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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.

Alliance to Save Energy Applauds Energy Efficiency Incentives in Major Tax Bill

US Capitol
Date: 
December 17, 2010

The Alliance to Save Energy commended the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives for including energy efficiency tax incentives for consumers and businesses in H.R. 4853, the Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010.

For Immediate Release

For Further Information
Ronnie Kweller (202) 530-2203 (O); rkweller@ase.org

Washington, D.C., – The Alliance to Save Energy commended the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives for including energy efficiency tax incentives for consumers and businesses in H.R. 4853, the Middle Class Tax Relief Act of 2010. President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law very soon, possibly today.

2011 Great Energy Efficiency Day

2011 Great Energy Efficiency Day

February 16, 2011 - 8:30am - 3:30pm
Washington, District Of Columbia
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DOE Launches Federal Efficiency and Renewable Advisory Committee

Date: Dec 09, 2010

On Nov. 12, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) established the nation's first federal advisory committee for energy efficiency and renewable energy.  The Efficiency and Renewable Advisory Committee gives a diverse panel of efficiency and renewable experts an opportunity to advise DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in its mission to address the nation's energy challenges through technological innovations.

On Nov. 12, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) established the nation's first federal advisory committee for energy efficiency and renewable energy.  The Efficiency and Renewable Advisory Committee gives a diverse panel of efficiency and renewable experts a seat at the table within DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE).

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Brighten Your Holidays With LEDs

Date: Dec 06, 2010

Although keeping those twinkling lights on throughout the night can make your house the star of your neighborhood, your wallet might not be as excited.

Drinking hot chocolate, building snowmen and decorating for the holidays are annual rituals many of us have each December. Although keeping those twinkling lights on throughout the night can make your house the star of your neighborhood, your wallet might not be as excited.

Your Holidays Can be Both Festive and Frugal with Energy-Efficient LED Lighting, Says Alliance to Save Energy

Author: 
Ronnie Kweller
Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
December 3, 2010

Washington, DC, December 2010 – Light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, that produce light using the movement of electricity along the path of a semiconductor (a substance that can conduct a small electrical current), can keep the holiday spirit alive without unduly running up your electricity bill, says the Alliance to Save Energy – and you don’t need a degree in physics to reap their benefits!

For Immediate Release

For Further Information
Ronnie Kweller 202-530-2203 rkweller@ase.org

Washington, DC – Light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, that produce light using the movement of electricity along the path of a semiconductor (a substance that can conduct a small electrical current), can keep the holiday spirit alive without unduly running up your electricity bill, says the Alliance to Save Energy – and you don’t need a degree in physics to reap their benefits!

Property Assessed Clean Energy Financing (PACE)

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PACE_factsheet.pdf
efficient house
December 2, 2010

Property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing supports energy efficiency and renewable energy projects by providing up-front capital that is subsequently paid back through an addition to participants' property taxes.

Financing energy efficiency upgrades with property tax-based repayment

EE Global 2011 Energy Efficiency Global Forum

Energy Efficiency Global Forum (EE Global) 2011

April 12, 2011 - 4:30pm - April 14, 2011 - 2:00pm
Brussels
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How Can We Get More Americans to Make Energy-Efficient Home Improvements?

Date: Nov 23, 2010

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory released a an Oct. 12 report examining a question that we at the Alliance work to answer daily: How can we persuade the American public to invest in energy efficiency?

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory released an Oct. 12 report examining a question that we at the Alliance work to answer daily: How can we persuade the American public to invest in energy efficiency?  From the Alliance’s perspective, the answer should be a no-brainer: Energy efficiency tends to pay for itself, saving consumers money over time.  Yet, most homeowners don’t buy into the idea that the easiest place to save money is their monthly energy bills.

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New Homes: Affordable AND Energy Efficient

Date: Nov 23, 2010

The average cost of constructing a new home to meet the current energy efficiency building code comes to a mere $818.72, reports a recent study by the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP), a nonprofit advocacy organization that supports code adoption and implementation.

Cost of Efficient Construction Falls Under $1,000 Per Home

Meeting the current energy efficiency building code adds a mere $818.72 on average to the construction costs of a new home, reports a recent study by the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP), a nonprofit advocacy organization that supports code adoption and implementation.

New Homes Can Be Energy-Efficient and Affordable, Reveals Study by Building Codes Assistance Project

Author: 
Ronnie Kweller
Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
November 18, 2010

Washington, D.C. – The average incremental cost of constructing a new home to meet the current energy efficiency building code – the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) – comes to a mere $818.72, according to a recent study by the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP), a nonprofit advocacy organization that supports code adoption and implementation.

Washington, D.C. – The average incremental cost of constructing a new home to meet the current energy efficiency building code – the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) – comes to a mere $818.72, according to a recent study by the Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP), a nonprofit advocacy organization that supports code adoption and implementation.

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