Planning Framework for Transferring Building Energy Technologies: Executive Summary

Accelerating the adoption of new and existing cost-effective technologies has significant potential to reduce the energy consumed in U.S. buildings. This report summarizes some of the key results of an interlaboratory technology transfer planning effort in support of the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Building Technologies (the full report is published under SERI number TP-260-3729). Aguiding assumption for planning was that OBT's R&D program should forge linkages with existing programs whose goals involved enhancing energy efficiency in buildings. An ad hoc Technology Transfer Advisory Group reviewed the existing analysis and technology transfer program brainstormed technology transfer approaches, interviewed DOE program managers, identified applicable research results, anddeveloped a framework that management could use in deciding on the best investments of technology transfer resources. Representatives of 22 organizations were interviewed on their views of the potential for transferring energy efficiency technologies through active linking with OBT. The report describes in summary these programs and interview results; outlines OBT tools, technologies, andpractices to be transferred; defines OBT audiences; identifies technology transfer functions and presents a framework devised using functions and audiences; presents some example technology transfer activities; and summarizes the Advisory Group's recommendations.