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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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The Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance Launches Energy Efficiency Competition For Cities

Date: Feb 11, 2009

The Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) today released a Request for Proposals (RFP) asking cities and counties in the Southeast to compete for up to $500,000 to create and implement a community energy alliance. Largely based on efforts underway in Cambridge, Mass.; Cincinnati, Ohio; New York, N.Y.; and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the RFP is open to cities and counties in SEEA's 11-state region of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

The Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) today released a Request for Proposals (RFP) asking cities and counties in the Southeast to compete for up to $500,000 to create and implement a community energy alliance. Largely based on efforts underway in Cambridge, Mass.; Cincinnati, Ohio; New York, N.Y.; and the U.S. Virgin Islands, the RFP is open to cities and counties in SEEA's 11-state region of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia.

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Alliance Associate NYSERDA Engages in Community Project

Date: Feb 10, 2009

NYSERDA joined the Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDCo) and Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. in celebrating the completion of Intervale Green, the largest affordable ENERGY STAR-certified building in the country.

NYSERDA joined the Women’s Housing and Economic Development Corporation (WHEDCo) and Enterprise Community Partners, Inc. in celebrating the completion of Intervale Green, the largest affordable ENERGY STAR-certified building in the country. The Bronx building complex – the result of a partner project between NYSERDA and WHEDCo – is estimated to be 33 percent more energy efficient than a standard apartment building.

Administration's FY '07 Budget Request Ignores Potential for Energy Efficiency to Address Today's High Energy Prices, Tight Supplies

Author: 
Ronnie Kweller
Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
February 6, 2009

“In a remarkable 'about face,' the president and his top energy lieutenant, Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, have submitted a budget request that slashes funding for federal energy-efficiency programs after spending the past several months extolling the potential for energy efficiency to address the severe economic, energy security, and environmental issues surrounding the nation's energy use,” Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan stated today.

Washington, D.C., February 6, 2006 – “In a remarkable 'about face,' the president and his top energy lieutenant, Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, have submitted a budget request that slashes funding for federal energy-efficiency programs after spending the past several months extolling the potential for energy efficiency to address the severe economic, energy security, and environmental issues surrounding the nation's energy use,” Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan stated today.

Energy Efficiency Resource Standard Would Reduce Energy Costs, Global Warming Pollution, Avoid New Power Plants, Says Alliance

Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
February 4, 2009

The Alliance to Save Energy hailed new Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS) legislation, introduced today by Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), as effective federal policy that would reduce consumers’ energy use and therefore costs; cut global warming pollution; and supplant the need for new power plants to meet rising energy demand.

Washington, D.C., February 4, 2009 – The Alliance to Save Energy hailed new Energy Efficiency Resource Standard (EERS) legislation, introduced today by Rep. Edward Markey (D-Mass.), as effective federal policy that would reduce consumers’ energy use and therefore costs; cut global warming pollution; and supplant the need for new power plants to meet rising energy demand.

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Alliance Partners with Building Operating Management Magazine in Special Report

Date: Feb 04, 2009

The Alliance is pleased to be partnering with Building Operating Management magazine on a Special Report in the April of 2009 edition. Produced by the editors of Building Operating Management and and based on interviews with buildings experts at the Alliance, this Special Report will be read by 73,000 building owners and facility executives who are responsible for more than four million of the nation's commercial and institutional properties.

The Alliance is pleased to be partnering with Building Operating Management magazine on a Special Report in the April of 2009 edition. Produced by the editors of Building Operating Management and and based on interviews with buildings experts at the Alliance, this Special Report will be read by 73,000 building owners and facility executives who are responsible for more than four million of the nation's commercial and institutional properties.

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2008: It was Nice to Know You

Date: Jan 30, 2009

Let’s see…2008…It was the best of times, it was the worst of times….No, wait, someone already said that…But certainly the “roller coaster ride” we took with oil and gas prices, complete with the precipitous drop in both, has to be THE top energy story of 2008.  And while we can’t pin the blame for 2008’s catastrophic financial meltdown on high energy prices, they certainly put a crimp in many household and business budgets and helped wreak havoc on the bigger economic picture.

Let’s see…2008…It was the best of times, it was the worst of times….No, wait, someone already said that…But certainly the “roller coaster ride” we took with oil and gas prices, complete with the precipitous drop in both, has to be THE top energy story of 2008. And while we can’t pin the blame for 2008’s catastrophic financial meltdown on high energy prices, they certainly put a crimp in many household and business budgets and helped wreak havoc on the bigger economic picture.
 
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Saving Energy 101: Insulation

Date: Jan 30, 2009

Sr. Associate for Research and Policy Steve Capanna discusses the benefits of a well-insulated home.

The farther north you go, the more winter is synonymous with cold weather and high heating bills. Homeowners looking to lower their energy bills without sacrificing their comfort might want to consider two significant though oft-overlooked energy saving measures: insulating and air sealing. According to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program, homeowners who ensure their home is properly air sealed and insulated can save up to 20 percent on their heating and cooling bills.

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Survey Says: 2009 IECC Will Boost Average New Home’s Energy Efficiency by at Least 12.2 Percent

Date: Jan 30, 2009

A comprehensive analysis commissioned by the Energy Efficient Codes Coalition (EECC) has found that homes built to the new 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) – America’s new model energy code – will save their owners money through reduced energy use.

A comprehensive analysis commissioned by the Energy Efficient Codes Coalition (EECC) has found that homes built to the new 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) – America’s new model energy code – will save their owners money through reduced energy use.

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Saving Water in South African Schools

Date: Jan 29, 2009

Recently, the Alliance, along with the Coca-Cola Foundation and USAID, completed work on the Water for Schools program in South Africa, which repaired water systems and improved water sanitation in seven South African primary schools and their communities.

January 2010 – A leaky faucet might seem like a pretty harmless thing. On a large scale, however, it can translate into water shortages and related sanitary conditions for an entire community, affecting families, neighborhoods, businesses – and schools.

House Votes Massive Federal Investment in Energy Efficiency to Aid Nation’s Economic Recovery

Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
January 28, 2009

The Alliance to Save Energy today commended the House of Representative for voting to invest billions of federal dollars in increased energy efficiency to help revive the nations’ flagging economy.

Washington, D.C., January 28, 2009 – The Alliance to Save Energy today commended the House of Representative for voting to invest billions of federal dollars in increased energy efficiency to help revive the nations’ flagging economy.

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