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

Green Campus Cultivates LEED-ers in Energy Efficiency

Date: Mar 13, 2009

eNews checks in with Green Campus at UC San Diego and UC Berkeley in California to find out how the program's interns are tackling that infamous source of wasted energy: buildings. A good part of their efforts involve prepping campus buildings for prestigious green building certifications.

At UC San Diego and UC Berkeley in California, Green Campus interns are leading school-wide efforts to combat wasted energy in buildings, which accounts for nearly 40 percent of total wasted energy and CO2 emissions. By working towards recognized green buildings requirements, the students are improving energy waste on campus one building at a time.

UC San Diego

Energy Efficiency Policy Package

Globe
March 9, 2009

A set of proposed provisions to be considered for inclusion in a comprehensive legislative package designed to advance energy efficiency meaningfully in all energy end-use sectors of the economy.

Below is a set of proposed provisions to be considered for inclusion in a comprehensive legislative package designed to advance energy efficiency meaningfully in all energy end-use sectors of the economy.  These are intended as energy efficiency policies that would be complementary to a carbon cap-and-trade policy or other carbon price.  A carbon price is essential to achieve the energy savings that are a first critical step to reduce global warming.  These policies in no way supplant a carbon price, but they also do not depend on one; they could be enacted in a separ

Add a comment

Energy Efficiency Funding in the Stimulus Bill: An Alliance Webinar

Date: Mar 06, 2009

At this Alliance webinar on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) – an online event run exclusively for Alliance Associates – experts addressed a top-of-mind issue for those interested in the future of energy efficiency in America

At this Alliance webinar on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA) – an online event run exclusively for Alliance Associates – experts addressed a top-of-mind issue for those interested in the future of energy efficiency in America: the $26 billion worth of energy efficiency programs funded by ARRA. Summary information is available below. Alliance Associates may access the full webinar by contacting Carol Guest at cguest@ase.org.

Broad Coalition Finds Energy Efficiency Provisions Key for Managing Costs of Climate Change Legislation

Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
March 6, 2009

Today, a broad coalition of business, professional, energy, and environmental organizations released recommendations on the role of energy efficiency in federal climate change legislation, "Reducing the Cost of Addressing Climate Change Through Energy Efficiency."

Washington, D.C., March 5, 2009 – Today, a broad coalition of business, professional, energy, and environmental organizations released recommendations on the role of energy efficiency in federal climate change legislation, "Reducing the Cost of Addressing Climate Change Through Energy Efficiency."

2009 Great Energy Efficiency Day

2009 Great Energy Efficiency Day

March 3, 2009 - 9:30am - 4:00pm
Washington, District Of Columbia
Add a comment

Considering Climate Change: A Look Ahead

Date: Feb 25, 2009

Now that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has been signed into law – including at least $20 billion for energy efficiency – the Alliance Policy Team will continue its engagement in the guidance and implementation of the energy efficiency provisions in the bill. But we are also turning our sights to the legislative challenges that will occupy Congress in the near future – among them, a potential climate change bill that would put a price on the emission of carbon dioxide.

Now that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has been signed into law – including at least $20 billion for energy efficiency – the Alliance Policy Team will continue its engagement in the guidance and implementation of the energy efficiency provisions in the bill. But we are also turning our sights to the legislative challenges that will occupy Congress in the near future – among them, a potential climate change bill that would put a price on the emission of carbon dioxide.
 

Comparison of American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

The White House
February 25, 2009

A comparison of energy provisions in H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), as signed by President Barack Obama on February 17, 2009, with the version that passed the House on January 28, 2009 and the version that passed the Senate on February 10, 2009.

On  February 17, 2009, President Barack Obama signed H.R. 1, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). This table compares energy provisions in the signed version with the version that passed the House on January 28, 2009, and the version that passed the Senate on February 10, 2009.

Provision

Energy Efficiency Home and Vehicle Tax Credits

1040 Form
December 20, 2010

Information about the federal home and vehicle energy efficiency tax credits for consumers.

Many tax credits for homeowners and commuters that expired at the end of 2011 have been reinstated until the end of this year. If you made energy efficiency improvements to your home or purchased an eligible efficient vehicle in 2012, you may claim those credits on your 2012 tax return, using the criteria below.

Alliance Hails Unprecedented Infusion of $20+ Billion in Recovery Package Focused on Making U.S. Economy More Energy Efficient

Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
February 13, 2009

The Alliance today hailed Congress’ unprecedented infusion of more than $20 billion into energy efficiency programs that will create jobs and cut carbon emissions while helping to lift the faltering U.S. economy.  Congress included the funds in its consensus economic recovery package that is moving towards enactment into law.

Washington, D.C., February 13, 2009 – The Alliance to Save Energy today hailed Congress’ unprecedented infusion of more than $20 billion into energy efficiency programs that will create jobs and cut carbon emissions while helping to lift the faltering U.S. economy. Congress included the funds in its consensus economic recovery package that is moving towards enactment into law.

Recovery Act - Chart of Energy Efficiency Provisions

Image
February 13, 2009

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on February 17, 2009 and represents the greatest federal investment in energy efficiency of all time. This page provides a chart summary of energy efficiency provisions in the bill.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was signed into law by President Barack Obama on February 17, 2009 and represents the greatest federal investment in energy efficiency of all time. Below is a chart of the major energy efficiency provisions in the bill.

Syndicate content