Energy Commission Grant Looks to Reduce Existing Building Electricity Consumption

Existing buildings consume nearly 70 percent of California’s electricity, but a new grant funding opportunity could help change that.

The California Energy Commission’s recently released a $20 million solicitation for innovative large-scale development and demonstration projects that reduce electricity consumption in existing buildings. The solicitation is designed to accelerate the adoption of pre-commercial electricity saving technologies for existing government buildings; colleges, universities and K-12 schools; privately owned buildings; and facilities on military installations.

Projects in specified investor-owned utility service areas of the Los Angeles Basin will receive priority. If funds are still available, projects in investor-owned utility service areas statewide will be considered later.

The solicitation is funded through the Energy Commission’s Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) program, which invests in advanced technologies and approaches that bring clean energy ideas to market. Deadlines and details on the solicitation are available on the EPIC webpage.

The Energy Commission is committed to increasing diversity in the energy sector and encourages women, minority, disabled veteran and LGBT businesses to engage in and benefit from its many programs.