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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 Calls for House Passage of Critical Senate-Passed Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives Included in Financial Bailout Bill

Date: 
October 1, 2008

Tonight’s Senate passage of long-awaited energy efficiency tax incentives that were included in the financial “bailout” legislation puts our nation at a crossroads of “solutions versus stagnation” with regard to energy policy, the Alliance to Save Energy said.

Washington, D.C., October 1, 2008 – Tonight’s Senate passage of long-awaited energy efficiency tax incentives that were included in the financial “bailout” legislation puts our nation at a crossroads of “solutions versus stagnation” with regard to energy policy, the Alliance to Save Energy said.

2008 Policy Summit

2008 Policy Summit - Energy Efficiency: Cost-Effective Carbon Reduction

September 25, 2008 - 8:30am - 12:30pm
Washington, District Of Columbia
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2008 Evening with the Stars of Energy Efficiency Awards Dinner

September 25, 2008 - 6:30pm - 10:00pm
1301 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, District Of Columbia

30% Solution' Falls Short of Full Adoption by National Codes Organization in Minneapolis

Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
September 23, 2008

Code, Other Governmental Officials Substantially Improve Provisions of International Energy Conservation Code, But Fail to Meet Goal of 30 Percent Boost in Energy Efficiency

Code, Other Governmental Officials Substantially Improve Provisions of International Energy Conservation Code, But Fail to Meet Goal of 30 Percent Boost in Energy Efficiency

Alliance Urges Immediate Enactment of Energy Efficiency Tax Incentives to Stimulate Economy, Create Jobs, Provide Relief from Soaring Energy Prices

Date: 
September 23, 2008

The Alliance to Save Energy today urged the Senate to adopt long-awaited and urgently-needed energy efficiency tax incentives for U.S. consumers and businesses.

Washington, D.C., September 23, 2008 – The Alliance to Save Energy today urged the Senate to adopt long-awaited and urgently-needed energy efficiency tax incentives for U.S. consumers and businesses. The provisions are included in a bipartisan, substitute amendment to H.R. 6049, introduced by Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), that will be considered by the Senate today.

Alliance to Save Energy Presses for Congressional Action On Energy Tax Incentives Before 110th Congress Ends

Date: 
September 29, 2008

The Alliance to Save Energy today strongly urged House and Senate leaders to complete action on the extension of energy efficiency and renewable energy tax incentives before adjourning for the upcoming elections.

Alliance to Save Energy Presses for Congressional Action On Energy Tax Incentives Before 110th Congress Ends

Washington, D.C., September 29th, 2008 – The Alliance to Save Energy today strongly urged House and Senate leaders to complete action on the extension of energy efficiency and renewable energy tax incentives before adjourning for the upcoming elections.

Brief #1: Funding Mechanisms for Energy Efficiency

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Glowing CFL
September 19, 2008

The first in this series of policy briefs, "Funding Mechanisms for Energy Efficiency" explores the four major ways in which states can fund energy efficiency programs.

State Energy Efficiency Policies:Options and Lessons Learned
A Series of Briefs (View Full Series)

Brief #1: Funding Mechanisms for Energy Efficiency

By Matthew Brown
InterEnergy Solutions
September 2008

Alliance to Save Energy Urges Congress to Send President Politically Acceptable Energy Efficiency ‘Tax Extenders’ Bill

Date: 
September 18, 2008

The Alliance to Save Energy praised the Senate Democratic and Republican leadership today for reaching agreement on legislation extending energy efficiency and renewable energy tax incentives and urged Congress – before its pre-election adjournment later this month – to set aside partisan rancor and send to the president an “extenders bill.”

Washington, D.C., September 18, 2008 – The Alliance to Save Energy praised the Senate Democratic and Republican leadership today for reaching agreement on legislation extending energy efficiency and renewable energy tax incentives and urged Congress – before its pre-election adjournment later this month – to set aside partisan rancor and send to the president an “extenders bill.”

Alliance to Save Energy to the Congress: Cease the Partisan Wrangling and Give America a Strong Energy Efficiency Bill as Meaningful ‘Last Act’ of the 110th Congress

Date: 
September 17, 2008

The Alliance to Save Energy noted that the adoption of the Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act by the House of Representatives on a largely partisan vote today did little to move the Congress closer to enactment of energy efficiency and clean energy policies that can help American consumers and businesses. The Alliance called on both houses of Congress to cease squabbling and, rather, focus on crafting an energy package based on the key clean energy and energy efficiency provisions that have proven to have wide bipartisan, as well as public, appeal.

Washington, D.C., September 16, 2008 – The Alliance to Save Energy noted that the adoption of the Comprehensive American Energy Security and Consumer Protection Act by the House of Representatives on a largely partisan vote today did little to move the Congress closer to enactment of energy efficiency and clean energy policies that can help American consumers and businesses.

FY09 Alliance Appropriations Priorities Fact Sheet

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August 18, 2008

Simply passing a law isn’t enough; the energy bill needs to be backed by dollars to produce its desired effect. Read about key federal energy programs that need more funding.

Gasoline, natural gas, and heating oil prices have risen dramatically in the past few years, costing American families and businesses over $300 billion each year. Despite the severe budget constraints faced by federal appropriators, it is vital to our country’s health that we invest in programs that can alleviate the economic, environmental, and security problems associated with growing energy use. Energy efficiency is the quickest, cheapest, and cleanest way to reduce pressure on tight energy supplies, help to restrain prices, and help protect the environment.

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