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Commercial Buildings: Energy Efficient Building Practices

The commercial building market encompasses a diverse mix of structures and purposes – from small retail establishments to corporate office parks, from neighborhood schools to regional hospitals, and from multi-family apartment buildings to universities.

Despite their differences, commercial buildings share a large and growing appetite for energy. They account for 18 percent of total U.S. energy consumption. In a typical office building, energy use accounts for 30 percent of operating costs, the largest single category of controllable costs. The design and construction of energy-smart buildings offers tangible benefits to building owners and occupants and our nation as a whole. Building owners can lower their energy costs by 50 percent or more while lessening maintenance and capital costs. Building occupants realize increased comfort, health and productivity. Our nation conserves energy resources and enjoys cleaner air and a healthier environment.

Commercial Building Initiative Learn more about the Department of Energy's efforts to improve commercial building efficiency through research and partnerships. Visit the Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative for resources, information, and tools.

Realizing energy savings requires knowledge of best practice guidelines, which are based on Department of Energy research, including collaborations with private-sector partners. The Department of Energy is committed to driving continuous improvements in energy efficient technologies and practices.

The guidelines summarized on this site address each step of the design and building process, giving an integrated, or whole building, approach to new construction and renovation. Whole building design integrates each building system so all the components work together for maximum efficiency.

The guidelines cover the planning and financing of new construction or renovation projects, the design and construction phase, and operations and maintenance. For building owners who want more dramatic reductions in purchased energy, there are opportunities for on-site energy production such as photovoltaic systems, geothermal, and other forms of renewable energy.

In addition to detailed best practice guidelines, this site discusses issues and opportunities for specific building types as well as considerations related to climate zones. The site offers an array of information including commercial building success stories, and energy related software and publications. It is aimed at building owners, facilities managers, architects, engineers, and builders who seek to incorporate energy efficient building practices into a new or existing commercial building.

Featured Tool:

DOE's EnergyPlus models heating, cooling, lighting, ventilating, and other energy flows as well as water in buildings. It is available for free download and can be used with a variety of graphical interfaces.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is facilitating the creation of the new Commercial Building Energy Alliances (CBEAs), which are designed to minimize the energy and environmental impact of commercial buildings and reduce energy costs for these buildings.