EPA funds ecosystems research grants to protect ecosystems and the air and water resources that provide numerous benefits for humans and other living things.

DARPA’s biological technologies arm focuses on leveraging advances in engineering and information sciences to drive and reshape biotechnology for technological advantage. BTO is responsible for all neurotechnology, human-machine interface, human performance, infectious disease, and synthetic biology programs within the agency.

WaterSMART Water and Energy Efficiency Grants provide cost-shared funding for projects that save water; increase energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy in water management; support environmental benefits (i.e., make conserved water available instream or otherwise address endangered species issues); mitigate conflict risk in areas at a high risk of future water conflict; and accomplish other benefits that contribute to water supply sustainability in the western United States.

The goal of the Decision Frameworks for Multi-Hazard Resilient and Sustainable Buildings (RSB) solicitation is to advance knowledge for new concepts for multi-hazard resilient and sustainable building systems using decision frameworks for selection among alternative building system designs

The Building Technologies office leads a network of research and industry partners to continually develop innovative, cost-effective energy saving solutions in building design. Some of the relevant programs under the Building Technologies office include 

1. Emerging Technologies
2. Residential Building

SAEM aims to enable sustainable buildings and other structures that can be continuously occupied and/or operated during the structure’s useful life. The SAEM program supports fundamental research for advancing knowledge and innovation in structural and architectural engineering and materials that promotes a holistic approach to analysis and design, construction, operation, maintenance, retrofit, and repair of structures.

In FY11, the Retrocommissioning teams completed eight buildings. The Facilities & Services Retrocommissioning Team at the University of Illinois received the 2011 Illinois Governor’s Sustainability Award at a ceremony on Thursday, October 27, 2011. Established in 1987, this award has been presented to both public and private organizations that have achieved significant progress on projects designed to protect the environment and improve sustainability within the State of Illinois.

The LCLB basement roof is a plaza at ground level. It was built to accommodate greenery on the roof and did so from 2012 to 2014. The planters were filled with porous rock for ease of maintenance. The area still helps with rainwater runoff, however, plants could be added to the planters again to provide more benefits around the ground level of the building. Plants were added on 6/18/24.

Occupancy Sensors provide automatic ON/OFF switching of lighting loads to enhance convenience, security and long-term energy savings. Daylight sensors are battery-powered sensors that save energy by dimming or turning off electric lighting when sufficient daylight is available. The sensor detects light in the space and then adjusts the lights to take advantage of daylight, thus conserving energy. These sensors are being incorporated into most new projects and as many retrofit/retrocommissioning projects as possible, with funding and electrical/mechanical application being key factors.