Better Buildings Challenge: Newsroom
| Nov 30, 2016 |
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today launched season two of “Better Buildings Challenge SWAP,” featuring the U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Air Force Academy. Both military operations swap energy teams to improve the energy efficiency of each one’s campus. The web series covers a two-day swap at each campus. The teams learn from each other that they can apply simple behavioral changes to help students and faculty be more mindful about lighting usage and plug loads in classrooms when not in use.
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| Oct 25, 2016 |
The Energy Department’s Better Buildings Challenge program recognized University of California, Berkeley for its leadership in energy efficiency. The University achieved 65 percent energy savings at its Jacobs Hall facility, the College of Engineering’s interdisciplinary hub where students and teachers from across the university work at the intersection of design and technology. Through its Energy Management Initiative (EMI)—an innovative approach to linking energy costs to building occupants—UC Berkeley has achieved campus-wide energy savings of $6.5 million and now has a practice in place to help benchmark energy performance in its buildings. |
| Oct 04, 2016 |
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. |
| Aug 29, 2016 |
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.
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| May 26, 2016 |
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.
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| May 11, 2016 |
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
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| May 09, 2016 |
The U.S. Department of Energy announced the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE) Certified Energy Auditor® (CEA) program is recognized under the Better Buildings Workforce Guidelines (BBWG) program, making it the first energy auditor program to earn BBWG Recognition. The Better Buildings Workforce Guidelines are a national framework from which organizations can develop high-quality and nationally-recognized training and certification programs, helping to address consistency, quality, and scalability issues in the commercial energy efficiency workforce. |
| Feb 25, 2016 |
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. |  |
| Feb 24, 2016 |
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. |  |
| Feb 17, 2016 |
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:
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| Oct 29, 2015 |
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. |
| Oct 22, 2015 |
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.
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| Oct 13, 2015 |
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.
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| Sep 30, 2015 |
Today, the Energy Department announced that manufacturers in its Better Buildings, Better Plants Program have racked up an estimated $2.4 billion in cumulative energy cost savings over the last five years. Over the last year, 21 new industrial partners joined the Better Plants program, including 12 water and wastewater treatment agencies — part of a strategic expansion to increase energy efficiency across the nation’s water infrastructure. Close to 160 industrial organizations representing more than 2,400 facilities are partnering with the Energy Department through Better Plants. Together, these partners consume about 2.2 quadrillion BTUs of energy, which is approximately 11.4 percent of the U.S. manufacturing sector’s total use, or about the same as the state of Tennessee’s annual energy consumption. The Department also announced that nine partners have met their energy efficiency targets this year. Sample coverage:
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| Aug 12, 2015 |
The Energy Department recognized Arizona’s Dysart Unified School District (USD) for increasing the use of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies at 25 schools. Through the Department’s Better Buildings Challenge, Dysart USD has committed to 20 percent energy savings over 10 years, spanning more than three million square feet of building space. The district has already achieved 10 percent energy savings since 2011, and its Better Buildings Challenge showcase project, Kingswood Elementary School, has achieved 16 percent energy savings. Officials from the Energy Department and the school district toured the showcase project, now equipped with rooftop solar panels generating 469 kilowatts (kW) annually, and advanced chillers to cool the building. Sample coverage:
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| May 27, 2015 |
As part of the Administration's effort to advance energy efficiency and combat the harmful effects of climate change, Better Buildings Challenge partners have cut energy waste by 94 TBTUS since President Obama first launched the challenge in 2011. The energy savings announced today have saved partners a total of $840 million dollars in energy costs and avoided 6 million tons of harmful carbon emissions, equivalent to cutting the emissions of 1 million cars. To continue this progress, the Energy Department is expanding the Better Buildings Challenge to include water savings goals and is also calling on existing partners to recruit one new partner and, in effect, double down on Better Buildings. Sample coverage:
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| Apr 15, 2015 |
Today the Energy Department recognized San Antonio area partners for their leadership in advancing energy efficiency. Through the Better Buildings Challenge, the San Antonio Housing Authority (SAHA) and Macy’s have committed to reducing their energy use by 20 percent across their entire respective building portfolios by 2020. SAHA is committed to improving the efficiency of 1.5 million square feet of multifamily housing and Macy’s is committed to improving over 170 million square feet of commercial buildings nationwide. Today Kathleen Hogan, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency, U.S. Department of Energy, met with city officials and toured two Better Buildings Challenge showcase projects including SAHA’s Marie McGuire Lofts property boasting ten percent expected energy savings, and Macy’s Ingram Park Mall store with actual energy savings greater than 40%. Sample coverage: |
