Opportunity Information: Apply for DE FOA 0000720
Apply for DE FOA 0000720
- The Golden Field Office in the energy humanities (see cultural affairs in cfda) sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "HVACR to Home Performance Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration (HVACR) Contractor Expansion into Whole House Residential Energy Efficiency Services" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 81.087 Renewable Energy Research and Development.
- This funding opportunity was created on May 7, 2012 and posted on Apr 10, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by Jun 1, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
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Opportunity Summary:
This opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000720) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Request for Information (RFI) focused on how the federal government can help HVACR (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration) contractors expand beyond traditional equipment-focused work into "home performance" services, meaning whole-house residential energy efficiency improvements. Rather than immediately offering grant dollars, DOE is asking the public and industry stakeholders to submit ideas, evidence, and practical recommendations that could shape a future competitive Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) that DOE indicated it may release during Fiscal Year 2012. The central aim is to identify the most effective ways to move HVACR businesses into comprehensive energy efficiency work at scale, and to do it in a way that continues transforming the market even after any potential grant period ends.
At its core, the RFI is about market transformation in the HVACR sector. DOE is looking for input on what kinds of initiatives, partnerships, tools, training models, and business supports would make it realistic and attractive for HVACR contractors to adopt whole-house approaches, not just replace a furnace or install an air conditioner. The "whole-house" framing generally implies assessing and improving how the entire home performs as a system, including interactions among heating and cooling equipment, ductwork, building envelope (air sealing and insulation), ventilation, moisture control, and occupant health and comfort. DOE is explicitly interested in building upon existing "HVACR to Home Performance" efforts already underway in the industry, which signals they want practical, field-tested concepts rather than purely theoretical proposals.
DOE invites comments on any or all "Potential Topic Areas and Proposed Activities" listed in the RFI (these details are contained in the full document posted on the EERE Exchange site). Even without the full topic list included here, the RFI language makes clear the kind of feedback DOE wants: what activities would have the highest probability of creating a lasting shift in contractor practices, customer demand, and industry norms. That might include recommendations on contractor training and certification pathways; business model changes that help contractors profitably sell and deliver whole-house projects; quality assurance and quality control approaches; data and measurement strategies to prove energy savings and customer value; consumer education strategies that help homeowners understand the benefits of home performance upgrades; and strategies to align incentives across utilities, state and local programs, manufacturers, distributors, and contractors. DOE is essentially trying to avoid short-lived pilots and instead identify interventions that could become self-sustaining in the broader market.
From an administrative standpoint, this posting is categorized as discretionary and uses an "Other" funding instrument type, reflecting that the immediate action is information gathering rather than a standard grant award. The listing shows no estimated total funding and no award floor or ceiling, which is consistent with an RFI stage where DOE is not yet committing to funding levels or award structures. The CFDA number listed is 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development). Eligibility is described as "Unrestricted," meaning DOE is open to hearing from any type of entity (contractors, trade associations, training providers, utilities, program administrators, manufacturers, nonprofits, universities, state and local governments, and others), subject to any clarifications in the full text.
Timing-wise, the RFI was posted April 10, 2012, with an original closing date of May 1, 2012, and an extended deadline of June 1, 2012. The archive date is June 30, 2012. The issuing office is DOE's Golden Field Office. Responses were to be submitted by email to HVACRHomePerformance@go.doe.gov, and a contact was provided for access issues: Christina Raines at 720-356-1756. DOE also notes the full RFI is available through the EERE Exchange portal (the platform DOE uses for energy efficiency and renewable energy funding and information requests).
In practical terms, the key takeaway is that this is not a direct grant application but a chance to influence what a future DOE funding program might look like. DOE is signaling that it sees HVACR contractors as a critical channel for scaling residential energy efficiency, since these businesses already have customer relationships, access to homes, and a central role in comfort and energy use. The RFI is asking stakeholders to help DOE determine what kinds of supports would actually help contractors transition into comprehensive home performance services in a durable way, so that improvements continue and expand after any government-funded effort concludes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Funding Opportunity Number DE-FOA-0000720?
