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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.

Summary of Dingell-Boucher Climate Change Discussion Draft

October 27, 2008

This draft bill amends the Clean Air Act to establish an economy wide cap-and-trade program. The draft bill also allocates funds to various programs to decrease the cost of the policy as well as to assist with the transition to a carbon constrained economy.

This draft bill would amend the Clean Air Act to establish an economy wide cap-and-trade program. The draft bill also allocates funds to various programs to decrease the cost of the policy as well as to assist with the transition to a carbon constrained economy.

Reduce Home Energy Costs AND Taxes – New Federal Energy Efficiency Credits Available in 2009

Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
October 27, 2008

New energy efficiency tax credits will allow homeowners to lower both their monthly home energy bills and their federal income taxes in 2009 as they contend with escalating winter energy prices, the Alliance to Save Energy said.

Washington, D.C., October 27, 2008 – New energy efficiency tax credits will allow homeowners to lower both their monthly home energy bills and their federal income taxes in 2009 as they contend with escalating winter energy prices, the Alliance to Save Energy said. Using the tax credits of up to $500 to make specific energy efficiency home improvements also can make homes more comfortable and reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, the Alliance noted.

Alliance to Save Energy Offers Money-$aving Energy Tips For Home-Based Businesses, Telecommuters, Job Hunters As Winter Energy Prices Escalate

Date: 
October 21, 2008

The Alliance to Save Energy says home-based entrepreneurs, telecommuters, and job-seekers can reduce energy costs while comfortably “taking care of business” with tips to increase energy efficiency.

Washington, D.C., October 2008—For the growing number of Americans working from home—more than 30 + million home-based business owners and telecommuters who work from home at least once a week, not to mention unemployed folks conducting job searches from their own PCs and Macs—higher energy bills for combined home offices and residences are a fact of life.

Los Compradores del Sudeste Pueden 'Duplicar' sus Ahorros Con Los Días Libres de Impuestos de ENERGY STAR

Date: 
October 15, 2008

A partir de este jueves, 2 de octubre, los consumidores de todo el Sudeste puede aumentar su ahorro con la compra de algunos de los productos con el sello ENERGY STAR.

Georgia, Virginia, Carolina del Norte ayudan a los consumidores a ahorrar dinero en impuestos y facturas de energía del hogar

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Many Hands, Light Work: Alliance's Merrilee Harrigan in Tijuana, Mexico

Date: Oct 08, 2008

This past summer Alliance Vice President of Education Merrilee Harrigan traveled to Tijuana, Mexico for an out-of-the-ordinary vacation. Far from the clichés of margaritas and siestas, Merrilee was one of four chaperones to accompany a group of 13 American youths (including her 17-year old son, Ian MacMillan) who rolled up their sleeves and got to work building houses for disadvantaged community members with the volunteer program Esperanza International.

This past summer Alliance Vice President of Education Merrilee Harrigan traveled to Tijuana, Mexico for an out-of-the-ordinary vacation. Far from the clichés of margaritas and siestas, Merrilee was one of four chaperones to accompany a group of 13 American youths (including her 17-year old son, Ian MacMillan) who rolled up their sleeves and got to work building houses for disadvantaged community members with the volunteer program Esperanza International.

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The Alliance Applauds Extension of Tax Incentives

Date: Oct 08, 2008

The old Yankees catcher Yogi Berra said it best, "It ain't over till it's over." If any week on Capitol Hill ever proved the wisdom of Yogi's observation, it had to be this week. Today the House of Representatives approved the landmark financial rescue plan, which contained the extension of renewable and energy efficiency tax incentives. This is great news for American consumers, who will now realize the economic benefits of tax provisions that will save energy costs and help to create new jobs.

The old Yankees catcher Yogi Berra said it best, "It ain't over till it's over." If any week on Capitol Hill ever proved the wisdom of Yogi's observation, it had to be this week. Today the House of Representatives approved the landmark financial rescue plan, which contained the extension of renewable and energy efficiency tax incentives. This is great news for American consumers, who will now realize the economic benefits of tax provisions that will save energy costs and help to create new jobs.

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Building Codes: Looking Beyond the Failed Vote

Date: Oct 08, 2008

On September 21st, members of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) convened in Minneapolis to decide whether or not to adjust the residential building codes, which they set every three years and promote to states. This year, however, the IECC codes faced a new challenge.

On September 21st, members of the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) convened in Minneapolis to decide whether or not to adjust the residential building codes, which they set every three years and promote to states. This year, however, the IECC codes faced a new challenge.

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Pounds Sterling for Pounds Carbon: The U.K. Proposes New Energy Package

Date: Oct 08, 2008

Like us, U.K. citizens are feeling the pinch of high energy prices set against an increasingly unstable world market. But their government has proposed a lock-stock-and-two-smoking-barrels energy package that rivals anything put together by their contemporaries across the Atlantic.

Like us, U.K. citizens are feeling the pinch of high energy prices set against an increasingly unstable world market. But their government has proposed a lock-stock-and-two-smoking-barrels energy package that rivals anything put together by their contemporaries across the Atlantic.

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The Alliance Helps to Develop New Energy Efficiency Group in India

Date: Oct 08, 2008

The newly formed Alliance for an Energy-Efficient Economy (AEEE) is an industry association supporting the vision of an energy-efficient India. Drawing inspiration from the Alliance to Save Energy and American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy, the AEEE’s specific purpose is to facilitate collaboration among the country’s energy efficiency industries and service providers by enabling them to act jointly as the policy think tank that supports the government’s energy conservation and energy efficiency policy implementation, market development, and implementation of energy efficiency improvements in all sectors of India’s economy.

 

The newly formed Alliance for an Energy-Efficient Economy (AEEE) is an industry association supporting the vision of an energy-efficient India. The brainchild of Hema Hattangady, CEO of Conzerv and board member of Efficiency Valuation Organization, the AEEE is supported by a leading ESCO (DCM Shriram Consolidated Ltd., or DSCL), top-rated energy efficiency (EE) companies in India, and USAID’s ECO III project. The Alliance to Save Energy is actively involved in AEEE and is providing secretarial support under the ECO III project.

The Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (EESA)

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October 3, 2008

On October 3rd, 2008 President Bush signed into law H.R. 1424, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which contains new and renewed tax incentives for consumers and businesses for energy-efficient homes and commercial buildings, equipment, and vehicles. The incentives originally enacted as part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 encourage highly efficient commercial buildings, new homes, home improvements, heating and cooling equipment, appliances, and hybrid and diesel vehicles.

On October 3rd, 2008 President Bush signed into law H.R. 1424, the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, which contains new and renewed tax incentives for consumers and businesses for energy-efficient homes and commercial buildings, equipment, and vehicles.

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