Enhancing Energy Equity through Building Technologies Partnerships
Commercial and residential buildings in the U.S. consume 75% of the nation’s electricity and 40% of the nation’s total energy use, and account for 35% of the country’s carbon dioxide emissions. Reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of buildings through energy efficiency and building electrification measures is key to meeting ambitious energy reduction and climate change mitigation goals. To help address the issue, the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Building Technologies Office (BTO) funds and leads a variety of research, development, demonstration, and deployment (RDD&D) activities, public-private partnerships, and workforce development activities.
To ensure equitable benefits and access to these activities, BTO is working with the Minority Serving Institution (MSI) STEM Research & Development Consortium (MSRDC) to expand awareness, promote collaboration, and gather input to enhance BTO’s partnerships and collaboration with MSIs.
MSRDC is seeking participants from U.S. minority-serving institutions to complete a short survey to offer their feedback on BTO’s programmatic offerings and inform BTO of MSI’s needs. BTO intends to use this information to increase MSI participation.
Session 1: BTO Overview - April 18th, 3-4:30 PM ET
During the first session, BTO program staff will provide an overview of BTO, research and development opportunities, and a new prize program.
The feedback portion of this event will focus on providing feedback to MSRDC on how BTO can improve its communication of these opportunities and collaboration with MSIs.
Session 2: Partnership Opportunities - May 17th, 3-4:30 PM ET
During this session, BTO program staff will discuss opportunities for partnerships between BTO, MSIs, and Industry.
The feedback portion of this event will focus on identifying the assets and needs for MSIs to partner with BTO, as well as a chance for MSIs to provide MSRDC feedback on how BTO can improve its communication and collaboration with MSIs.
Session 2: Partnership Opportunities - May 17th, 3-4:30 PM ET
During this session, BTO program staff will discuss opportunities for partnerships between BTO, MSIs, and Industry.
The feedback portion of this event will focus on identifying the assets and needs for MSIs to partner with BTO, as well as a chance for MSIs to provide MSRDC feedback on how BTO can improve its communication and collaboration with MSIs.
Session 3: Place-based Learning Opportunities and Workforce Development - June 7th, 3-4:30 PM ET
During this session, participants will hear from BTO program staff about programs and resources designed to support place-based learning and workforce development activities, as well as about current and upcoming opportunities for partnership.
The discussion portion will focus on providing the MSRDC with feedback on the opportunities and identifying communication strategies and institutional needs to increase MSI participation.
Session 4: Opportunities for Student Advancement - June 14th, 3-4:30 PM ET
In the final session, staff will discuss opportunities for student advancement both within DOE and with outside entities.
Participants will have the opportunity to provide feedback on these opportunities to improve access, increase participation, and suggest ideas for additional resources and outreach.
Don’t miss this unique opportunity to provide feedback to MSRDC on Building Technologies Office programs. Each event is limited to 50 participants. If you are unable to attend, but would like to receive a notification when the recorded informational component of each virtual event and its associated resources become available please click here.
For additional information please visit: Building Energy Innovation and Minority Serving Institutions Partnerships | Department of Energy.