Better Buildings is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) designed to improve the lives of the American people by driving leadership in energy innovation. Through Better Buildings, DOE partners with leaders in the public and private sectors… Read More »Improving Lives by Driving Leadership in Energy Innovation
Extreme weather events, exacerbated by rising temperatures, as well as mounting efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions have underscored the urgency of the climate challenge and the vital need for energy efficiency. We know that efficiency can halve emissions by… Read More »Scaling Cost-Effective Energy Efficiency
You are likely already paying for them, and you have been doing so for years. Do I have your attention yet? Take a look at your monthly utility bill and you will likely find something called a Systems Benefit Charge… Read More »Energy Incentives are a No-Brainer
When my kids were younger, the question “why” was both never-ending and very important. It was important as it helped my kids learn and it fueled their ever-inquisitive minds. As we get older, we tend to ask why less and… Read More »Why is Data important?
Energy efficiency investments are often not implemented in commercial buildings due to a combination of various factors and barriers faced by the stakeholders involved. Even for buildings that are subjected to mandatory audits or regulatory deadlines, the recommendations are often… Read More »Creating a Culture of Energy Efficiency
Expectations of buildings and places in terms of health and wellness are higher than they have ever been. The heightened expectations were already happening before COVID. The largest working generation are Millennials, and with the exception of family, Millennials value… Read More »Improved Wellbeing, Cognitive Function, and Productivity
Savings (noun) is defined as “an economy of or reduction in money, time, or another resource”. Waste (noun) is defined as ”an act or instance of using or expending something carelessly, extravagantly, or to no purpose”. While most people love… Read More »Savings or Waste – Which is More Compelling?
The greenest building isn’t necessarily the latest and greatest, highest-scoring LEED-Platinum award winner. According to the 2021 World Green Building Trends report from the U.S Green Building Council (USGBC), about half of respondents engage in green renovation/retrofit projects, with most investors engaged… Read More »Old Buildings Matter – the Green Renovation Trend Continues to Grow
The drop in the cost of “green” energy over the past fifteen years has been phenomenal. Solar power generation today costs 10% of what it did in 2009. Wind power costs less than 30%. Under certain circumstances, solar and wind… Read More »The Lowest Cost Energy Source
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) is an innovative financing tool that helps commercial building owners fund energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. It offers long-term, fixed-rate financing, covering up to 100% of project costs that are a permanent part of… Read More »Low-Cost Financing for “Green” Projects
A commercial building energy audit process is an overall analysis of the ways that a building consumes energy. Once the energy audit is conducted on the ways and where energy is consumed, the analysis focuses on identifying ways to decrease… Read More »One-off Energy Audits Are Not Enough