DE-FOA-0000720 is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Request for Information (RFI) seeking input on how the federal government can help HVACR (Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration) contractors expand from traditional equipment-focused work into "home performance" services (whole-house residential energy efficiency improvements).
Is this a grant you can apply for right now?
No. This posting is an RFI, which is an information-gathering step. DOE is asking for ideas, evidence, and practical recommendations. The listing shows no estimated total funding and no award floor or ceiling, which is consistent with an RFI stage rather than an active grant competition.
What is DOE trying to accomplish with this RFI?
The goal is market transformation in the HVACR sector: identifying the most effective ways to move HVACR businesses into comprehensive, whole-house energy efficiency work at scale, in a way that continues after any potential grant period ends.
What does "HVACR to Home Performance" mean in this context?
It refers to helping HVACR contractors expand beyond replacing or installing HVAC equipment and into whole-house approaches that treat the home as an integrated system. DOE is explicitly interested in building upon existing "HVACR to Home Performance" efforts already underway in the industry.
What does "home performance" or "whole-house" work include?
Based on the description provided, "whole-house" work generally involves assessing and improving how the entire home performs as a system, including interactions among HVAC equipment, ductwork, the building envelope (air sealing and insulation), ventilation, moisture control, and occupant health and comfort.
What kinds of input is DOE looking for?
DOE is looking for practical, field-tested concepts and recommendations that could shape a future competitive Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA). The RFI emphasizes activities most likely to create a lasting shift in contractor practices, customer demand, and industry norms.
What topic areas might respondents comment on?
The RFI invites comments on any or all "Potential Topic Areas and Proposed Activities" listed in the full document on the EERE Exchange site. From the summary provided, the kinds of feedback DOE is interested in include:
- Contractor training and certification pathways
- Business model changes to profitably sell and deliver whole-house projects
- Quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) approaches
- Data, measurement, and strategies to demonstrate energy savings and customer value
- Consumer education strategies to help homeowners understand benefits
- Approaches to align incentives across utilities, state/local programs, manufacturers, distributors, and contractors
Why is DOE focusing on HVACR contractors specifically?
DOE views HVACR contractors as a critical channel for scaling residential energy efficiency because they already have customer relationships, access to homes, and a central role in comfort and energy use.
Is DOE planning a future funding opportunity based on this RFI?
DOE indicated it may release a future competitive Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA) during Fiscal Year 2012, and this RFI is intended to help shape what that future program could look like.
What is the "funding instrument type" for this opportunity?
The posting lists an "Other" funding instrument type, reflecting that the immediate action is information gathering (an RFI) rather than a standard grant award.
How is this opportunity categorized?
The listing is categorized as discretionary.
Is there an identified CFDA number for this opportunity?
Yes. The CFDA number listed is 81.087 (Renewable Energy Research and Development).
Who is eligible to respond?
Eligibility is described as "Unrestricted," meaning DOE is open to hearing from any type of entity, subject to any clarifications in the full text. The description specifically notes potential respondents such as contractors, trade associations, training providers, utilities, program administrators, manufacturers, distributors, nonprofits, universities, and state and local governments.
Where can the full RFI document be found?
DOE notes the full RFI is available through the EERE Exchange portal, which is the platform DOE uses for energy efficiency and renewable energy funding and information requests.
When was the RFI posted, and what were the deadlines?
The RFI was posted on April 10, 2012. The original closing date was May 1, 2012, and the deadline was extended to June 1, 2012. The archive date is June 30, 2012.
Which DOE office issued this RFI?
The issuing office is DOE's Golden Field Office.
How were responses submitted?
Responses were to be submitted by email to HVACRHomePerformance@go.doe.gov.
Who can be contacted for access issues?
The contact provided for access issues is Christina Raines at 720-356-1756.
What is the main practical takeaway for stakeholders reading this posting?
This is not a direct grant application. It is a chance to influence how a future DOE funding program might be designed to support HVACR contractors transitioning into comprehensive home performance services in a durable, self-sustaining way.
Does DOE want short-term pilot ideas or long-term market change?
The RFI emphasizes durable market transformation. DOE is trying to avoid short-lived pilots and instead identify interventions that could become self-sustaining in the broader market.
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