MEP to Support New Building-Efficiency Research Center

The National Institute of Standards and Technology's Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) will be supporting the creation of a regional research center that will develop new energy-efficiency technologies for buildings. MEP is taking part in an interagency initiative to establish an Energy Regional Innovation Cluster (E-RIC). The new regional center, announced by the Obama Administration last week, will receive up to $129.7 million in support from seven federal agencies over the next five years.

The E-RIC will be established in a U.S. region to be selected through a competitive process. The center will be based at a university, Department of Energy laboratory or private firm, and will work with local partners to develop and implement energy-efficiency building technologies in area buildings. Upon creation of the E-RIC, MEP will make available up to $500,000 for a one-year award, with the possibility of renewal for up to two additional years, to support the services of an existing regional MEP Center that would assist the E-RIC.

For more information on the E-RIC effort, see the Department of Energy's Feb. 12 news release, "Obama Administration Launches $130 Million Building Energy Efficiency Effort."