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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 Offers Money Saving Tips, Web Resources To Cut Home Energy Bills, Pollution, Extend Nation's Energy Supply For Earth Day and Beyond

Author: 
Ronnie Kweller
Contact Email: 
rkwller@ase.org
Date: 
April 14, 2004

No matter the price of energy, consumers can easily take greater control over their monthly energy bills and at the same time maintain a comfortable lifestyle, reduce pollution, and extend our nation's energy supply.

Home Improvements That Pay Off…

No matter the price of energy, consumers can easily take greater control over their monthly energy bills and at the same time maintain a comfortable lifestyle, reduce pollution, and extend our nation's energy supply.

The Alliance to Save Energy offers consumers a wide variety of spring and summer energy tips to fit individual pocketbooks and needs, ranging from no cost/low-cost to money-saving investments in energy-efficiency improvements in their homes. NO COST OR LOW-COST

U.S. Department of the Navy, Rep. Edward Markey, City of Austin, Frito-Lay, Johnson Controls Win 2003 Energy Efficiency Awards from Alliance to Save Energy

Author: 
Ronnie Kweller
Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
October 10, 2003

Alliance to Save Energy awards for outstanding contributions to the advancement of energy efficiency

A branch of the nation's armed forces, a prominent energy-efficiency advocate in the U.S. House of Representatives, a municipal government that helps residents and businesses cut energy use and costs, the world's larges convenience food company that prides itself on energy-efficient plant operations, and a multi-billion dollar corporation that produces energy-efficient products will be honored this year by the Alliance to Save Energy for outstanding contributions to the advancement of energy efficiency.

Rising Natural Gas Prices Threaten to Bust School Budgets - But Energy Efficiency Provides Solution, Says Alliance to Save Energy

Author: 
Ronnie Kweller
Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
August 15, 2003

When kids go back to school this fall, will they see fewer teachers and bigger classes? Will their libraries lack new books? Such scenarios could materialize, further battering already-pinched school budgets, as higher natural gas prices inflate school heating costs.

(Editor’s Note: The Alliance to Save Energy has Green Schools Programs in California Maryland, and Pennsylvania.)

When kids go back to school this fall, will they see fewer teachers and bigger classes? Will their libraries lack new books? Such scenarios could materialize, further battering already-pinched school budgets, as higher natural gas prices inflate school heating costs. Electricity bills could be higher too. Natural gas – the cleanest-burning fossil fuel – powers a growing number of electric power plants.

House Energy Bill: ‘One Small Step for Efficiency, One Giant Leap for Production’

Date: 
April 10, 2003

As the House considers the energy bill, it has already failed to address our nation’s growing and deadly oil dependence by defeating an amendment that would have required a mere 5 percent increase in fuel economy by 2010.

Statement of Alliance to Save Energy President David M. Nemtzow (based on H.R. 6, prior to final passage)

“As the House considers the energy bill, it has already failed to address our nation’s growing and deadly oil dependence by defeating an amendment that would have required a mere 5 percent increase in fuel economy by 2010. H.R. 6 is one small step for efficiency, one giant leap for production.

Alliance to Save Energy Praises Tax Incentives for Energy Efficiency

Date: 
April 2, 2003

With the nation at war and our economic future uncertain, the Alliance to Save Energy commends the Senate Finance Committee for today adopting several provisions to promote the market for energy-efficient products.

Statement of Alliance to Save Energy President David M. Nemtzow

"With the nation at war and our economic future uncertain, the Alliance to Save Energy commends the Senate Finance Committee for today adopting several provisions to promote the market for energy-efficient products. We wish the Finance Committee had done more for energy efficiency – which is the quickest, cleanest, cheapest way to save energy, protect the environment, and reduce oil imports – and we will work with Committee leaders to improve the bill when it reaches the Senate floor.

Despite Commitment to Hydrogen, Energy Efficiency to be Cut

Date: 
February 3, 2003

President Bush’s FY 2004 budget request calls for significant cuts in energy efficiency at a time when we can least afford it. With U.S. oil imports steadily increasing and the global climate deteriorating, we need both immediate progress and long-term solutions.

Statement of Alliance to Save Energy President David M. Nemtzow

"President Bush’s FY 2004 budget request calls for significant cuts in energy efficiency at a time when we can least afford it. With U.S. oil imports steadily increasing and the global climate deteriorating, we need both immediate progress and long-term solutions.

Alliance Offers Consumers Tips to Reduce Winter Energy Bills as Heating Oil, Natural Gas Prices Increase, Forecasters Predict 'Normal' Cold Winter Temperatures

Author: 
Ronnie Kweller
Contact Email: 
rkweller@ase.org
Date: 
October 22, 2002

Consumers could be hit with higher heating bills

Last winter's warmer-than-normal temperatures helped buffer the impact of a sliding economy by keeping home energy costs down. But this year, with the Iraq situation escalating and “normally cold” winter weather expected, consumers could be hit with higher heating bills — up to 19 percent higher if they use natural gas and 45 percent for home heating oil.

Alliance to Save Energy Honors Consumer Reports, Sears, Energy Star, Amory Lovins, CertainTeed, Sen. Bingaman as 2002 Top Achievers in Energy Efficiency Field

Date: 
September 17, 2002

The “bible” of consumer product information, a leading purveyor of energy-efficient consumer products, the government program that labels energy-efficient products, an energy efficiency pioneer and activist, a manufacturer of energy-efficient home building products and materials, and a prominent senator will walk off with the Alliance to Save Energy’s top honors this year for their outstanding contributions to the advancement of energy efficiency.

Celebrating 25th Anniversary

Alliance to Save Energy Commends Bush Administration On Energy-Efficiency Budget; Urges Congress To Increase Funding to Enhance Energy Security

Date: 
February 5, 2002

The Alliance to Save Energy today commends President Bush's fiscal year 2003 budget request for energy efficiency, noting that the administration has come a long way since last year's threatened 30 percent cuts in R&D.

The Alliance to Save Energy today commends President Bush's fiscal year 2003 budget request for energy efficiency, noting that the administration has come a long way since last year's threatened 30 percent cuts in R&D. The proposed Department of Energy budget for energy-efficiency overall will remain roughly flat at $904.3 million, a 1 percent cut from current levels. The request for the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program will also remain relatively flat.

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