What is "Advanced Building Construction" (ABC)?
Advanced building construction (ABC) refers to innovative retrofit and new construction solutions that combine energy-efficient building decarbonization and streamlined industrialized construction. In addition to energy and carbon reductions, ABC can offer superior comfort, resilience, fast deployment, and other potential economic, health, and safety co-benefits. ABC solutions include technologies, construction and manufacturing techniques, and new business models.
Who is behind the ABC Collaborative?
The ABC Collaborative is administered by RMI, ADL Ventures, Passive House Institute US, Association for Energy Affordability and VEIC with support from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
Can my organization become a member?
A Collaborative team member can answer your questions about membership. Please use the Contact Us form to reach out, and a specialist will be in touch.
Does the Collaborative extend beyond the U.S.?
At this time, the Collaborative is focusing on the U.S market.
Does the Collaborative offer training?
The Collaborative team is currently assessing the need for professional and technical training and anticipates making educational materials, tools, and/or programs available that will help increase the industry's ABC capabilities.
What is industrialized construction?
Industrialized construction refers to the practice of constructing all or part of a building at a site other than the building’s ultimate, permanent location. The initial (off-site) work location can provide a controlled environment.
Prefab (i.e., prefabrication or prefabricated) refers to the practice of fabricating an assembly of parts and materials that will be installed as a package in the final building or at the final site. Modular construction refers to the practice of constructing standardized units in a manufacturing-environment (often full or partial volumes) that fit together to form the bulk of a building.
All of these fit into the broader category of “industrialized construction,” which uses modern manufacturing techniques, controlled environments, and digital tools to increase labor productivity, quality, and consistency and reduce risk in construction. The Collaborative considers industrialized construction to be a key strategy in driving ABC.
I’m not a construction company, can I still join the Collaborative?
All members of the building construction industry are welcome to participate in the Collaborative. We need the voices of builders, suppliers, trades, financiers, and insurers to achieve the goal.
What parts of the building sector does the Collaborative cover?
The Collaborative covers both new construction and retrofits of existing buildings in the commercial, residential, governmental, and institutional segments.