ARPA-E Archived Funding Opportunities

The purpose of this Request for Information (RFI) is to solicit input for a potential ARPA-E program focused on the development of highly insulating R-10-rated glass for windows and R-50-rated walls for residential and commercial building retrofit and new construction. This RFI aims to identify potential participants and gather insights to inform the development of a potential funding opportunity focused on these transformative technologies.

Heating and cooling of residential and commercial buildings in the United States accounted for about 12% of total national energy consumption (amounting to 12 quadrillion British thermal units) in 2022.[2] Approximately 45% of this heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) energy was used to compensate for heat transfer through the building envelope (e.g., windows, walls, doors, attic, and air leaks). Reducing the energy a building uses has multiple benefits beyond lower utility costs and carbon dioxide emissions. Smaller, less expensive HVAC equipment and ducting systems would increase useful interior space and reduce demands on the electrical grid.

ARPA-E encourages responses from a broad range of entities, including:

• High-performance window manufacturers and startups
• Building materials developers
• Certification authorities
• Universities and research institutions
• National laboratories
• Other relevant stakeholders

Areas Not of Interest for Responses to this RFI:

A potential ARPA-E program would focus on highly insulating windows and walls. Approaches not of interest include:

• Frames surrounding the glass (it is assumed manufacturers will produce suitable frame designs)
• Technologies related to doors (non-glass doors), roofs, and foundations

RFI Guidelines:

Please note that the information you provide will be used by ARPA-E solely for program planning, without attribution. THIS IS A REQUEST FOR INFORMATION ONLY. THIS NOTICE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FUNDING OPPORTUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT (FOA). NO FOA EXISTS AT THIS TIME.

The purpose of this RFI is solely to solicit input for ARPA-E consideration to inform the possible formulation of future research programs. ARPA-E will not provide funding or compensation for any information submitted in response to this RFI, and ARPA-E may use information submitted to this RFI without any attribution to the source. This RFI provides the broad research community with an opportunity to contribute views and opinions.

No material submitted for review will be returned and there will be no formal or informal debriefing concerning the review of any submitted material. ARPA-E may contact respondents to request clarification or seek additional information relevant to this RFI. All responses provided will be considered, but ARPA-E will not respond to individual submissions or publish publicly a compendium of responses. Respondents shall not include any information in the response to this RFI that could be considered proprietary or confidential.