Resource Hub For Building Systems Efficiency

Want to learn more about building systems efficiency opportunities and ongoing efforts? You’re in the right place: this resource hub is a growing platform of case studies, program guidance, tools, and consensus reports that build on the Going Beyond Zero report’s recommendations for moving the market toward a systems approach. Click on the links below to learn more about these projects or reach out to the Alliance. 

Case Studies of Utility-Led Energy Efficiency Programs that Encourage Systems-Level Approaches to Energy Savings

The Alliance developed a series of case studies on utility energy efficiency programs across the United States that incentivize electric and/or gas customers to take a comprehensive approach to energy management and invest in systems-level efficiency improvements. Meeting their increasingly ambitious energy efficiency and pollution emissions targets will require many utilities to move beyond traditional efficiency programs – such as providing rebates for upgrading specific equipment – and carry out programs that achieve deeper savings by focusing on building systems. The highlighted programs demonstrate that system-level optimization of building efficiency can help achieve significant untapped potential for energy savings.

Commercial & Industrial Lighting Lifetime and Peak Demand Savings Analysis

This 2019 report finds that state efficiency policies routinely understate energy savings potential of lighting systems, leaving substantial savings on the table. Key recommendations of the report include shifting energy efficiency programs toward incentive strategies that promote LED lighting and networked lighting controls (NLC) as a system, which could increase recognized NLC lifetime savings by 22% and help shave peak demand. The report was prepared by the Energy Futures Group and published jointly by the Alliance (funded by GE Current, a Daintree company) and the DesignLights Consortium (DLC). Learn more.

ESCO-Utility Dialogue to Explore a New Generation of Energy Efficiency Programs

The Alliance and the National Association of Energy Service Companies hosted a dialogue in October 2019 among utilities and energy service companies (ESCOs) to explore opportunities to collaborate on a new generation of energy efficiency programs focused on whole building system improvements. Since both ESCOs and utilities eye the same energy efficiency and distributed energy resource markets for growth, attendees at the October dialogue agreed that a future built on cooperation can benefit both industries. Learn more about the Active Efficiency Collaborative's work in this area. 

Educational Materials, Articles, and Blogs

• “Going Beyond Zero: A Systems Efficiency Blueprint for Building Energy Optimization and Resilience.” Report by the Alliance to Save Energy (2017).
• “Greater than the Sum of its Parts: The Case for a Systems Approach to Energy Efficiency.” Report by the Alliance to Save Energy (2016).
• “A Systems Level Approach: A Pathway to More Efficient Buildings.” Educational courses offered by the U.S. Green Building Council.
• “Building Systems Efficiency.” Resource guide by the Alliance to Save Energy on Whole Building Design Guide (2018).
• “New Report: Potential For Energy Efficiency Programs To Deliver More Savings By Properly Valuing Lighting Systems.” Press release by the Alliance to Save Energy (2019).
• “System-Level Key Performance Indicators.” Article by John Mayernik in High Performing Buildings Magazine (2019).
• “Westinghouse Won The Current War, But Direct Current Systems Now Provide A Savings Opportunity.” Blog by Rebecca Price & Mikelann Scerbo on the Alliance’s Blog to Save Energy (2019).
• “DOE Looks To The Future: Energy Efficient And Flexible Building Loads Cut Costs And Increase Grid Reliability.” Blog by Caroline Colan on the Alliance’s Blog to Save Energy (2019).
• “DOE's Look At Smart Devices Should Consider The Opportunities Of A Systems Approach To Energy Savings.” Blog by Susan Rochford on the Alliance’s Blog to Save Energy (2018).
• “Interested In Adopting A Systems-Level Approach To Buildings Efficiency? This Series Of Online Courses Will Help Guide You.” Blog by Susan Rochford on the Alliance’s Blog to Save Energy (2018).
• “Market-Based, Systems Approaches To Improving Building Efficiency.” Blog by Clay Nesler on the Alliance’s Blog to Save Energy (2018).
• “Systems Efficiency - A New Paradigm for Building Performance.” Article by Mikelann Scerbo, Laura Van Wie McGrory, Susan Rochford, and Jeffrey Harris in NEMA’s electroindustry magazine (2018).
• “Missing an Opportunity for Building System Efficiency?” Article by Suzanne Frew and Laura Van Wie McGrory in Public Utilities Fortnightly (2018).
• “Energy Efficiency is Not Enough: Rethinking Building Energy Performance for Good Times and Bad.” Article by Rodney Sobin, Ed Carley, Carl Blumstein, David Hungerford, Laura Van Wie McGrory and Jeffrey Harris in ACEEE’s Summer Study on Energy Efficiency in Buildings (2018)

Relevant Regulatory Comments:

• RFI Research and Development Opportunities for Innovations in Sensors and Controls for Building Energy Management (June 3, 2019)
• RFI Efficient and Flexible Buildings Loads (Mar. 1, 2019)
• RFI Emerging Smart Technology Appliance and Equipment Market (Nov. 16, 2018)
• RFI Energy Conservation Standards Program Design (Mar. 26, 2018)