| Apr 14, 2015 |
Today the Energy Department recognized the city of Fort Worth for its leadership in advancing energy efficiency. Through the Better Buildings Challenge, Fort Worth has achieved eight percent energy savings across 19 million square feet of public and private sector buildings since 2009. The city is on-track to meet a ten year goal to improve energy use by 20 percent by 2020. Municipal facilities in the program alone will have achieved energy and water savings, totaling $65 million dollars over the next ten years. Sample coverage: |
| Apr 03, 2015 |
The White House announced today that Salt Lake City, one of the Climate Action Champions, is spearheading solar development in Utah, including a 1 megawatt solar farm and a state-of-the art net-zero public safety building. The combined impact of these projects will reduce CO2 emissions Salt Lake City’s from municipal operations by three million pounds per year. To further decrease emissions, Salt Lake City also announced it will join the President’s Better Building Challenge today, committing to improve the energy efficiency of 1.6 million square feet of public and private buildings across the city over the next decade. Sample coverage:
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| Mar 23, 2015 |
As part of the Administration’s effort to cut energy waste in the nation’s buildings, the Energy Department today recognized its Cleveland area partners for their leadership in saving energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Through the Better Buildings Challenge, Cleveland partners including the city of Cleveland, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, the Cuyahoga Housing Authority and Forest City Enterprises are committed to reducing their energy use by 20 percent across their entire building portfolios over the next decade. By making energy efficiency upgrades to facilities across the city and demonstrating practices that can be replicated in the future, these partners are helping to save money and energy, while also making the city more sustainable for future generations. Sample coverage:
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| Jan 29, 2015 |
Building on President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, the Energy Department announced today that more than 20 new partners have committed to improving energy efficiency across their respective building portfolios by 20 percent over the next ten years. These new partners, including the 6 multifamily partners announced by the White House earlier today, bring with them fresh perspectives, representing over 50 million square feet of fast-food, restaurant, manufacturing, university, and government office space. As leaders in energy efficiency, partners will work with the Department to share their successful efficiency strategies and help pave the way for other organizations to follow.
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| Jan 27, 2015 |
The U.S. Department of Energy today recognized the City of Roanoke, VA for its leadership in energy efficiency. As a Partner in the US Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge, the city is showcasing its commitment by the upgrades it has completed at the Berglund Center. This 390,000 square-foot entertainment and convention center is expected to achieve energy reductions of 30 percent, saving the city $180,000 annually. Cooling costs were reduced by 50 percent through the installation of a highly efficient cooling system, and the city also upgraded to high efficiency lighting throughout the facility and created innovative strategies such as controlling lighting by zones. Through the Better Buildings Challenge, Roanoke is committed to a 20 percent reduction in energy intensity by 2020 across more than 25 buildings, covering 1 million square feet. Roanoke has already achieved a 16 percent reduction in overall energy consumption since 2009. Sample coverage: |
| Nov 06, 2014 |
The U.S. Department of Energy today recognized Cummins for demonstrating leadership in reducing energy consumption and costs at its Jamestown Engine Plant. The plant is a Better Buildings, Better Plants Challenge showcase project, and features multi-million dollar energy-saving infrastructure upgrades and a new, 2 megawatt solar installation, capable of generating about a third of the plant’s power on the sunniest days. The efficiency improvements made to this site will result in an estimated 250 billion BTUs in energy savings—translating into $1.4 million in annual savings. Cummins has committed to a 25 percent reduction in energy intensity by 2016 across 104 facilities, including 19 plants, covering eight million square feet. It has already achieved its goal with a cumulative reduction of 34 percent, and plans to announce a new energy efficiency target soon. Sample coverage: |
| Oct 07, 2014 |
The U.S. Department of Energy today recognized the cities of Beaverton and Hillsboro, and Portland Public Schools (PPS), for their leadership in reducing energy use, and for showcasing their innovations and successful strategies for other state and local government leaders to follow. These Better Buildings Challenge Partners combined have committed to reduce the energy use of ten million square feet of building space, including libraries, schools and other public facilities, by 20 percent over the next decade. At the Beaverton City Library, where these Partners were recognized, the city expects annual savings greater than $20,000. Sample coverage: |
| Sep 30, 2014 |
The U.S. Department of Energy today expanded the Better Buildings Challenge to include data centers. Data centers consumed about 100 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity in the U.S last year and that number is expected to grow as more information is shared and stored online. Nineteen leading organizations have committed to either improve the energy efficiency of a portfolio of data centers by at least 20% within 10 years, or to improve the energy efficiency of a single data center of 100 kW or greater by at least 25% within 5 years. With the expansion, DOE is focused on improving efficiency of infrastructure (cooling, power supply losses) to complement the installation of emerging IT systems or technologies.
