric tons of carbon emissions — equal to the greenhouse gas emissions from 20 million homes each year. President Biden’s plan for a net-zero carbon economy in 2050 is key to decarbonizing Americas buildings sector.
Leading companies, state and local governments and other organizations have joined DOEs Better Buildings program. They have committed to using less energy, reducing greenhouse gases emissions, and sharing the best solutions, stated Jennifer M. Granholm, U.S. Secretary for Energy. The impact of these commitments in decarbonizing the sectors responsible over 35% of America’s emissions is evident in this years progress report. Our partners are leading a path to a more prosperous clean energy economy and a better planet.
The 2022 Better Buildings Progress Report summarizes the achievements made by Better Buildings partners. These include 36 Fortune 100 companies, 10 top 25 US employers and more than 100 state or local governments. These companies collectively account for 14% American manufacturing energy consumption and 13% total commercial building space. The DOE’s Better Buildings Solution Center now features more than 3,000 real world solutions that can improve energy, water, and waste efficiency.
The Department of Energy contributed $28 billion to funding energy efficiency and renewable power projects through its Financial Allies programSince the launch of the Better Buildings Initiative. According to the partnership, improvements made by their buildings using envelope technologies have saved approximately 9 Billion British thermal units.
Dvele Builds Better Starting From The Start
In the past, weatherproofing homes or buildings was not considered a priority. To prevent drafts, people used to place newspapers under the windowsills. To insulate exterior walls, some people used seaweed. Storm windows were considered high-tech because they are more durable than single-pane glass. There used to be a feeling that a house needed to “breathe” in order to provide a healthy environment for the people inside.
All that is changing is happening, and one company leads the way to an energy efficient future for our built environment. Dvele builds Built homesAll current building codes and construction standards are met or exceeded. The factory builds homes to exact tolerances. This saves time and reduces waste.
But there’s more to Dvele homes. Every one is available since 2020 Complete with a rooftop solar system, and built-in battery storage.All Dvele homes have heat pumps for heating and cooling as well as LED lighting throughout and advanced control over electrical circuits.
The idea behind this is that homes that use significantly less energy to run will result in a lower total energy consumption. This goal makes it easier to create a self-powered home.
Each Dvele home includes a solar array that generates clean renewable energy throughout the day. The panels are more efficient in low light conditions, so the company creates more clean energy earlier in the day and later in the evening. They are also designed to ensure that shading does not affect the production on the rest.
The rooftop solar system generates energy that is stored in the battery. The home then uses that energy to operate the home’s electrical devices through the peak power window without any draw from the grid. The batteries can also store excess electricity that can be used to charge an electrical car at night or exported to the electric grid. Passive certification means all Dvele ecofriendly homes make the best use of passive environmental influences like sunlight and shading. This allows for a lower energy demand up to 90%.
The company says, “At Dvele, we are committed to catalyzing the human transition into buildings that are significantly more sustainable. Our company is making a significant positive impact on the world and our customers by revolutionizing the way homes can be designed, produced, and enjoyed. Our team shares a common vision of a future filled with beautiful, healthy homes that are self-powered, adaptable and safe. ”
Send an email CleanTechnica, Dvele CEO and co-founder Kurt Goodjohn said, “As leaders, it is our job to create every possible solution we can to avoid climate catastrophe and there’s not another second to wait. Dvele is making a positive impact on the electrification world by scaling up the production of fully electric, self-powered, intelligent homes.
“We are bringing energy independence to homeowners, as well as creating a new generation of self-powered, healthy homes and driving society to a clean energy future. Future generations and our children are dependent on the actions that we take today.
The Takeaway
We are in the mess we are in because fossil fuel energy is so cheap and so abundant, we feel we can afford to waste it and it won’t matter. About 25% of the gasoline used to power a car or truck is actually used for moving it. The same goes for energy used to power our homes. Up to 50% of that energy is lost through the roof, windows and walls.
One reason oil and gas are so inexpensive is that our economic system does not impose any obligation to compensate for any damage they do to our environment. But, so long as our political leaders are in the grips of the fossil fuel companies (who pay to get us elected after all), change will slow down.
The Department of Energy helps businesses and organizations reduce their carbon footprints and lower their energy costs. Companies like Dvele do the same for homeowners. As a popular bumper sticker says, “If the people will lead, their leaders will follow.” It’s up to us — each and every one of us — to make choices that save us money while helping to keep the Earth fit for human habitation.
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