The American-Made Building Envelope Innovation Prize will offer up to $2 million to encourage production of high-performance, cost-effective secondary glazing systemsto improve efficiency of commercial windows.
Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's Building Technologies Office, the prize targets novel solutions for upgrading inefficient windows to enable building decarbonization retrofits and optimize building envelopes for electrification. The prize will help establish, support, and expand innovation in window systems and catalyze teams to rapidly develop and deploy cost-effective solutions in the secondary glazing systems market. Competitors will secure equity-focused pilot(s) in low-income multifamily or underserved public sector buildings as a component of their commercialization plans.
- Phase 1: Design Concept—$50,000 | February 14 to June 13, 2024
- Teams will provide an innovative concept narrative and design drawings for a secondary glazing system prototype, including details on cost and energy performance.
- Up to five semifinalists will be selected, each receiving $50,000.
- Phase 1 awards will be based on energy and technical performance modeling, cost metrics, and construction plans.
- Teams can only join during Phase 1
Eligibility: The competition is open only to private entities (for-profits and nonprofits), non-federal government entities such as states, counties, tribes, and municipalities, academic institutions, and individuals.