Better Buildings Bulletin
October
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is launching the Better Communities Alliance (BCA), a new collaborative effort among 60 local governments, philanthropies, nonprofit organizations, and leading private companies to accelerate local clean energy progress across the country. The BCA was announced today by the White House during Smart Cities Week.
As part of the Better Buildings Initiative, the BCA will deliver new clean energy resources, technical assistance, and facilitate collaboration between public and private partners by making it easier for participants to connect and exchange ideas.
On September 23, Secretary Ernest Moniz announced that 12 partners in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings, Better Plants program have met their energy or water savings goals this year, and 30 new partners have joined the program, representing significant growth for the program to accelerate progress in energy and water savings. Since President Obama launched the Better Buildings, Better Plants program five years ago, partners have saved more than $3 billion in cumulative energy costs.
The Better Buildings, Better Plants Program is part of the broader Better Buildings Initiative, launched in 2011. The goal of the Better Buildings program is to make commercial, public, industrial, and residential buildings 20 percent more energy efficient over ten years.
Better Plants partners represent more than 11 percent of the manufacturing sector’s total energy footprint, with over 2,500 facilities across the United States. So far, partners have reported cumulative energy savings of 600 trillion BTUs, and nearly 35 million metric tons of avoided climate-changing carbon emissions.
The U.S. Department of Energy is launching the Better Buildings Smart Labs Accelerator to advance energy efficiency in laboratory buildings owned and operated by universities, corporations, national laboratories, hospitals, and federal agencies. Through the new Better Buildings Smart Labs Accelerator, partners will pursue ambitious energy-saving targets and strategies that will address key barriers to improving energy efficiency.
A typical laboratory is nearly four times more energy intensive than an average commercial building and can account for up to 70% of a given campus' energy footprint. It's estimated that if all laboratory buildings improved their energy efficiency by 20%, annual energy and cost savings could reach about 40 trillion British Thermal Units or $1 billion.
As part of Smart Cities Week, the White House recently announced a new Energy Department-led Smart Energy Analytics Campaign to encourage the use of cost-effective, energy-saving building analytics platforms – also known as energy management information systems technologies (EMIS) – in commercial buildings nationwide, and refine best practices. Energy management information system (EMIS) technologies are a broad group of smart energy management tools that help monitor, analyze and control building energy use and system performance. EMIS can achieve 10-20 percent energy savings in a single commercial building. If these best practices were adopted by all commercial buildings in the nation, more than $4 billion in cost savings could be achieved.
The campaign is also meant to help building operators use analytics for overall long-term energy management and better building performance. The initial goal is to engage commercial building owners and operators to use smart energy analytics in 80 million square feet of floor space. Already the 18 partners represent a total of 1,800 buildings or 50 million square feet.
The Energy Department’s Better Buildings Challenge recognized the Wendy’s Company and its franchisee, Wendco Group, for leadership in energy efficiency. This local restaurant achieved a 37 percent total energy reduction or more than 50 percent energy savings per sales transaction, and nearly $8,000 in savings annually.
Through the Better Buildings Challenge, Wendy’s has committed to achieving 20 percent energy savings over 10 years, across 1.5 million square feet of building space at company-owned restaurants. It’s also the first restaurant company to include franchisees. To date, six franchisees have joined, adding an additional 270 restaurants (nearly 700,000 square feet) to the collective Wendy’s footprint.
Wendy’s joined the Better Buildings Challenge in January of this year and was so inspired by the program that the company started its own program called the Wendy’s Energy Challenge. The program is modeled after the Better Buildings Challenge and encourages Wendy’s franchisees across North America to be good stewards of energy usage.
Webinar
Better Buildings Alliance Webpages
The Better Buildings Alliance launched a new webpage to showcase the multitude of technology resources and opportunities that exist for furthering your organization’s sustainability goals. Check it out to learn more about the High Impact Technology Catalyst program and the ways that Better Buildings works to promote and implement these technologies in the marketplace.
Building Envelope Technology Solutions Team
The Better Buildings Alliance created a technology solutions team to focus on the building envelope, which includes the walls, windows, roof, and foundation. The envelope forms the primary thermal barrier between the interior and exterior environment, and envelope technologies account for approximately 30 percent of the primary energy consumed in commercial buildings. Members of the Building Envelope Technology Solutions Team collaborate with DOE's national laboratories to deploy high performance envelope design solutions for space conditioning load reduction and to facilitate the construction of durable and high-performing envelope technologies. Be sure to check out the technology specific teams:
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Take Part in the Smart Energy Analytics Campaign
The Smart Energy Analytics (SEA) Campaign aims to increase adoption of EMIS technologies and the energy management practices that utilize these technologies, helping to bring analytics into the mainstream. In the Campaign, owners, facility managers, energy managers, and operators of commercial buildings across the country receive expert technical support and national recognition for their efforts. Join the Campaign either as a participant or a supporter.
