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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.

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Opening EE Global 2012 Plenary: Energy Efficiency, An 'All of the Above' Answer

Date: Mar 29, 2012

The Alliance to Save Energy’s EE Global Forum began on March 27, 2012. Alliance President Kateri Callahan brought the fifth installment of the event to order. 

The Alliance to Save Energy’s EE Global Forum began on March 27, 2012, and Alliance President Kateri Callahan brought the fifth installment of the event to order with a discussion on the core concept that governments and businesses alike are focused on their economic “bottom lines,” as well as better ways to build profits, create jobs and enhance sustainability.

Comments Submitted for FHFA Rulemaking on PACE Financing

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RIN_2590-AA53.pdf
A home
March 27, 2012

The Alliance to Save Energy, along with several co-signatories, recently submitted comments to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) regarding Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) residential financing programs.

The Alliance to Save Energy, along with several co-signatories, recently submitted comments to a Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) rulemaking regarding Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) residential financing programs.

Home Owner Managing Energy Savings (HOMES) Act of 2012

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HOMES Act Bill Summary.pdf
HOMES Act
March 23, 2012

Introduced by Representatives David McKinley (R-W.Va.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), the Home Owner Managing Energy Savings (HOMES) Act (H.R. 4230) would advance U.S. energy efficiency while also creating domestic jobs, saving homeowners money and reducing carbon pollution.

Introduced by Representatives David McKinley (R-W.Va.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), the Home Owner Managing Energy Savings (HOMES) Act (H.R. 4230) would advance U.S. energy efficiency while also creating domestic jobs, saving homeowners money and reducing carbon pollution. 

Green Button Energy Tool: Letter of Support to the President of the United States

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A Letter to President Obama March 22 2012.pdf
green button energy data tool
March 22, 2012
Kateri Callahan

In a letter to Presidentn Barack Obama, the Alliance to Save Energy, Alliance Associates and several other organizations applauded the White House and utilities for advancing the “Green Button” project to provide electricity customers with their energy use data.

March 22, 2012

Dear Mr. President:

Nearly two years ago, a broad-based coalition of over 45 companies and organizations issued an open letter calling on policy makers to “adopt the goal of giving every household and business access to timely, useful and actionable information on their energy use.” We have since worked together with the Administration on ways to further the goal of giving consumers more tools to monitor and manage their energy use.

Alliance Applauds Bipartisan Energy Efficiency Retrofit Proposal Co-Sponsored by Reps. McKinley, Welch

Alliance Applauds Bipartisan Energy Efficiency Retrofit Proposal Co-Sponsored by
Author: 
Ronnie Kweller
Date: 
March 21, 2012

Declaring “It’s time we started growing our economy by stopping energy waste!” Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan applauded the bipartisan bill at a Capitol Hill press conference. The bill, introduced by Reps. David McKinley (R-W.Va.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), would provide financial incentives that empower Americans to stop wasting energy in their homes.

Declaring “It’s time we started growing our economy by stopping energy waste!” Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan applauded the bipartisan HOMES Act at a Capitol Hill press conference today. The bill, introduced by Reps. David McKinley (R-W.Va.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.), would provide financial incentives that empower Americans to stop wasting energy in their homes.

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Check Out the Social Energy App by Facebook, NRDC, Opower

Date: Mar 20, 2012

On April 4, 2012, Facebook, Opower and NRDC launched an app that allows you to compete with your friends to save home energy.

Article Update: The social energy app was launched on April 3, 2012 by Facebook, NRDC, Opower and 16 utilities. The 20 million households connected to participating utilities can use the app with instantly downloaded energy use data.

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How to Claim Tax Credits for Your 2011 Energy-Efficient Home Upgrades

Date: Mar 01, 2012

It’s tax season, and time to claim your energy-efficient home upgrades on your 2011 income tax return. Find out what energy-efficient home improvements are eligible for federal tax credits, and which forms you’ll need to claim them.

You’re already reaping the benefits of lower utility bills on the energy-efficient home improvements you made in 2011. Now it’s time to claim them on your 2011 income tax return. Find out what energy-efficient home improvements are eligible for federal tax credits, and which forms you’ll need to claim them.

2011 Wrap Up

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Alliance 2011 Wrap Up.pdf
2011 Wrap-Up
February 24, 2012

2011 marked year two in the Alliance to Save Energy's self-proclaimed "Decade of Energy Efficiency." This four-page PDF highlights the Alliance's biggest accomplishments in 2011 and includes a personal letter from Alliance President Kateri Callahan.

2011 marked year two in the Alliance to Save Energy's self-proclaimed "Decade of Energy Efficiency." This four-page PDF (see above) features the Alliance's biggest accomplishments in 2011 and includes a personal letter from Alliance President Kateri Callahan. Highlights from the PDF include:

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Rulemaking for PACE: Comment Period Open for Residential Efficiency Financing Model

Date: Feb 15, 2012

In response to a lawsuit challenging efforts to block residential property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing, a court ordered an official rulemaking process for PACE that includes a public comment period until March 26.

A court-ordered rulemaking process for residential, property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing began in late January 2012 in response to a lawsuit challenging the Federal Housing Finance Administration (FHFA)’s decision to effectively block residential PACE. The process begins with a 60-day comment period.

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STEP-UP: Local Energy Program Helps Maryland Save

Date: Feb 13, 2012

Over 200 Maryland neighbors got home energy assessments in 2011 through the Small Town Energy Program for University Park (STEP-UP). The program, a $1.42 million grant from the Department of Energy, helps participants save energy and money in their homes.

A small town in Maryland is offering a model for successful energy-saving programs around the country. Over 200 neighbors in the Prince George’s County Town of University Park signed up for home energy assessments last year through the Small Town Energy Program for University Park (STEP-UP), a $1.42 million, three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s Better Buildings Neighborhood Program.

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