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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.

Key Building Industry Organizations Establish Commercial Buildings Initiative to Drive Progress on Net Zero Energy Buildings

Date: 
January 14, 2008

Given the growing consensus on the need for aggressive public and private action to address increasing energy costs, carbon emissions, and global climate change, key building industry organizations have formed the Commercial Buildings Initiative (CBI) and examined how to transform commercial buildings energy use at a workshop sponsored by the US Department of Energy in Washington DC, December 10, 2007.

Washington, DC. January 3, 2008 -- Given the growing consensus on the need for aggressive public and private action to address increasing energy costs, carbon emissions, and global climate change, key building industry organizations have formed the Commercial Buildings Initiative (CBI) and examined how to transform commercial buildings energy use at a workshop sponsored by the US Department of Energy in Washington DC, December 10, 2007.

H.R. 6, The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007

U.S. Capitol
December 21, 2007

The President signed into law the most sweeping energy efficiency legislation in at least three decades on December 19, 2007. H.R. 6, The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, is projected to save American consumers and businesses more than $400 billion in avoided energy costs by 2030, and will reduce energy consumption by 7% and greenhouse gas emissions by 9% from the forecast for 2030, according to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy.
 

Summary of Key Provisions

The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (H.R. 6)

Image
December 21, 2007
Lowell Ungar

On December 19, 2007, President Bush signed into law the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, the most sweeping energy efficiency legislation in at least three decades.

The President signed into law the most sweeping energy efficiency legislation in at least three decades on December 19, 2007. H.R. 6, The Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, is projected to save American consumers and businesses more than $400 billion in avoided energy costs by 2030, and will reduce energy consumption by 7% and greenhouse gas emissions by 9% from the forecast for 2030, according to the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy. Key provisions of this landmark legislation are highlighted below.

EE Global 2007

EE Global 2007

November 11, 2007 - 8:00am - November 14, 2007 - 5:00pm
Washington, District Of Columbia
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Mayor Declares October 30 'Energy-Efficiency Day in Baton Rouge'—Energy-Efficiency Makeover at Winner's Home and Related School Events

Date: Oct 25, 2007

See photos and video of the energy-efficiency home makeover of the Baton Rouge home of Cathy Clites, national winner of the Eureka $mart House Energy-Efficiency Challenge sponsored by SCI FI Channel, the Alliance to Save Energy, and the Edison Electric Institute (EEI).

See photos and video of the energy-efficiency home makeover of the Baton Rouge home of Cathy Clites, national winner of the Eureka $mart House Energy-Efficiency Challenge sponsored by SCI FI Channel, the Alliance to Save Energy, and the Edison Electric Institute (EEI).

Baton Rouge Mayor-President Kip Holton declared October 30 "Energy Efficiency Day in Baton Rouge" to recognize all of the energy-efficiency-focused activity by these partners.

Alliance to Save Energy Urges VA Consumers to Reap Multiple Benefits of State's First ENERGY STAR Tax Holiday

Author: 
Ronnie Kweller
Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
October 5, 2007

The Alliance to Save Energy is urging consumers in the state of Virginia to take advantage of the state’s first-ever sales tax holiday on ENERGY STAR products next month.

Virginians Save on Energy-Efficient Products October 5- 8

Washington, D.C., September 2007 – The Alliance to Save Energy is urging consumers in the state of Virginia to take advantage of the state’s first-ever sales tax holiday on ENERGY STAR products next month.

2007 Dinner

2007 Evening with the Stars of Energy Efficiency Awards Dinner

September 20, 2007 - 7:00pm - 10:00pm
1301 Constitution Avenue, NW, Washington, District Of Columbia
2007 Policy Summit

2007 Policy Summit - Greening of America from a Federal, State and Local Perspective

September 20, 2007 - 9:00am - 11:00am
Washington, District Of Columbia

Alliance Urges National Governors Association to Make Maximum Use of Energy Efficiency to Fulfill Its Clean Energy Future Initiative

Author: 
Ronnie Kweller
Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
September 12, 2007

National Governors Association’s (NGA) “Securing a Clean Energy Future” initiative raises public awareness about the importance of a clean energy future, identifies new opportunities for states to save energy, disseminates best practices, and explores state-industry partnerships to advance the initiative’s policy goals.

Washington, D.C., September 12, 2007 – The Alliance to Save Energy today lauded the National Governors Association’s (NGA) “Securing a Clean Energy Future” initiative and urged governors to use energy efficiency as the cornerstone for achieving the ambitious goals of the initiative.

Those goals include raising public awareness about the importance of a clean energy future, identifying new opportunities for states to save energy, disseminating best practices, and exploring state-industry partnerships to advance the initiative’s policy goals.

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Florida Governor Signs Executive Order Hat Trick

Date: Jul 23, 2007

Florida Governor Charlie Crist (R) recently signed three comprehensive and far-ranging executive orders (EOs) that aggressively expand the state’s energy policy and seek to immediately reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Florida Governor Charlie Crist (R) recently signed three comprehensive and far-ranging executive orders (EOs) that aggressively expand the state’s energy policy and seek to immediately reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Crist also signed partnership agreements with Germany and the United Kingdom establishing climate friendly commerce, technology and policy arrangements.

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