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August
The White House announced new partners joining DOE’s Better Buildings Clean Energy for Low Income Communities Accelerator. The Clean Energy for Low Income Communities Accelerator aims to lower energy bills in low income communities through expanded installation of energy efficiency and distributed renewables. Low income households spend an average of 15 to 20 percent of their income on energy bills, whereas energy burdens above 6 percent are typically considered unaffordable. This Accelerator encourages the development of partnerships and replicable models and will work to identify funding options that a state-level agency, local government, or utility program could use to provide energy efficiency and renewable energy access to communities that need them most. Today, 13 new partners are announcing their participation, building on the 24 founding partners.
- White House Fact Sheet: Obama Administration Announces Clean Energy Savings for All Americans Initiative
- Partner List: Clean Energy for Low Income Communities Accelerators
The Energy Department today announced the results of this year’s Better Buildings Alliance technology and market campaigns. Through partnerships with public and private sector organizations, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is working with interested landlords, tenants, and owners to adopt solutions that best meet the needs of their buildings for sustainable leasing and upgrades to indoor lighting. There are now over 160 participants and supporters in the Interior Lighting Campaign (ILC) and 40 Green Lease Leaders. Together these leading organizations continue to prove how novel thinking and innovative technologies can rapidly cut the energy wasted by the nation’s commercial buildings, including offices, hospitals, restaurants, retail stores, and even military bases.
Today, DOE announced the release of the Home Energy Score Simulation Training, a new online simulation tool that provides free, targeted training and testing to individuals interested in providing the Home Energy Score – a standard energy efficiency assessment and score generated only by qualifying professionals. The Home Energy Score Simulation Training (the Sim), developed by Interplay Learning, lets candidates walk through different virtual homes (colonial, ranch, and townhome) with numerous combinations of energy-related characteristics (e.g., heating, cooling, hot water equipment; wall construction; insulation levels; footprints).
With this enhanced training and testing available, the program will now recognize a wide range of credentials, including those held by home inspectors, HVAC contractors, and other professionals in building-related fields. The table below lists the minimum credentials now accepted by DOE.
Under the new HUD and DOE Home Energy Score partnership, in areas where the Home Energy Score is available, single family households will be able to increase their access to financing tools to make energy efficiency improvements. DOE’s Home Energy Score offers a “miles per gallon” type rating to estimate a home’s energy use on a 10-point scale. A “1” corresponds to the least energy efficient homes and a “10” corresponds to the most energy efficient homes, while the average U.S. home will score a “5.” Through this new partnership, homebuyers or homeowners who want to obtain an FHA-insured purchase or refinance mortgage for a single family home that receives a Home Energy Score of 6 or higher will be eligible to increase their income qualifying ratio by 2 percentage points above the standard Single Family FHA limit, making it easier to secure financing to make these improvements.
Sample coverage:
- National Mortgage Professional Magazine: FHA Set to Incorporate DOE Home Energy Score Program
- Climate Central: White House: Efficiency Key to Tackling Climate Change
Vice President Biden joined U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu today to announce the launch of the Home Energy Score pilot program. The Home Energy Score will offer homeowners straightforward, reliable information about their homes' energy efficiency. A report provides consumers with a home energy score between 1 and 10, and shows them how their home compares to others in their region. The report also includes customized, cost-effective recommendations that will help to reduce their energy costs and improve the comfort of their homes.
"The initiatives announced today are putting the Recovery Through Retrofit report's recommendations into action - giving American families the tools they need to invest in home energy upgrades." said Vice President Biden. "Together, these programs will grow the home retrofit industry and help middle class families save money and energy."
- U.S. Department of Energy Press Release
- Acting Under Secretary Cathy Zoi talks about the new Home Energy Score pilot program
- U.S. Department of Energy Energy Saver blog
Sample coverage:
- Grist Magazine: Home Energy Score could be a much-needed MPG for house
Energy Department Releases Draft Updated Best Practices for Residential PACE Financing Programs
The updated guidelines also incorporate advancements in DOE residential energy efficiency analytical tools and resources, such as the DOE Home Energy Score and Standard Work Specifications, and step-by-step program guidance available through the Better Buildings Residential Program Solution Center. These tools and resources can be used by PACE program administrators and participants to plan, develop and implement programs that effectively deliver home energy upgrades to participating households in their jurisdictions.
