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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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Energy Efficiency: a Matter for the Federal Government

Date: Jan 06, 2009

The Department of Energy has identified several Alliance to Save Energy Associates to assist the United States government – the largest single user of energy in the country – in securing a more energy-efficient future.

The Department of Energy (DOE) has identified several Alliance to Save Energy Associates to assist the United States government – the largest single user of energy in the country – in securing a more energy-efficient future. The DOE’s Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) recently announced the award of sixteen Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) designed to help federal agencies undertake energy savings projects at no upfront cost.

Energy, Environmental Groups Urge Quick Action by Congress To Use Energy Efficiency Programs To Stimulate Economy, Create Green Jobs

Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
December 19, 2008

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 – Friday, December 19, 2008 – 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.

Energy Efficiency and Economic Recovery Initiative

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December 19, 2008

To put Americans back to work, lower their energy bills and cut greenhouse gas emissions, we encourage President-elect Obama and Congress to launch the Energy Efficiency and Economic Recovery Initiative described below. The Initative has a national goal of retrofitting 2 million buildings over the next two years to substantially reduce their energy use. America’s building sector is in crisis. Now is the ideal time to jump-start a green jobs market, using the skilled and underemployed construction sector work force that is ready and waiting, and to stimulate a large secondary market in product and equipment sales. The Initiative will build the policy framework needed to achieve these goals.

To put Americans back to work, lower their energy bills and cut greenhouse gas emissions, we encourage President-elect Obama and Congress to launch the Energy Efficiency and Economic Recovery Initiative described below. The Initative has a national goal of retrofitting 2 million buildings over the next two years to substantially reduce their energy use. America’s building sector is in crisis.

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Energizing the Economy

Date: Dec 18, 2008

 An economic stimulus package is certain to be one of the first priorities of the new Congress. Will energy be a key ingredient, and if so, to what extent? The Alliance to Save Energy and its allies have asserted that good energy policies - particularly those promoting energy efficiency - can kick the economy back into gear. Here's how.

Planning is underway for a new economic stimulus package that will help get the economy to its feet after a particularly bad fall down the stairs.  And many groups agree with the Alliance to Save Energy that energy - particularly energy efficiency - should play a prominent role in the overall economic strategy.

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The Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP) Tackles Energy Poverty

Date: Dec 18, 2008

Poverty alleviation. Healthcare. Economic development. Though less likely to be associated with the topic of energy than the buzzwords "climate change" and "energy security", these issues are ultimately affected by energy access - or lack thereof - in many developing countries. The Alliance to Save Energy is the North American Secretariat of the Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), an organization implementing energy efficiency and renewable energy through development projects worldwide to bring rural and urban communities out of energy poverty.

The energy-savvy are well-versed on the direct positive impacts of energy efficiency and renewable energy in the arenas of climate change and energy security. However, clean and reliable energy access has far-reaching implications in many areas not readily associated with energy, including poverty alleviation, healthcare, and economic development. Thus, the impact of energy efficiency/renewable energy cannot simply be measured in emissions reductions, but must also be evaluated through the lens of economic development and global health.

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Saving Energy 101: the Programmable Thermostat

Date: Dec 18, 2008

In the first of our Consumer Awareness series, Saving Energy 101, Steve Capanna and Tom Simchak investigate the workings of the programmable thermostat.

Heating and cooling your home consumes a lot of energy – roughly half of an average home’s energy use, according to the Department of Energy. This translates to big costs for electricity and heating fuels, especially as electricity and fossil fuel prices continue to rise.

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Winner of Alliance Home Energy Efficiency Makeover Contest Continues to Enjoy an Energy-Efficient Home

Date: Dec 18, 2008

Cathy Clites and her three-generational family of nine didn't expect a more energy-efficient, money-saving holiday season this year. But the winners of last year's nationwide home energy efficiency makeover contest received the good news last month, when a follow-up energy audit performed by the Louisiana Department of Natural Resources revealed that this Baton Rouge household is now 36% more energy efficient, thanks to new windows and a variety of other home energy improvements.

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 percent increase in energy efficiency.

Economic Stimulus Energy Efficiency

U.S. Capitol
December 10, 2008

How important is energy - particularly energy efficiency - to the mechanisms of an economic stimulus package? Very important, asserts Alliance’s Vice-President for Policy and Research Joe Loper, who testified before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources this week. Among the recommendations in Loper's testimony is a call for more than $15 billion in energy efficiency investments.

Testimony before the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources
 
United States Senate
 
Joe Loper
Senior Vice President, Alliance to Save Energy
 
December 10, 2008
 
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Alliance's Joe Loper Testifies Before Congress

Date: Dec 10, 2008

How important is energy - particularly energy efficiency - to the mechanisms of an economic stimulus package? Very important, asserts Alliance's Vice-President for Policy and Research Joe Loper, who testified before the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on Wednesday, December 10. Among the recommendations in Loper's testimony is a call for more than $15 billion in energy efficiency investments.

On Wednesday, December 10, Joe Loper, the Alliance’s Vice-President for Policy and Research, testified at the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to advise Congress on the Alliance's recommendations for energy efficiency in the upcoming stimulus package. Loper's testimony reflects recommendations developed over the last month by the Alliance and the Taxes and Appropriations Group (TAG), made up of more than two dozen organizations and companies.
 

Happier Holidays for Baton Rouge Family of Nine Who Won National Home Energy-Efficiency Makeover Contest

Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
December 9, 2008

Cathy Clites and her three-generational family of nine didn't expect a more energy-efficient, money-saving holiday season this year – and certainly not the “gift” of a 36 percent increase in their home’s energy efficiency in the past year.
After they won last year's nationwide home energy efficiency makeover contest for a deserving family by NBC Universal's SCI FI Channel and the Alliance to Save Energy, the Clites family was already enjoying a more comfortable and energy-efficient home – and lower energy bills – thanks to donations of new ENERGY STAR lighting, electronics, and appliances, water-saving devices, insulation, and sealing of air leaks to the outside.

36 Percent Overall Energy Efficiency Improvement Documented

Baton Rouge, La., December 2008 — Cathy Clites and her three-generational family of nine didn't expect a more energy-efficient, money-saving holiday season this year – and certainly not the “gift” of a 36 percent increase in their home’s energy efficiency in the past year.

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