Overview
Last year, the buildings in which we work and live used roughly 40% of the energy in the U.S. economy at a cost of over $400 billion. Through a variety of efficiency improvements (e.g. new lighting, greater insulation, more efficient heating and cooling) and proven approaches (clear information, access to financing, energy efficiency investment criteria), we can make these buildings more energy efficient and better places to live and work while creating jobs and building a stronger economy.
In February 2011, President Obama, building upon the investments of the Recovery Act, announced the Better Buildings Initiative to make commercial and industrial buildings 20% more energy efficient by 2020 and accelerate private sector investment in energy efficiency.
Better Buildings Strategies include:
Better Buildings Challenge
The President is challenging CEOs, University Presidents, state and local government leaders and others to commit their organizations to lead in saving energy, saving money, and showcasing the best energy saving strategies and their results. Partners commit to an energy savings pledge, a showcase building, and to share their progress. Partners will receive public recognition, technical assistance, and best-practices sharing through a network of peers. Their leadership will provide real case studies and implementation models—linked to results—for others to use.Learn More
Better Buildings Case Competition
In addition to supporting significant energy reduction, the Better Buildings Challenge is focused on finding solutions to persistent barriers to energy efficiency that have limited the energy efficiency market. The DOE is engaging university students to contribute innovative ideas and approaches to reduce these barriers.Learn More
Better Information
DOE and the Appraisal Foundation are working together to ensure that appraisers have the building performance information, practical guidelines, and professional resources they need to evaluate energy performance when conducting commercial building appraisals. This will help enable investors, building owners and operators, and others to accurately assess the value of energy efficiency as part of the building's overall appraisal and help American businesses to reduce energy waste. Learn More
Better Tax Incentives
DOE is working with Congress to redesign the current tax deduction for commercial building upgrades, transforming the current deduction to a credit that is more generous and that will encourage building owners and real estate investment trusts (REITs) to retrofit their properties. These changes could result in a ten-fold increase in commercial retrofit take up, leveraging job-creating investment. Learn More
Better Workforce
DOE is partnering with National Institute of Standards and Technology to enhance training and education programs for the energy efficiency workforce through a pilot program focusing on areas such as energy auditing and buildings operations. Learn More
Better State and Local Policies
Much of the authority to alter codes, regulations, and performance standards relating to commercial energy efficiency lies in the jurisdiction of states and localities.
Better Buildings Neighborhood Program
Federal funding is helping more than 40 competitively selected state and local governments develop sustainable programs to upgrade the energy efficiency of over 100,000 buildings. These leading communities are using innovation and investment in energy efficiency to expand the building improvement industry, test program delivery business models, and create jobs - with an emphasis on home energy improvement. Learn More