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Take Part in the Smart Energy Analytics Campaign
The Smart Energy Analytics (SEA) Campaign aims to increase adoption of EMIS technologies and the energy management practices that utilize these technologies, helping to bring analytics into the mainstream. In the Campaign, owners, facility managers, energy managers, and operators of commercial buildings across the country receive expert technical support and national recognition for their efforts. Join the Campaign either as a participant or a supporter.
Subscribe to Better Buildings Newsletters and Emails
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June
U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz and U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro released Better Buildings Challenge partner results, announced three new focus areas in local communities, and highlighted overall signs of growth in the initiative’s reach and influence.
Since 2011, both the number of Better Buildings Challenge partners and energy efficiency commitments have tripled, resulting in energy cost savings that now exceed the $1.3 billion mark and the avoidance of 10 million tons of harmful carbon emissions. There are now 310 Better Buildings Challenge partners who are set to achieve goals of at least 20 percent energy reduction within 10 years. Together they represent 34,000 buildings and facilities, 4.2 billion square feet, and $5.5 billion dollars in energy efficiency investment. Latest reporting shows partners are on track, decreasing energy use on average by over two percent each year.
Sample coverage
- Energy Manager Today: The Better Building Challenge Grows
- Energy.gov Blog: INFOGRAPHIC: Better Buildings Leading to Big Energy Savings
The U.S. Department of Energy's Better Buildings Initiative in partnership with CoStar Group, Inc., a provider of data and intelligence solutions to commercial real estate professionals, will expand the visibility of energy-efficient buildings in U.S. property markets and promote the benefits of energy efficiency for building owners and occupants. CoStar Group will display energy-related information that is already being made publicly accessible by state and local governments that have adopted building energy transparency laws. It plans to begin displaying energy-related information for buildings in Chicago and Washington, D.C., this summer, followed by buildings in other applicable states and localities beginning this fall.
- U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Progress Alert
- Memorandum of Understanding
- Quick 2-minute video featuring industry voices on importance of partnership
Sample coverage:
- CoStar - CoStar Group Announces Partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy
- IMT - Integrating building performance data in CoStar group databases
- USGBC - Department of Energy and CoStar partner to expand visibility of benchmark data
- The Business Council for Sustainable Energy - BCSE Support for Partnership Between DOE and CoStar Group, Inc.
- District of Columbia Department of Energy & Environment - Leading Real Estate Platforms to Integrate Energy Usage Data into Property Listings
As part of the Administration's strategy to increase energy productivity and cut energy waste in our nation's buildings, today the U.S. Department of Energy recognized six organizations for their leadership in replacing and upgrading rooftop units as part of the Better Buildings Alliance Rooftop Unit Campaign (ARC). Combined, these organizations in a single year have saved an estimated 1 trillion British thermal units (Btu) or more than $11 million on utility costs with efficient rooftop unit (RTU) replacements, retrofits, and quality management and operations. Since 2013, 250 ARC partners have upgraded 59,500 RTUs for a total energy savings of 10 trillion Btu, or $93 million in cost savings.
2016 Lighting Energy Efficiency in Parking (LEEP) Awards Submission Deadline – June 15, 2016!
LEEP Awards submissions are due June 15, 2016. The LEEP Campaign is a recognition and guidance initiative helping facility owners and managers to take advantage of savings opportunities from high-efficiency lighting solutions in their parking facilities. The 2016 LEEP Campaign awards will recognize high-achieving parking facilities at Greenbuild, October 5-7, 2016, in categories ranging from savings to innovative solutions, as well as the best by sector. Past winners include Arby’s, USAA Real Estate, and Zappo’s.
Visit the LEEP Campaign website and learn more about implementing energy-efficient lighting solutions in your parking facilities.
Green Lease Leader Deadline Extended to June 10 – Apply Today!
The deadline for the 2016 Green Lease Leaders recognition program has been extended to Friday, June 10 at 11:59 pm EST, which means there's still time to submit! Green Lease Leaders is a national award program created by Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) and the Department of Energy's Better Buildings Alliance to recognize and validate landlords, companies, and brokerage teams that are setting the bar for green or energy-aligned leasing language included in new or existing leases.
