Home ›

Homes and Buildings

Share this

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.

Add a comment

New Vehicle Stickers a Next Step for Efficiency Labeling

Date: Sep 03, 2010

On Aug. 30, the Obama administration proposed new fuel economy labels for the front windows of cars. Replacing a label that has not been redesigned in over three decades, the EPA says that the new label will help Americans make more informed purchasing decisions.

On Aug. 30, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Transportation (DOT) proposed new fuel economy labels to replace the current mileage label on the front windows of new cars.

According to the EPA, the new labels will help Americans make more informed purchasing decisions than the current label, which hadn’t been redesigned in over three decades.

Add a comment

Industry Leader Interview: Melissa Wahl, Co-Developer of Michigan’s Net-Zero Energy Home

Date: Aug 30, 2010

The Alliance speaks with Melissa Wahl, co-owner of the development company that recently built Michigan's first net-zero energy home, which produces about as much energy as it consumes through the use of energy-efficient construction and renewable energy technology.

Michigan just got its first net-zero energy home. Dubbed the Vision Zero Home, it produces about as much energy as it consumes with energy-efficient construction and renewable energy technology.

Recovery Act Update: Energy Efficiency And Conservation Block Grants

Recovery.gov Logo
February 24, 2010

The Recovery Act provided $2.7 billion for formula grants to 2300 eligible states, territories, and local governments for the development and implementation of projects to improve municipal energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption, particularly in the building and transportation sectors. An additional $453 million was made available for competitive grants.

The Recovery Act provided $2.8 billion for formula grants to 2300 eligible states, territories, and local governments for the development and implementation of projects to improve municipal energy efficiency and reduce energy consumption, particularly in the building and transportation sectors. An additional $454 million was made available for competitive grants. See the Alliance Recovery Act summary for more EECBG program details.

American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009: Title I: Clean Energy

application/pdf icon
aces_summary.pdf
Chambers of Congress
June 6, 2009

On June 26, 2009 the House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) of 2009, a combined energy and climate bill representing our first real chance for a national carbon reduction plan in the United States. The bill combines standards and incentives to promote clean energy and energy efficiency technologies with a firm cap on greenhouse gas emissions. The Alliance will continue to work to obtain Senate passage of strong climate legislation.

On June 26, 2009 the House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) of 2009, a combined energy and climate bill representing our first real chance for a national carbon reduction plan in the United States. The bill combines standards and incentives to promote clean energy and energy efficiency technologies with a firm cap on greenhouse gas emissions. The Alliance will continue to work to obtain Senate passage of strong climate legislation.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

Image
February 17, 2010

The Recovery Act provided more than $25 billion for energy efficiency programs and billions more to other programs which may be applied to energy efficiency projects. The Recovery Act funding represented an unprecedented commitment to energy efficiency at all levels of government, municipal to federal, and brought with it unprecedented challenges in fast and effective deployment.

Signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act represents the single greatest federal investment in energy efficiency in United States history. The Recovery Act provided more than $25 billion dollars for “core” energy efficiency and billions more which can be directly or indirectly applied to energy efficiency projects. See a summary of energy efficiency provisions in the Recovery Act.

Add a comment

Ukrainian Students Help with Heat-Saving Homework

Date: Aug 23, 2010

In Ukraine, the USAID Municipal Heating Reform Project is teaching sixth graders about energy efficiency — and the kids are turning their country's energy use habits around by applying their lessons to their homes.

As part of its nationwide information campaign on energy efficiency, the U.S. Agency for International Development's Municipal Heating Reform (MHR) Project is teaching sixth graders about energy efficiency. And the kids are taking their lessons home to their families.

The Urban Vision

Building Livable Cities

October 18, 2010 - 8:30am - October 22, 2010 - 5:00pm
Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, andChennai

NASEO 2010 Annual Meeting

September 28, 2010 (All day) - October 1, 2010 (All day)
39 Dalton Street, 02199 Boston, Massachusetts

Paul Karrer

Project Manager, BCAP
Contact Email: 
pkarrer@ase.org

Project Manager Paul Karrer joined the Alliance to Save Energy in June 2008 as an intern for BCAP and the Efficient Windows Collaborative, and began working full-time as Program Associate for BCAP in August 2008. Paul provides technical and research support to the team by tracking state and local legislation, creating advocacy materials, maintaining the BCAP website, and writing the quarterly newsletter.

Paul Karrer
Phone: 
202-530-4347
Address: 
1850 M Street, NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20036

Practical Energy and Climate Plan Act of 2010 (S. 3464)

The Earth
June 9, 2010

On June 9, 2010, Senator Lugar (R-Ind.) introduced the Practical Energy and Climate Plan Act of 2010, which ClimateWorks estimates will reduce U.S. energy consumption by 11 percent in 2030. At this legislation’s core are several energy efficiency provisions targeting energy reductions across several sectors: vehicles, buildings, industry and electric utilities. These provisions help to achieve the bill’s energy and climate goals with minimum impact on the national economy; in fact, many would return money directly to consumers through household energy savings.

On June 9, 2010, Senator Lugar (R-Ind.) introduced the Practical Energy and Climate Plan Act of 2010, a bill that ClimateWorks estimates will reduce U.S. energy consumption by 11 percent in 2030. At this legislation’s core are a number of energy efficiency provisions targeting energy reductions across several sectors, including vehicles, buildings, industry and electric utilities.

Syndicate content