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Energy-efficient buildings, whether new or existing, lessen our nation's energy use.

Essential to Efficiency

Buildings consume 40 percent of all energy used in the United States and are responsible for nearly 40 percent of domestic carbon dioxide emissions. Efficient buildings reduce the speed and severity of global warming, lessen demand on the power grid, decrease stress on natural gas supplies, improve local air quality and save consumers money. Efficient features may be either embedded in new buildings or added to existing buildings through energy retrofits.

New Buildings

The design phase of a new building is the best opportunity to embed long-term energy savings into the building. Major improvements in building efficiency are often accomplished through stronger efficiency requirements in building codes. More on building codes.

Existing Buildings

With less than 1.5 percent of the U.S. building stock built new each year, improving existing buildings is critical to improving building efficiency overall. Energy retrofits, which upgrade equipment and seal the envelope of existing buildings, can save building inhabitants up to 20 percent on their utility bills. Still, participation in retrofit programs remains low. Financial support and technical assistance from all levels of government can help drive energy efficiency retrofits.

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Alliance Hosts League of Green Embassies Event Featuring U.S. Ambassador to Finland

Date: May 12, 2011

On May 11, U.S. Ambassador to Finland Bruce Oreck urged a group of ambassadors to make their embassy buildings more energy efficient. Oreck, who also serves as the chair of the League of Green Embassies, told the crowd at the Alliance’s headquarters that saving energy is worth the investment.

Washington, D.C. — On May 11, U.S. Ambassador to Finland Bruce Oreck urged a group of ambassadors to make their embassy buildings more energy efficient. Oreck, who also serves as the chair of the League of Green Embassies (LoGE), told the crowd at the Alliance’s headquarters that saving energy is worth the investment.

Building Energy Codes Fact Sheet

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Building Codes Fact Sheet 14Feb11.pdf
Efficient Building
February 14, 2011

Efficient buildings can improve energy security, reduce stress on the power grid and on natural gas supplies, improve local air quality, and save homeowners money.

Benefits

Efficient buildings can improve energy security, reduce stress on the power grid and on natural gas supplies, improve local air quality, and save homeowners money. A report by the McKinsey Global Institute found that America could reduce energy use in new and existing buildings by more than one quarter by 2020 with measures that pay for themselves within ten years.

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ENERGY STAR Launches National Building Competition

Date: May 09, 2011

Teams from 245 buildings across the country are competing to reduce the most energy use as part of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s ENERGY STAR National Building Competition.

Teams from 245 buildings across the country are competing to use the least amount of energy as part of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s ENERGY STAR National Building Competition.

Danfoss President's Strategy for Building Energy Efficiency

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BuildingEnergyEfficiency_RW_04 18 11 (2).pdf
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May 4, 2011

In a recent publication, Wilkins cautions that if left unchecked, the demand for energy will continue to grow– as much as 45% by 2030.

Resource Published: April 2011
At a time when concerns for energy are on the rise, Robert Wilkins, president of Alliance Associate Danfoss North America, underscores the urgency for finding solutions to limited fossil fuel supplies and ever-increasing energy prices. In a recent publication, Wilkins cautions that if left unchecked, the demand for energy will continue to grow – as much as 45% by 2030.
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Already-Soaring Gas Prices Make Energy Efficiency an Apt Way to Honor Earth Day

Date: Apr 19, 2011

Washington, D.C. April 19, 2011 – Now in its fifth decade, Earth Day reminds consumers confronted with spiking gasoline prices that energy efficiency can help them “green” the planet while keeping more “green” in their pockets, says the Alliance to Save Energy.

Washington, D.C. April 19, 2011 – Now in its fifth decade, Earth Day reminds consumers confronted with spiking gasoline prices that energy efficiency can help them “green” the planet while keeping more “green” in their pockets, says the Alliance to Save Energy.

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EE Global Daily Wrap-Ups

Date: Apr 14, 2011

EE Global's pivotal fourth year was a launching pad for ideas that are sure to shake up the energy landscape. Check out the Alliance's "EE Global Daily" newsletters from each day of the event.

EE Global's pivotal fourth year was a launching pad for ideas that are sure to shake up the energy landscape. Check out chronological news articles from the event on eeglobalforum.org's news section.  To view the Alliance's "EE Global Daily" newsletters from each day of the event, click on your favorite day below.

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EE Global: Final Executive Dialogue Sessions Round Out EE Education

Date: Apr 14, 2011

Executive Dialogue sessions on the last day of EE Global 2011 focused on the intersection of government and industry, zero energy buildings, and innovative financing mechanisms.
 

Brussels, Belgium; April 14, 2011 — Executive Dialogue sessions four and five brought the educational aspect of EE Global to the forefront of Wednesday's schedule. Chances are, even if you were here, you weren't able to be two places at once. But fear not, the Alliance staff has you covered! We sent our writers out to sessions on the intersection of government and industry, zero-energy buildings, and innovative financing mechanisms, among others.

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EE Global: 12 Executive Dialogue Sessions Share Best Practices

Date: Apr 13, 2011

Executive Dialogue sessions populated a busy second day at EE Global, featuring 40 speakers and countless great ideas to jumpstart a clean energy future around the world. 

Executive Dialogue sessions populated a busy second day at EE Global, featuring no less than 40 speakers, and countless great ideas to jumpstart a clean energy future around the world. The Alliance deployed a sea of writers to cover as many sessions as possible, including ones on driving policy change, the best buildings in the world, managing the smart grid, and navigating the global policy maze. 

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Survey Points to Broad Consumer Support for Energy-Efficient Lighting

Date: Apr 06, 2011

American consumers strongly support energy efficient lighting and welcome the transition away from traditional incandescent bulbs, according to the results of a recent survey.
 

American consumers strongly support energy efficient lighting and welcome the transition away from traditional incandescent bulbs, according to the results of a recent survey.

In their 10th EcoPinion survey published in March, EcoAlign asked 1,000 American consumers what they thought of the technological changes and higher efficiency standards that are transforming the residential lighting market.

Alliance’s Kateri Callahan Joins Energy Secretary Chu at Worldwide Clean Energy Ministerial in the Middle East

Date: 
March 29, 2011

Washington, DC, March 29, 2011 – The Department of Energy has invited Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan to take part in the second annual Clean Energy Ministerial.

Washington, DC, March 29, 2011 – The Department of Energy has invited Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan to take part in the second annual Clean Energy Ministerial that is bringing together energy luminaries from around the world to exchange ideas on how to advance a global transition to a clean energy economy.

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