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April
The U.S. Department of Energy's Better Buildings Home Upgrade Program and Home Energy Information Accelerators work with partners across the nation and are making important progress in lowering the costs of energy upgrade programs, while improving overall program effectiveness and enhancing access to information on home energy performance for consumers. These efforts help homeowners save money, while creating local jobs and improving the environment.
The U.S. Department of Energy announced the publication of a high-impact, informational resources toolkit through its Better Buildings Energy Data Accelerator developed in partnership with 18 cities and utilities across the nation. The Energy Data Access: Blueprint for Action Toolkit is a compilation of case studies, guidance and real-world best-practices adopted by cities and utilities to help building owners measure and track energy use, and benchmark the energy performance of their buildings.
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Better Buildings Residential
New Toolkit Dives Into Training Techniques
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Better Buildings Residential Network has launched a Training Toolkit to help residential energy efficiency programs and partners identify resources and opportunities to help contractors, staff, and volunteers enhance their understanding of building science; sales and marketing; program offerings; and business development.
This toolkit is the fourth Residential Network Voluntary Member Initiative–which provides a forum for members to address shared challenges with solutions–and includes tips, resources, and examples to help your residential energy efficiency program plan technical, outreach, and professional training.
New Credential Helps Homes Get Health and Safety Check–Ups
This spring, Residential Network member the Building Performance Institute (BPI) will introduce the Healthy Home Evaluator credential to help the home performance, weatherization, and healthy housing workforce assess home-based environmental health and safety hazards and provide a prioritized list of recommendations to address those hazards.
Efficiency Vermont Works to Revitalize Energy Efficiency Efforts
Downtown Bennington, Vermont, is getting an energy–efficient makeover through Residential Network member Efficiency Vermont's residential and community programs and support. As part of Vermont’s Downtown Energy Efficiency pilot program, Efficiency Vermont and the state Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) will work to make energy efficiency programs and services more visible and accessible to the community through office hours, partnerships, community events, workshops, information sessions, and home energy walk-throughs.
Efficiency Vermont and DHCD will integrate sustainable energy solutions with downtown revitalization efforts for three other Vermont state–designated downtowns in 2016.
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2016 Green Lease Leaders Application Now Available
The 2016 application period for the Green Lease Leaders recognition program is now available. The designation recognizes landlords, tenants, and brokers who have successfully used the lease to embed sustainability in the tenant/landlord relationship.View the press release for more information or visit www.greenleaseleaders.com to apply.
The Interior Lighting Campaign (ILC) Awards Submittal Deadline Approaching
Awards submissions are due May 2, 2016, and we would like to be able to consider your high efficiency troffer lighting project(s) for recognition at the 2016 BOMA International Conference & Expo . The ILC is a recognition and guidance program designed to help facility owners and managers take advantage of savings opportunities from high efficiency interior lighting solutions. Join Today.
Interior Lighting Campaign increases goal to replace 1 million troffers by May 2016
The participants of the Interior Lighting Campaign have already surpassed the original goal of replacing 100,000 troffers with high efficiency troffer lighting systems by May 2016. Because of this initial success, the ILC Organizers have established a new goal - to replace 1 million troffers.
If you are a building owner, operator, or manager committed to energy efficiency and high quality lighting in your facilities, accomplish these goals plus gain recognition for your efforts by joining the Interior Lighting Campaign. Organizations who join the campaign as participants commit to: evaluating their facilities' troffer lighting use and adopting high efficiency troffers (e.g., LED lamps, retrofit kits, LED fixtures, and ultra–high efficiency fluorescent systems) and associated lighting controls where it is technically justified and economically feasible.
Visit the ILC website and learn more about joining today, and view the updated fact sheet here.
Subscribe to Better Buildings Newsletters and Emails
- Better Buildings Monthly Get-Involved
- Better Buildings Solution Center Top 10: Monthly Feature of Most Viewed Partner Solutions
- Better Buildings Beat Blog: Biweekly Email
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Check out the Better Buildings Beat Blog
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March
Today the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) unveiled the Better Buildings Challenge SWAP, which involved Hilton Worldwide and Whole Foods Market swapping energy management teams at their facilities in San Francisco.
As part of the SWAP, each team identified innovative ways to save energy in Hilton San Francisco Union Square, a 1.8 million sq. foot hotel and Whole Foods Ocean Avenue, a 25,600 sq. foot grocery store. A reality-style web series, including behind-the-scenes footage, featuring both teams is now available.
