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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.

Active Energy Management Through the Use of Data and Analytics

October 17, 2012 - 8:00am - 12:15pm
Hamilton Square, 600 14th Street, NW , 20005 Washington, District Of Columbia

Southeast Region-Wide Energy Efficiency Programs Deliver Millions in Savings

Date: Sep 27, 2012

Author(s): 
Abby Schwimmer

The Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) released 20 “snapshot reports” highlighting the successes of sub-grantee energy efficiency programs in cities across the region. Combined, these local initiatives have saved more than 10,459,777 kWh of energy and $1,155,968 in utility bill costs since 2011.

'Snapshot Reports' Demonstrate Benefits to the Southeast’s Environment and Economy

Atlanta, Georgia (Aug. 27, 2012) – The Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) today released 20 “snapshot reports” highlighting the successes of sub-grantee energy efficiency programs in cities across the region. Combined, these local initiatives have saved more than 10,459,777 kWh of energy and $1,155,968 in utility bill costs since 2011.

Energy Efficiency in Agriculture: A Review of the Role of the Federal Government and State and Private Entities

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eeinagriculture.pdf
Alliance to Save Energy
September 26, 2012

Agriculture is one of the most important sectors of the U.S. economy, and one that uses a significant amount of energy. This new research report from the Alliance to Save Energy explores federal, state, and private energy efficiency programs that have helped farmers save energy without harming productivity.

This paper explores how federal, state, and private programs have encouraged efficiency in the agricultural sector.

Click on the PDF link above to view the full report.

Think Bigger: Net-Zero Communities

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net-zero-communities.pdf
net-zero energy
September 10, 2012
Jeff Harris

This report, by the Zero Energy Commercial Buildings Consortium, discusses the need to spread net-zero energy buildings across communities.

Launched by the Alliance, the National Association of State Energy Officials and other organizations in late 2009, the Zero Energy Commercial Buildings Consortium includes more than 500 organizations seeking to transition the market to zero-energy commercial buildings. The CBC’s latest report discusses the need to spread net-zero energy buildings across communities. 

Tech Beat: What's So Hot About Smart Thermostats

Date: Sep 10, 2012

Smart thermostats are the next generation of temperature control. Get the skinny on these high-tech gadgets, and learn why the Nest is the thermostat world's current darling.

​All photos courtesy of Nest.

Smart thermostats are the next generation of temperature control. Get the skinny on these high-tech gadgets, and learn why the Nest is the thermostat world's current darling.

White Paper: BCAP's Compliance Planning Assistance Program

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cpa_white_paper.pdf
homes
September 7, 2012
Cosimina Panetti
Maria Ellingson

This report from the Alliance’s Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) provides findings from the project’s efforts to help 15 states develop plans to comply with updated building energy codes. 

This report from the Alliance’s Building Codes Assistance Project (BCAP) provides findings from the project’s efforts to help 15 states develop plans to comply with updated building energy codes. These findings include:

Guiding the Invisible Hand: Policies to Address Market Barriers to Energy Efficiency

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guiding_invisible_hand_summerstudy2012.pdf
energy efficienct building
September 4, 2012
Lowell Ungar
Rodney Sobin

This research paper explores a range of government policies to overcome well-known market barriers, such as lack of information and split incentives, that hinder the adoption of much-needed energy efficiency measures. These policies can directly reduce the barriers without significant new spending, taxes, or mandates on individuals.

Background to the Report

The strong anti-government feeling in Congress and in many of the states has affected not only climate policy but also energy policy—there is strong opposition to government spending and to government mandates. While influencing energy use without money or requirements may seem implausible, efficiency analysts and advocates have long claimed that large energy savings are cost-effective on their own without any government intervention.

VERGE SF @ Greenbuild

November 12, 2012 - 8:00am - November 13, 2012 - 5:30pm
888 Howard Street, San Francisco, California

2012 Georgetown Energy & Cleantech Conference

October 12, 2012 - 9:00am - 5:00pm
Washington, District Of Columbia

2012 Emerging Technologies Summit

October 15, 2012 - 8:30am - October 17, 2012 - 3:30pm
300 E. Green Street , Pasadena, California
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