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| Sep 18, 2014 |
The White House announces that 28 new state, city, multifamily housing, retailer, commercial real estate, and manufacturing organizations are joining as Partners in the President’s Better Buildings Challenge. These organizations are committing to improving the energy efficiency of more than 400 million square feet of additional floor space, an area the size of more than 7,000 football fields, by at least 20 percent in the next decade. Sample coverage: |
| Sep 04, 2014 |
The U.S. Department of Energy recognized the University of Utah for its leadership in energy efficiency and for reducing energy use by 40 percent in a historic campus building, saving the university $57,000 a year. Energy savings captured in the 42-year-old Dumke Health Professions Education Building is helping the university stay on track to meet its portfolio-wide energy reduction goal of 20 percent by 2020 across 13 million square feet of building space. The university will continue to fund efforts like this through its Energy Management Fund, which uses the savings from energy efficiency projects to continually reinvest in future projects. |
| Jun 20, 2014 |
The U.S. Department of Energy recognized Atlanta for its progress and leadership in meeting a citywide goal to improve the energy performance of its buildings by 20% by 2020. Through the Better Buildings Challenge, Atlanta is engaging local business leaders, building owners and operators and other organizations to increase energy and water efficiency across more than 50 million square feet of building space, achieving over 9% energy savings since 2011. As the city makes improvements across its building portfolio including offices, hospitals, and sports arenas, it is sharing these achievements more broadly with others and fostering competition and collaboration among businesses and organizations looking for innovative and cost-effective ways to make energy efficiency improvements of their own. |
| Apr 01, 2014 |
The Department of Energy today recognized Volvo Group North America for its leadership in energy efficiency at the New River Valley assembly plant near Roanoke, Va. As a Better Buildings, Better Plants partner, the Volvo Group has already achieved 16 percent savings across its U.S. plants and continues working toward its goal of becoming 25 percent more energy efficient within ten years. |
| Mar 13, 2014 |
The U.S. Department of Energy today recognized Staples for its leadership in energy efficiency at one of its facilities near Dallas, Texas. As part of their participation in the Better Buildings Challenge, Staples is conducting retrofits in facilities across the United States. At their showcase project, the Coppell Fulfillment Center, Staples deployed an “Eco-Treasure Hunt” program that identified ways to save energy in the 245,000 square foot warehouse building, which is fully air conditioned and operates 90 hours each week. Staples implemented a host of energy efficiency measures in its fulfillment centers, including the use of advanced lighting technologies such as LEDs in loading docks and large fans to keep employees comfortable and increase productivity. |
| Jan 29, 2014 |
The U.S. Department of Energy is recognizing the city of Los Angeles for its leadership in the Better Buildings Challenge. Los Angeles has pledged to reduce the energy intensity for 30 million square feet of city-owned and private buildings by 20 percent by 2020. One of the city’s biggest energy efficiency wins is the historic Central Library, an icon in downtown Los Angeles since 1926. Through the Challenge, Los Angeles has retrofitted the library, including replacing an aging roof with a cool roof, updating the HVAC system and replacing old lighting with new, energy-efficient bulbs. |
| Nov 06, 2013 |
The Department of Energy is recognizing the city of Milwaukee, Wis. for its leadership in energy efficiency. As part of the Better Buildings Challenge, Milwaukee has retrofitted the Milwaukee Central Library, including surveying and repairing dozens of steam traps in the basement to help cut energy waste and replacing old lighting with new, energy-efficient bulbs throughout the building. As a result of these upgrades, the Milwaukee Central Library is on track to save about $47,000 in energy costs per year. Sample Media Coverage: |
| Jun 25, 2013 |
The Department of Energy, working with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), will partner with leading private and affordable buildings owners and public housing agencies to cut energy waste. |
| May 22, 2013 |
The Department of Energy is recognizing its Better Buildings Challenge Partners and Allies for the first year's progress, which shows they are on track to meet President Obama's goal to reduce by 20% the energy intensity in the commercial and industrial sectors by 2020. The recently released Progress Update – Spring 2013 summarizes the significant energy efficiency gains being made by the market leaders who have taken the Better Buildings Challenge. |
| Apr 17, 2013 |
The Department of Energy is touring Nissan’s Better Buildings Challenge showcase facility in Smyrna, TN to recognize the cost savings possible for manufacturing facilities that adopt energy efficiency measures and upgrades. Nissan’s Smyrna paint plant opened on Jan. 22, 2013 and is projected to cut energy use by almost a third compared to its predecessor. |
| Feb 21, 2013 |
These organizations are committing to reduce energy in more than 200 million square feet of commercial space combined. |
| Dec 06, 2012 |
More than 60 Better Buildings Challenge Partners and Allies met with Senior Administration and Department of Energy officials in Washington D.C. to discuss progress of the Better Buildings Initiative and share the broad array of implementation models and solutions offered by Better Buildings Challenge Partners in the program’s first year. Round table sessions also provided a forum for discussion and learning among business leaders on a wide range of cross market activities. At the event, the Department of Energy released the 2012 Better Buildings Progress Report, which provides an update of the key strategies the Administration is using to overcome the barriers to energy efficiency, highlights the success of leading organizations in the Better Buildings Challenge, and shares the future plans for Better Buildings—providing a framework for meeting the goal of 20 percent savings by 2020. |
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