Sample coverage:
- Bloomberg Business - Can a Reality TV Show Help Cut America's Power Bill?
- Fast Company - Watch the Department of Energy's Earnest, Kind Of Adorable Energy-Efficiency Reality Show
- Guardian - How many companies does it take to change a lightbulb?
- Eco News Network - Energy Efficiency: Better Buildings Challenge Swap
- Green Lodging News - Hilton, Whole Foods Market First Up in Better Buildings Challenge SWAP
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today recognized the city of Orlando and Parkway Properties for their leadership in improving energy efficiency across a combined 20 million square feet of building space by 20 percent within 10 years. Through the department’s Better Buildings Challenge, Orlando-based Parkway Properties’ showcase project, office tower One Orlando Centre, is expected to save nearly 18 percent in energy costs and over 1.7 million gallons of water through energy and water efficiency efforts.
The Energy Department recognized Better Buildings Challenge partner, West Palm Beach for their leadership in improving energy efficiency across 1.4 million square feet of building space by 20 percent within 10 years. The city of West Palm Beach has met their Better Buildings Challenge goal of 20 percent energy reduction and Mayor Jeri Muoio is announcing a new 15 percent energy reduction goal for 2025.
The city of West Palm Beach is planning on committing a number of new buildings to receive a variety of energy efficiency upgrades, adding on approximately 130,000 square feet of building space to the Better Buildings Challenge.
Webinar
New SEE Action Network Guide Outlines Pathways to Energy Efficiency
The State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network (SEE Action) has a new resource out, “Guide for States: Energy Efficiency as a Least–Cost Strategy to Reduce Greenhouse Gases and Air Pollution, and Meet Energy Needs in the Power Sector,” which presents case studies of successful regional, state, and local approaches to energy efficiency such as quick start and deep savings programs, public power programs, and low–income community engagement.
New Report: Energy Advisors Improve Customer Experience and Program Achievements
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has released a new program brief, Energy Advisors: Improving Customer Experience and Efficiency Program Outcomes, which addresses how residential energy efficiency programs can employ energy advisors to help homeowners overcome obstacles to complete energy upgrades.
Better Buildings Residential Network
- Better Buildings Residential Network Members Unite to Form Green Bank Network
- Better Buildings Residential Network Members Make Multifamily Housing More Efficient – New Case Study
- Entergy New Orleans Gets Green Light to Increase City Energy Savings
- EnergySavvy Wraps Up 2015 With Top Company and Workplace Accolades
- Find the Latest Better Buildings Residential Network Peer Exchange Call Summaries
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2016 Green Lease Leaders Application Now Available
The 2016 application period for the Green Lease Leaders recognition program is now available. The designation recognizes landlords, tenants, and brokers who have successfully used the lease to embed sustainability in the tenant/landlord relationship. View the press release for more information or visit www.greenleaseleaders.com to apply.
Interior Lighting Campaign increases goal to replace 1 million troffers by May 2016
The participants of the Interior Lighting Campaign have already surpassed the original goal of replacing 100,000 troffers with high efficiency troffer lighting systems by May 2016. Because of this initial success, the ILC Organizers have established a new goal - to replace 1 million troffers.
If you are a building owner, operator, or manager committed to energy efficiency and high quality lighting in your facilities, accomplish these goals plus gain recognition for your efforts by joining the Interior Lighting Campaign. Organizations who join the campaign as participants commit to: evaluating their facilities' troffer lighting use and adopting high efficiency troffers (e.g., LED lamps, retrofit kits, LED fixtures, and ultra–high efficiency fluorescent systems) and associated lighting controls where it is technically justified and economically feasible.
Visit the ILC website and learn more about joining today, and view the updated fact sheet here.
Subscribe to Better Buildings Newsletters and Emails
- Better Buildings Monthly Get-Involved
- Better Buildings Solution Center Top 10: Monthly Feature of Most Viewed Partner Solutions
- Better Buildings Beat Blog: Biweekly Email
- Better Buildings Residential Network: The View
Check out the Better Buildings Beat Blog
Follow us on Social Media
- Twitter @BetterBldgsDOE
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February
Making businesses and homes more energy efficient is a win for jobs and economic growth, operating costs and bottom lines, and the President’s commitment to reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change. That is why, today, as part of the President’s Better Buildings Program, the Administration is announcing:
- 18 utilities, serving more than 2.6 million commercial customers, will provide access to energy data building owners by 2017, the first step to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings;
- 30 cities and states and 21 organizations from across the country are committing to take new actions to make it easier to identify ways to cut energy waste by making energy data available to building owners,
- 24 cities, states, and businesses are committing to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings 20 percent by 2020; and
- Seven cities and states from across the country are committing to install more efficient outdoor lighting.
