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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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DOE Calls for a High Performance Green Building Partnership

Date: Jan 28, 2009

A longtime believer in the power of numbers, the Alliance would like to invite interested Associates to join us along with several other leading organizations in an effort to help the Department of Energy (DOE) achieve net-zero energy performance in commercial buildings.

A longtime believer in the power of numbers, the Alliance would like to invite interested Associates to join us along with several other leading organizations in an effort to help the Department of Energy (DOE) achieve net-zero energy performance in commercial buildings.

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A Look Ahead to 2009

Date: Jan 28, 2009

There's no doubt about it: energy efficiency is a hot topic, and ready for deployment. To meet this opportunity head-on the Alliance has compiled an impressive to-do list for 2009. Here are a few of the programmatic highlights we'll be pursuing in the coming year. We welcome your involvement, so please get in touch if any of these activities are compatible with the mission of your organization or business.

"The stars are aligned for energy efficiency." President Kateri Callahan could not have said it better in her interview with Time magazine. Indeed, it is an exciting time for energy efficiency advocates everywhere, and we at the Alliance are anticipating a busy and fulfilling year. Here is are just a few of the projects on our radar. Please contact us if any of these pique your interest; we are always eager to collaborate with our esteemed Associates.

Policy

World Professionals in Energy Efficiency Field Can Gain Latest Technical, Commercial, Policy Info at ‘EE Global 2009’

Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
January 27, 2009

World-class business, technology, government, and policy leaders will convene at the Alliance to Save Energy’s EE Global 2009 Energy Efficiency Forum and Exposition, the only such international event focusing exclusively on energy efficiency

Washington, D.C., January 2009 – World-class business, technology, government, and policy leaders will convene at the Alliance to Save Energy’s EE Global 2009 Energy Efficiency Forum and Exposition, the only such international event focusing exclusively on energy efficiency. Attendees can register for the April 27-29 conference at the Palais Des Congres in Paris, France, at http://eeglobalforum.org/registration.html.

Brief #2: State Energy Efficiency Loan Programs

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Efficiency Loan programs help finance window upgrades and other improvements
January 23, 2009

"State Energy Efficiency Loan Programs", focuses on loan programs in 30 states that are currently providing low- to no-interest rate loans to finance energy efficiency improvements.

January 23, 2009 – The Alliance is pleased to release the second in its series of policy briefs on energy efficiency at the state level. The new brief, entitled State Energy Efficiency Loan Programs, focuses on loan programs in 30 states that are currently providing low- to no-interest rate loans to finance energy efficiency improvements – from energy-efficient windows to replacement HVAC systems – in the residential, business and public sectors.

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Energy Efficiency in the U.S.-China Clean Energy Bilateral Agreement

Date: Jan 22, 2009

In November, 2009, the United States and China reached a bilateral agreement to expand cooperation on climate change, energy and the environment.
 
As part of the agreement, Presidents Barack Obama and Hu Jintao announced several joint initiatives aimed at expanding energy efficiency across several sectors in their respective countries.
 
Many of these initiatives already existed under the administration of the U.S. Department of Energy, but with modest focus or funding. The agreement provides significantly greater direction and resources to these initiatives and highlights the countries’ concerted effort to coordinate action in addressing climate change through clean energy technology.
 

 

Summary

In November, 2009, the United States and China reached a bilateral agreement to expand cooperation on climate change, energy and the environment.

As part of the agreement, Presidents Barack Obama and Hu Jintao announced several joint initiatives aimed at expanding energy efficiency across several sectors in their respective countries.

Alliance Commends Proposed 10-Fold Investment in Energy Efficiency for Economic Recovery

Author: 
Ronnie Kweller
Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
January 16, 2009

The Alliance to Save Energy today commended the House Appropriations and Ways and Means Committees for including in their economic recovery bills “robust” funding of some $32 billion – roughly 10 times any previous annual federal investment – for energy efficiency initiatives.

Washington, D.C., January 16, 2009 – The Alliance to Save Energy today commended the House Appropriations and Ways and Means Committees for including in their economic recovery bills “robust” funding of some $32 billion – roughly 10 times any previous annual federal investment – for energy efficiency initiatives. (The two bills will be combined when they reach the House floor.)

Alliance to Save Energy, Signature by Levi Strauss and Co. Offer Consumers No-Cost/Low-Cost Laundry, Hot Water Energy Saving Tips

Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
January 15, 2009

In this tough economy, the Alliance to Save Energy and Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. offer consumers no-cost/low-cost laundry and hot water energy tips to cut monthly energy bills, as well as reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

Washington, DC, January 2009 – In this tough economy, the Alliance to Save Energy and Signature by Levi Strauss & Co. offer consumers no-cost/low-cost laundry and hot water energy tips to cut monthly energy bills, as well as reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

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Alliance Associates Help Make Baton Rouge Home 36 Percent More Efficient

Date: Jan 14, 2009

Last year, Cathy Clites and her three-generational family of nine were the winners of a nationwide home energy efficiency makeover contest, part of an Alliance-led campaign sponsored by NBC Universal's SCI FI Channel, among others. Many home improvements later - including a recent installation of energy-efficient windows - the family learned the impressive specifics of their energy savings: a 36% increase in energy efficiency.

Last year, Cathy Clites and her three-generational family of nine were the winners of a nationwide home energy efficiency makeover contest, part of an Alliance-led campaign sponsored by NBC Universal's SCI FI Channel, among others. Many home improvements later - including a recent installation of energy-efficient windows - the family learned the impressive specifics of their energy savings: a 36% increase in energy efficiency.

Expected Chu Confirmation as DOE Secretary Signals Focus on Climate Change, Research into New, Clean Energy Technologies

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

The Alliance to Save Energy today hailed the expected confirmation of Stephen Chu as energy secretary and praised his testimony before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Washington, D.C., January 13, 2009 – The Alliance to Save Energy today hailed the expected confirmation of Stephen Chu as energy secretary and praised his testimony before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. Alliance President Kateri Callahan said Chu’s background as director of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) and Nobel Prize-winning physicist will redound to the benefit of the nation, as he tackles urgent energy issues such as climate change, and to that of the U.S.

With DTV Transition Looming, Alliance to Save Energy Urges Consumers to Buy Only TVs with ENERGY STAR Label

Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
January 8, 2009

As a new administration transitions into the White House and Congress gears up to move an economic recovery package early next year, energy and environmental groups today issued a set of recommendations to boost the nation’s energy efficiency, create green jobs, and save energy and money. The groups urged Congress to incorporate many of the proposals into legislation to be considered in early 2009.

Washington, DC, January 2009 — The countdown to the switch to digital television has begun, and with the new announcement that all of the available federal funding to help consumers with the purchase of digital converter boxes has been used up, the likely result is that even more consumers will be shopping for new TVs between now and February 17. As they shop, the Alliance to Save Energy urges consumers to look for the ENERGY STAR label, the federal government’s symbol of energy efficiency, when buying a new TV.

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