A new program from the U.S. Department of Energy aims to help builders cut expenses and build more quickly at a time when the costs for construction labor and materials are skyrocketing. 

The Building America New Construction Support program will provide builders access to experts with DOE and at its national laboratories so they can receive technical support on all kinds of construction projects, according to a release. It comes at time when the cost and time needed to build everything from homes and retail buildings to data centers and power plants has created challenges.  

“This program will provide unbiased technical analysis and promote cost-saving innovations,” said Assistant Secretary of Energy Audrey Robertson in a statement. “Our goal is to help builders, manufacturers and contractors scale production and meet demand for lower-cost, higher-quality buildings.” 

The program is open to all builders, who can request technical assistance through the Building America New Construction Support form on the Building America website. Requests will be reviewed, and DOE will attempt to match them with its resources. Findings from each engagement will be summarized and published on the Building America Solution Center. 

The program is an outgrowth of Building America, which has supported the construction industry for 26 years, and DOE’s Advanced Building Construction initiative, which has funded 29 projects validating off-site construction and retrofit technologies since 2018.