The actions announced today build on commitments made by 285 organizations representing nearly 4 billion square feet since the Administration launched the President’s Better Buildings program in 2011. The program’s mission is to partner with the Energy Department to improve energy efficiency 20 percent by 2020, and share successful strategies that maximize efficiency deployment over the next decade. These new commitments from cities, school districts, and businesses like Nike and Wendy’s will help cut waste in our buildings, saving energy and money and reducing pollution.
Sample coverage:
Webinar
Coming Soon: Better Buildings Challenge SWAP Season 1
On February 17th, the Better Buildings Challenge SWAP debuts. This three episode web series features Hilton Worldwide and Whole Foods Market as they uncover energy savings in each other's buildings - energy teams swapped! Filmed in San Francisco, CA, be sure to tune in and see how both companies learned a thing or two about saving energy.
Better Buildings Alliance 2016 Progress Update
Through the Better Buildings Alliance, members in different market sectors work with the U.S. Department of Energy's exceptional network of research and technical experts to develop and deploy innovative, cost–effective, energy–saving solutions that lead to better technologies, more profitable businesses, and better buildings in which we work, shop, eat, stay, and learn. View the 2016 Progress Update and read about program accomplishments, highlights of members in action, and plans for the current year.
Interior Lighting Campaign – Manufacturer's Guide
This webinar will help you learn how your company can partner with the Interior Lighting Campaign to speed the adoption of high efficiency troffer lighting. Learn about the role of manufacturers and distributors in the ILC, from getting the word out about the campaign and the benefits of high efficiency troffers, to making it easy for participants to identify high efficiency troffer solutions that qualify for the ILC within your product offerings.
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2016 Green Lease Leaders Application Now Available
The 2016 application period for the Green Lease Leaders recognition program is now available. The designation recognizes landlords, tenants, and brokers who have successfully used the lease to embed sustainability in the tenant/landlord relationship. View the press release for more information or visit www.greenleaseleaders.com to apply.
Interior Lighting Campaign increases goal to replace 1 million troffers by May 2016
The participants of the Interior Lighting Campaign have already surpassed the original goal of replacing 100,000 troffers with high efficiency troffer lighting systems by May 2016. Because of this initial success, the ILC Organizers have established a new goal - to replace 1 million troffers.
If you are a building owner, operator, or manager committed to energy efficiency and high quality lighting in your facilities, accomplish these goals plus gain recognition for your efforts by joining the Interior Lighting Campaign. Organizations who join the campaign as participants commit to: evaluating their facilities' troffer lighting use and adopting high efficiency troffers (e.g., LED lamps, retrofit kits, LED fixtures, and ultra–high efficiency fluorescent systems) and associated lighting controls where it is technically justified and economically feasible.
Visit the ILC website and learn more about joining today, and view the updated fact sheet here.
Home Upgrade Program Accelerator Seeks New Partners
DOE’s Better Buildings Home Upgrade Program Accelerator is looking for additional residential energy efficiency programs to help demonstrate best practices related to optimizing operations, such as adopting common data standards (e.g., HPXML) to enable streamlined data exchange. Home energy upgrade program administrators will work through this Accelerator to bring services to more homes across the country, by minimizing costs associated with managing and operating energy upgrade programs while improving overall program effectiveness.
Subscribe to Better Buildings Newsletters and Emails
- Better Buildings Monthly Get-Involved
- Better Buildings Solution Center Top 10: Monthly Feature of Most Viewed Partner Solutions
- Better Buildings Beat Blog: Biweekly Email
- Better Buildings Residential Network: The View
Check out the Better Buildings Beat Blog
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- Twitter @BetterBldgsDOE
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January
Plug into Energy Savings: Strategies and Resources for Reducing Plugload Energy Use in Your Buildings
Your plug and process loads could be a treasure trove of efficiency opportunities. Watch this webinar to learn about strategies and resources for reducing plug load energy use in your buildings with the Department of Energy's Better Buildings Initiative, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, U.S. General Services Administration and Stanford University.
