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Webinar: Efficiency & Retrofit Jobs in the Buildings Industry

This webinar will give an overview of the workforce needed for retrofits. Join us on August 27, 12:00–1:30 p.m. EDT. There is no charge, but you must register in advance. Learn more.

Hospital Energy Alliance Works to Reduce Energy Use and Operating Costs

The alliance brings together hospitals and national associations to reduce the energy consumption, carbon emissions, and operating costs of healthcare facilities.

Obama Administration Launches New Energy Efficiency Efforts, Funding

President Obama announced aggressive actions to promote energy efficiency. View a video of President Obama's remarks or read the news story.

The Building Technologies Program (BTP) funds research and technology development to reduce commercial and residential building energy use. The program is working to achieve the goal of net-zero energy buildings, which produce as much energy as they consume. BTP works with national laboratories and industry partners to achieve this goal. Learn more about the program, including key contacts, goals, and financial opportunities. You can also view a site map.


 

 

Commercial

Photo of the inside of an atrium that is part of the Adam Joseph Lewis Center. The atrium is two stories with a curved roof and with windows covering two of the three walls visible in the photo.

The Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative (CBI) is aggressively working to improve the performance of commercial buildings. The program goal is to develop technologies and strategies that lead to marketable net-zero energy commercial buildings by 2025. On this site you can:

Residential

A photo of a traditional two-story home under construction. The front of the home is shown and blue insulation and many windows are visible. Photo of 2009 K Hovnanian Homes Eagles Pointe project provided by IBACOS

The Building America program is leading the way in research for highly energy-efficient homes. The goal is to create technologies and design approaches that will lead to marketable zero energy homes by 2020. On this site you can:

Partner with BTP

Close-up photo of a handshake. One person appears to be wearing a suit. The other person is holding a hard hat. In the background is the faded image of a tall building under construction and a crane.

BTP actively partners with industry, states, and research facilities to work toward the goal of zero energy buildings. Public-private partnerships are a key element of the research conducted through the Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative (CBI) and Building America. These partnerships ensure that BTP's research focuses on technologies that benefit the building community.

Businesses can participate with the Commercial Building Initiative by:

Residential builders can work with Building America by:

Homeowners

Photo of a two story home with a sloped metal roof, awnings over the windows and back porch, and solar panels on the far right side of the roof.

The Department of Energy offers comprehensive resources to homeowners who want to use less energy in their homes.

Energy Savers—Learn how to use energy more efficiently and incorporate renewable energy technologies in your home

Tips on Saving Energy & Money at Home—Find tips to save money and energy in areas like insulation, heating, cooling, landscaping, and energy-efficient appliances.

Consumer Energy Tax Incentives—See which energy-efficient home improvements qualify for tax credits. Visit the ENERGY STAR® Web site for additional tax credit information.

Financial Opportunities for Consumers—View a list of Web sites that provide information about financial incentives.

ENERGY STAR Household Products—Learn about appliances, electronics, and other items that use less energy, save money, and help protect the environment.


Tools

EnergyPlus.  A simulation program to model heating, cooling, lighting, ventilating, water, and other building energy flows.  OpenStudio. A software plugin that integrates Google SketchUp and EnergyPlus, making building energy simulations easier.  Publications Database. An online library of BTP reports and documents focusing on energy-efficient building technologies and practices.