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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.

Alliance to Save Energy Fact Sheets Detail 2008-9 Heating Costs For Each State, Offer Money-$aving Energy Efficiency Tips

Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
December 8, 2008

The Alliance to Save Energy estimates that the average U.S. household will pay $2,300 this year on residential energy costs, with heating accounting for almost 45 percent of that total – a figure that varies from state to state. Entering the winter season, the Alliance has prepared fact sheets on 2008-09 heating costs for each of the states in the contiguous United States and for the nation as a whole. The fact sheets reflect current price fluctuations for specific home heating fuels and provide energy efficiency tips to help consumers cut heating and other home energy bills.

Washington, D.C., December 8, 2008 – The Alliance to Save Energy estimates that the average U.S. household will pay $2,300 this year on residential energy costs, with heating accounting for almost 45 percent of that total – a figure that varies from state to state. Entering the winter season, the Alliance has prepared fact sheets on 2008-09 heating costs for each of the states in the contiguous United States and for the nation as a whole.

Energy Efficiency Helps Consumers ‘Weather’ Heating Bills at Time of Economic Strain for Many, Says Alliance to Save Energy

Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
December 1, 2008

Even though winter energy price projections have come down, consumers already facing a tough economic climate are likely to be paying more to heat their homes this winter than they spent a year or two ago, according to the Alliance to Save Energy.

Federal Tax Credits Available in 2009 for Energy Efficiency Home Upgrades

Washington, D.C., December 2008 – Even though winter energy price projections have come down, consumers already facing a tough economic climate are likely to be paying more to heat their homes this winter than they spent a year or two ago, according to the Alliance to Save Energy. High home heating costs make energy efficiency as timely as ever, says the Alliance, which also highlights new federal income tax credits for homeowners who make energy efficiency home improvements in 2009.

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Alliance President Kateri Callahan on E&ETV: Energy in the Next Administration

Date: Nov 25, 2008

Last week on Energy & Environment TV's (E&ETV) OnPoint show, Alliance President Kateri Callahan shared her thoughts on the opportunities for advancing energy efficiency under the incoming administration, and the challenges energy efficiency programs could face in light of the deepening economic crisis.

On November 18, Alliance President Kateri Callahan was interviewed for a ten-minute segment on Energy & Environment TV's (E&ETV) OnPoint show to discuss her take on what the incoming Obama Administration will mean for energy efficiency. She addressed how clean energy and efficiency can be incorporated into the next stimulus package, as well as how the credit crunch has affected efficiency projects. A partial transcript of the interview follows. The complete interview is available on the E&ETV Web Site.

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Alliance's Brian Castelli at EXPO INCYTAM 2008 in Mexico City

Date: Nov 25, 2008

Executive VP of Programs and Development Brian Castelli traveled to Mexico City to present at EXPO INCYTAM 2008, where he offered energy efficiency solutions for Latin American cities burdened by the effects of pollution and global climate change.

On November 19, Executive VP of Programs and Development Brian Castelli presented at EXPO INCYTAM 2008 in Mexico City, an event organized by the government of Mexico City through The Mexico City Institute of Science and Technology (ICyTDF), together with the Agency of the Environment of Mexico City.

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DC Middle School Students Get Energized with SEDS

Date: Nov 18, 2008

With direction from the Saving Energy in DC Schools Program (SEDS), students at Oyster-Adams Bilingual School in Northwest DC discovered the how's and why's of energy consumption by conducting an energy audit of their school grounds. Now it's up to them to take the message of energy efficiency to the homefront.

On Thursday, November 13, middle school students at Oyster-Adams Bilingual School in Northwest DC became energy auditors for a day. By completing an assignment to audit their school grounds, the students were participating in a training exercise conducted by Saving Energy in DC Schools Program (SEDS), which is operated in partnership by the Alliance’s Green Schools Program and the DC Energy Office, and funded under the DC Public Service Commission by the Natural Gas Trust Fund.

Alliance to Save Energy Offers No-Cost/Low-Cost Home Energy-Efficiency Tips to Pare Expenses, Increase Comfort in Tough Economic Times

Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
November 17, 2008

The Alliance to Save Energy offers a number of no-cost/low-cost home energy-efficiency tips that pay off in lower monthly energy bills, reduced pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and improved comfort and energy security.

Washington, DC, November 2008 – Particularly in a turbulent and tough economy filled with uncertainty on so many fronts, why pay more than necessary to power your home when you can use the money for other things? The Alliance to Save Energy offers a number of no-cost/low-cost home energy-efficiency tips that pay off in lower monthly energy bills, reduced pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, and improved comfort and energy security.

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The Alliance Promotes Energy Efficiency in the Southeast U.S.

Date: Nov 10, 2008

As the Southeast U.S. continues to see growth in both population and energy demand, the Alliance and its subsidiary the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA) are finding ways to promote energy efficiency among its residents. For the month of to promote tax holidays on energy efficient products in order to stimulate the market in this energy-challenged region.

The Alliance and its subsidiary, the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA), recently promoted October’s ENERGY STAR sales tax holidays in Georgia, Virginia and North Carolina. The tax holidays provided consumers in the region with the possibility to save “up front” when buying energy-efficient products, and to save again with lower monthly home energy bills.

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Alliance Represented on Board of the National Fenestration Rating Council

Date: Nov 10, 2008

The Alliance congratulates its own Nils Petermann, who last week was elected to the Board of the National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC).

The Alliance is proud to announce the recent appointment of Nils Petermann to the Board of the NFRC, which announced the election results for its 2008-2009 Board of Directors during the opening session of the Fall Membership Meeting last week. Nils will join the Board for one year.

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A Victory for Energy Efficiency

Date: Nov 05, 2008

After a year of advocating for renewal and extension of energy efficiency tax incentives, the Alliance is thrilled to announce a major victory: the inclusion of new and renewed tax incentives in the recent economic rescue plan. 

The Alliance is thrilled to report a last-minute victory on one of our main priorities for 2008, the renewal and extension of federal energy efficiency tax incentives, which were included in the unexpected economic rescue plan that passed October 3. Described in the Alliance's fact sheet, the tax incentives will provide energy-efficient products and technologies traction in the marketplace.

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New Alliance Green Schools Program Launched in the Capital

Date: Nov 05, 2008

With Alliance Green Schools Programs in place all around the country, the nation's capital is welcoming its own chapter. The new Saving Energy in DC Schools (SEDS) Program was launched in October with an inaugural workshop, where representatives from DC schools learned just how much fun saving energy can be.

The Alliance to Save Energy kicked off its first Green Schools program in its hometown last week, bringing the Saving Energy in DC Schools (SEDS) Program to the District of Columbia.

Funded under the DC Public Service Commission by the Natural Gas Trust Fund and co-implemented with the District Department of the Environment’s (DDOE) Energy Office, the SEDS program engages students, teachers, facilities, staff and administrators in teaching and learning about energy efficiency while actively pursuing energy saving opportunities at school.

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