Higher Learning on Interior Lighting
Come learn more about interior lighting, with a focus on troffers and how new technology can significantly reduce energy use in higher education spaces. Colleges and universities in the U.S. spend around $1.10 per square foot on electricity with lighting representing 31% of the energy usage. The presentation will cover Princeton University's recent lighting and controls upgrades, the University Financing Foundation assistance to education and research organizations with planning, development, and financing of facilities and equipment at below–market costs, and an overview of the Interior Lighting Campaign.
Find the Latest Better Buildings Residential Network Peer Exchange Call Summaries
Readers can now review summaries from the following calls:
- September 24: Audience Segmentation and Analysis Strategies for Targeted Marketing (301)
- September 24: Incorporating EE into Multifamily, Affordable Housing Rehabilitation (201)
- October 8: On-Bill Financing: Reducing Cost Barriers to Energy Efficiency Improvements (201)
- October 15: You Are My Sunshine: Integrating Residential Solar and Energy Efficiency (301)
- October 22: Programs and Contractors – Top Tips for Successful Relationships! (101)
- November 5: Baby It’s Cold Outside: Best Practices for Chilly Climes (101)
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Apply for Advanced RTU Campaign Awards!
Have you been taking care of your roof top units? Replacing with high-efficiency units? Retrofitting with advanced controls? If so, you may be due for recognition from the Advanced RTU Campaign! The Advanced RTU Campaign, co-organized by the Department of Energy, RILA, and ASHRAE, is designed to accelerate the adoption of new proven RTU technologies, and as such, encourages commercial building owners and operators to replace their old RTUs with higher efficiency units and to retrofit their RTUs with advanced controls. Building owners/managers are encouraged to join as Participants to leverage guidance documents, case studies, and technical resources to improve RTU efficiency across their portfolio. All are welcome to apply for 2016 Campaign Awards here http://www.advancedrtu.org/awards--results.html. Deadline is February 1st 2016, and winners will be announced at the PRSM National Conference on April 26th in Long Beach CA. All questions and submissions may be directed to info@advancedRTU.org.
Interior Lighting Campaign increases goal to replace 1 million troffers by May 2016
The participants of the Interior Lighting Campaign have already surpassed the original goal of replacing 100,000 troffers with high efficiency troffer lighting systems by May 2016. Because of this initial success, the ILC Organizers have established a new goal - to replace 1 million troffers.
If you are a building owner, operator, or manager committed to energy efficiency and high quality lighting in your facilities, accomplish these goals plus gain recognition for your efforts by joining the Interior Lighting Campaign. Organizations who join the campaign as participants commit to: evaluating their facilities' troffer lighting use and adopting high efficiency troffers (e.g., LED lamps, retrofit kits, LED fixtures, and ultra–high efficiency fluorescent systems) and associated lighting controls where it is technically justified and economically feasible.
Visit the ILC website and learn more about joining today, and view the updated fact sheet here.
Home Upgrade Program Accelerator Seeks New Partners
DOE’s Better Buildings Home Upgrade Program Accelerator is looking for additional residential energy efficiency programs to help demonstrate best practices related to optimizing operations, such as adopting common data standards (e.g., HPXML) to enable streamlined data exchange. Home energy upgrade program administrators will work through this Accelerator to bring services to more homes across the country, by minimizing costs associated with managing and operating energy upgrade programs while improving overall program effectiveness.
Subscribe to Better Buildings Newsletters and Emails
- Better Buildings Monthly Get-Involved
- Better Buildings Solution Center Top 10: Monthly Feature of Most Viewed Partner Solutions
- Better Buildings Beat Blog: Biweekly Email
- Better Buildings Residential Network: The View
Check out the Better Buildings Beat Blog
Follow us on Social Media
- Twitter @BetterBldgsDOE
- YouTube
December
Webinar
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Better Plants Program
Interior Lighting Campaign increases goal to replace 1 million troffers by May 2016
The participants of the Interior Lighting Campaign have already surpassed the original goal of replacing 100,000 troffers with high efficiency troffer lighting systems by May 2016. Because of this initial success, the ILC Organizers have established a new goal - to replace 1 million troffers.
If you are a building owner, operator, or manager committed to energy efficiency and high quality lighting in your facilities, accomplish these goals plus gain recognition for your efforts by joining the Interior Lighting Campaign. Organizations who join the campaign as participants commit to: evaluating their facilities' troffer lighting use and adopting high efficiency troffers (e.g., LED lamps, retrofit kits, LED fixtures, and ultra–high efficiency fluorescent systems) and associated lighting controls where it is technically justified and economically feasible.
