A new $2.4-million award system from U.S. Department of Energy Building Technologies Office aims to spur innovative solutions to advance widespread electrification upgrades in residential buildings, and NEMA supports the endeavor.

The American-Made Equitable and Affordable Solutions to Electrification (EAS-E) Home Electrification Prize is a two-phase competition designed to support a suite of design solutions, tools, and/or technology innovations that make electrification more affordable and accessible in existing U.S. homes. Applications are being accepted now through March 2023.

Through this prize, the U.S. Department of Energy Building Technologies Office aims to create more opportunities and successes for electrification of the U.S. housing stock with a focus on equitable solutions for all homeowners—not only through affordability, but also by enabling solutions specific to dwellings more common in low-income and under-resourced communities.

By awarding cash prizes and technical assistance to cutting-edge design solutions, tools, and technology innovations, the EAS-E Home Electrification Prize will spur an ecosystem of products and approaches that work for every homeowner ready to make the switch. The EAS-E Prize leverages the American-Made Network, a diverse and powerful support network of national laboratories, energy incubators, and other resources from across the United States. The American-Made Network provides mentoring, tools, resources, and support to accelerate the transition of ideas into real-world solutions to achieve clean energy goals.

More information about the rules and applying for the Prize is available here.