Glimpse from the Better Buildings, Better Plants Summit, Washington D.C.

The recent?Better Buildings, Better Plants Summit, hosted by the Department of Energy, took place from April 2 to April 4, 2024, at the Capital Hilton in Washington, D.C. This event is a significant annual gathering for partners of the Better Buildings, Better Plants initiative and other key stakeholders in the field of energy efficiency and decarbonization. The summit has been ongoing annually since 2011.

The 2024 Summit addressed key topics like emerging technologies and shared innovative strategies in energy efficiency, decarbonization, water, and waste reduction, split into two themes: Better Built for Buildings and Better Plants for Industry. It provided a collaborative space for professionals from various sectors, cities, and states to network, share best practices, and engage with experts across seven tracks, promoting innovative energy efficiency and decarbonization strategies nationwide.

A highlight of the event was that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the first-ever federal National?Blueprint?to decarbonize Americas. DOE also launched New Better Building Initiatives to help organizations in all sectors of the U.S. economy save energy while reducing costs and emissions. Among the new initiatives is the?Better Buildings Commercial Building Heat Pump Accelerator, through which manufacturers will produce higher efficiency and life cycle cost-effective heat pump rooftop units, and commercial organizations will evaluate and adopt next-generation heat pump technology. The event was about new challenges and an opportunity to follow up on earlier launched programs and challenges and celebrate award winners. Among the winners, Volvo Group was one proud Swedish example!?Better Project and Better Practice Awards | Better Buildings Initiative (energy.gov)

The importance of embracing innovation and decarbonization for a sustainable future was also frequently mentioned during the event. The?journey towards decarbonization and meeting ambitious environmental goals is a pressing challenge that encompasses many innovative solutions, many of which have yet to reach commercial viability.?During the event?specific?messages were repeated, among?others?to prioritize working on the building's envelope before investing in a new heating source.?A?smaller?energy source will be needed by first focusing on minimizing draft and increasing insolation, i.e., your investment and running cost will be lower.

So, what were the leading solutions presented? A significant shift towards electrification is pivotal as it seeks to replace natural gas—a predominant energy source in many regions, and the U.S. grid is getting greener every day. The?transition involves a multi-faceted approach:

• Heat Pumps:?These play a crucial role by efficiently transferring heat, drastically reducing the dependency on traditional heating methods with higher carbon footprints.
• Renewable Energy Sources:?Deploying renewables remains fundamental in achieving a sustainable energy mix, with technologies like solar and wind leading the charge.
• Energy efficiency in Building?- Starting with the envelope (yes, repetition). By first focusing on minimizing draft and increasing insolation, you will need a?smaller?energy source.
• Energy Storage Solutions:?Innovative?storage?solutions like geothermal storage are emerging beyond conventional batteries. This method involves storing heat underground, providing a stable and sustainable energy source.
• Industrial Heat Management:?Improving the efficiency of industrial heating processes is also crucial for reducing overall emissions.

An event without mentioning AI - is that possible? Also, at this summit, the topic of Artificial Intelligence (AI) surfaced.?It was stressed?that AI has been around for a while. AI is not only a language model; far?from being just a buzzword, machine learning and digitalization have been going on for a long time. AI is the continuation of a long-standing technological evolution. It will make strides in the sustainability sector through machine learning and AI integration in factories to process vast amounts of data to identify patterns and optimize processes, although it currently struggles with extrapolating beyond its training data.

The summit highlighted significant investments in the U.S. to foster a more sustainable future. It also unveiled exciting new business opportunities in the greenteh industry, particularly in heat pumps and energy-efficient solutions for buildings. Combining cutting-edge technologies and sustainable methods is crafting a future prioritizing energy efficiency and lower carbon emissions. The one-pager on Smart Green Buildings details Swedish innovations in sustainable building. We invite you to join us in speeding up the green transition.