Visit the ILC website and learn more about joining today, and view the updated fact sheet here.
Home Upgrade Program Accelerator Seeks New Partners
DOE’s Better Buildings Home Upgrade Program Accelerator is looking for additional residential energy efficiency programs to help demonstrate best practices related to optimizing operations, such as adopting common data standards (e.g., HPXML) to enable streamlined data exchange. Home energy upgrade program administrators will work through this Accelerator to bring services to more homes across the country, by minimizing costs associated with managing and operating energy upgrade programs while improving overall program effectiveness.
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November
The Energy Department’s Better Buildings Challenge program recognized Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. for its leadership in energy efficiency and 38 percent energy savings at its flagship restaurant in Atlanta. As one of the first food service partners to join the Department’s Better Buildings Challenge, Arby’s has committed to 20 percent energy savings over 10 years, across 2.7 million square feet of building space, at company-owned restaurants. Within four years, Arby’s is more than halfway to meeting its goal.
As part of the Obama Administration’s efforts to cut energy waste in the nation’s buildings, the U.S. Department of Energy recognized Placer County for its leadership in improving energy efficiency across its 5-million-square-foot portfolio of countyowned buildings and schools by 20 percent in 10 years. Through the department’s Better Buildings Challenge, the county’s showcase project, the Granlibakken conference center and resort, is expecting a 43 percent reduction in energy use and savings of up to $44,000 each year.
- U.S. Department of Energy press release
- Better Buildings Beat Blog: Placer County’s Granlibakken Conference Center and Resort Shows 43 percent energy savings
Sample coverage:
As part of the Obama Administration’s effort to cut climate-changing carbon emissions produced by the nation’s buildings and manufacturing plants, today the U.S. Department of Energy recognized General Mills, one of the world’s leading food companies, for its leadership in pursuing energy savings through innovative technologies as demonstrated in its Cedar Rapids, Iowa plant. Through the Energy Department’s Better Plants Challenge, General Mills has committed to 20 percent energy savings over 10 years in 25 manufacturing plants across the country. Altogether, the improvements at the Cedar Rapids plant are expected to save General Mills more than $4 million per year in energy costs, reducing the plant’s total energy bill by more than a third.
- U.S. Department of Energy Press Release
- Better Buildings Beat Blog: Cereal, Fruit Snacks, Frosting, and Energy, Oh My: Energy Department Undersecretary Lynn Orr Gets Behind-the-Scenes Tour of General Mills’ Cedar Rapids Plant
Sample coverage:
- The Gazette: General Mills recognized for energy savings
- Energy Manager Today: General Mills Cuts Energy Costs in Iowa, Eyes System for 14 Plants
Webinar
Industry Conference
Peer Exchange Calls
Webinar
Better Buildings is hosting an education labs session to spotlight the diversity of companies partnering with the Energy Department to set ambitious energy savings goals and share their successful strategies to cut energy waste across their portfolio of buildings. We are currently recruiting partners to join us and share their success stories, energy efficiency resources, and tips for reducing the energy footprint of their existing and/or new portfolio.
Please email Holly Carr if you are attending Greenbuild and are interested in participating or presenting in this session.
Interior Lighting Campaign increases goal to replace 1 million troffers by May 2016
The participants of the Interior Lighting Campaign have already surpassed the original goal of replacing 100,000 troffers with high efficiency troffer lighting systems by May 2016. Because of this initial success, the ILC Organizers have established a new goal - to replace 1 million troffers.
If you are a building owner, operator, or manager committed to energy efficiency and high quality lighting in your facilities, accomplish these goals plus gain recognition for your efforts by joining the Interior Lighting Campaign. Organizations who join the campaign as participants commit to: evaluating their facilities' troffer lighting use and adopting high efficiency troffers (e.g., LED lamps, retrofit kits, LED fixtures, and ultra–high efficiency fluorescent systems) and associated lighting controls where it is technically justified and economically feasible.
Visit the ILC website and learn more about joining today, and view the updated fact sheet here.
Subscribe to Better Buildings Newsletters and Emails
- Better Buildings Monthly Get-Involved
- Better Buildings Solution Center Top 10: Monthly Feature of Most Viewed Partner Solutions
- Better Buildings Beat Blog: Biweekly Email
- Better Buildings Residential Network: The View
Check out the Better Buildings Beat Blog
Follow us on Social Media
- Twitter @BetterBldgsDOE
- YouTube