The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) Research Committee today announced its National Green Building Research Agenda at the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo in Chicago, IL. The agenda identifies key research areas for advancing building performance and market transformation, and explains the scale of funding and capacity-building that is needed to support all steps from research through deployment.

“This new Research Agenda is a call to action for the entire industry,” said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair, USGBC. “In keeping with our goal to be both a resource for existing knowledge and a driver of relevant research, USGBC has created this living document to illustrate the breadth of research that is critically needed to transition to a sustainable built environment.”

Research on green building constituted only about 0.2 percent of all federally-funded research between 2002 and 2004 – an average of $193 million per year. In contrast, building operation accounts for 39 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions and nearly 40% of U.S. energy consumption. 

“The National Green Building Research Agenda challenges government, foundation, industrial, academic and other sectors to devote the resources commensurate with the scale of the environmental, economic and social opportunities we face as a planet,” said USGBC Research Committee Chair, Gail Brager, University of California at Berkeley. 

The USGBC Research Agenda focuses on the applied research most needed by green building practitioners in the design, engineering, construction and development communities. A central function of this agenda is as a basis for discussion that will facilitate constructive dialogue among the stakeholders and contribute to its impact and evolution.

Ultimate objectives of green buildings and this research agenda include: stable, sustainable energy supplies and climate conditions; clean, renewable and sufficient water resources; restorative use of land for the long term sustainability of habitats; restorative use of materials and assemblies that reflect life-cycle impacts; and a built environment that enhances human safety, security, health and productivity.

Last June, USGBC announced that it will commit $1 million to green building research. The application period for these research funds will start with an RFP in January 2008, and will target matching funds for short-term applied research that has relevance to research topics in the Research Agenda; USGBC’s market transformation efforts; and LEED technical development.