Beat Blog
Over the last six months, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has been working with 38 state and local partners to identify ways to reduce monthly home energy bills for low income residents by increasing opportunities for energy efficiency and solar installations. In collaboration with the U.S.…
Better Buildings Challenge partner Knoxville, TN., hosted David Friedman, the acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy at DOE, for a two-day visit in December that included a tour of the Public Works complex.
Knoxville’s new Public Works complex is a $15 million, 45,…
For most American households, a 5-30% savings on energy bills is possible by making home energy upgrades typically identified in a home energy assessment. State and local governments, utilities, and nonprofits across the nation offer programs that allow home owners to upgrade their home to…
Better Buildings Challenge K-12 Schools partner Alachua County Public Schools (ACPS), located in northern Florida, has launched one of the country’s most innovative solar leasing programs. The feed-in tariff (FIT) program is a public-private partnership which allows private investors to lease space…
In November, the National League of Cities (NLC) hosted the annual City Summit in Pittsburgh, Pa., their largest conference for bringing city leaders together to discuss challenges, trends, and strategies. Two Better Buildings Local Government Partners, the City of Chula Vista, Calif., and the City…
Upfront costs are a major barrier to implementing energy efficiency projects. Despite demonstrated energy cost savings of at least 20-30% and the low risk nature of investments in energy efficiency, many efficiency projects do not receive the funding required for implementation. This is due, in…
The Better Buildings Summit is one of the premier forums for multifamily housing organizations to showcase proven strategies to cut energy used by the housing units comprising their buildings and facilities. At the Summit, attendees engage with more than 900 industry experts including…
Education serves as the foundation of a strong and resilient society. While educators and curriculums contribute greatly to the success of the student body, it has become progressively apparent that the built environment also has an impact on not just energy but also student performance. The power…
With over 25 school districts signed up for the Better Buildings Challenge, covering 15,000 buildings and over 225 million square feet, our partners have taken on and overcome various barriers to advancing energy goals. K-12 school districts across the country continue to face student population…
Each month we recap the most viewed solutions shared by Better Buildings partners. Check out November's Top-10 solutions below.
1. SWAP Season 2: U.S. Naval Academy vs. U.S. Air Force Academy
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) launched season two of “Better Buildings…
In the November issue of Multifamily Executive, an article on how the Better Buildings Challenge assists property owners with using data to make energy efficient choices was revealed. In the article, Better Buildings Challenge partners receive assistance with utility benchmarking and…
On October 25, the Department of Energy (DOE) visited the campus of Better Buildings Challenge partner University of California, Berkeley, to recognize the university for its leadership in energy efficiency and see their innovative efficiency projects in action.
The University…
Saving energy and reducing our amount of waste is a habit that we as future junior officers need to develop. Students at the U.S. Naval Academy represent the future of the U.S. Navy, and we have the potential to introduce a culture of conservation and awareness within the organization. Through my…
In the Air Force, energy is everything. As a civil engineering major at the Air Force Academy, I’ve come to learn how dependent we are on energy—we can’t do anything without it.
That’s why participating in the Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge SWAP was such an important opportunity…
Could harnessing America’s binge-watching habits change the world? With the launch of Season 2 of the Better Buildings Challenge SWAP we hope to find out. Touching down tomorrow, this season features two natural rivals – the U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Air Force Academy – as they swap energy teams…
Legrand North America (LNA), a Better Plants Challenge partner, is proud to announce the winners of the Best Performance in building class for the Energy Marathon 2.0. The company-wide, mega event concluded on October 28th, with the selection of winners in each of the three building class category…
Zero energy design and construction has become a key strategy in working towards energy independence and resilience for American cities. Building to zero energy specifications has emerged in recent years as a viable solution to meet the built environment needs of a growing global population, which…
Today, more than ever, our economy runs on computing power. Even Black Friday is being supplanted by Cyber Monday. While the internet, mobile phones, and other connected devices make our lives easier in so many ways, there is a downside. Processing, storing, and distributing this electronic data…
A primary concern when shopping for or comparing cars is knowing the fuel economy. What kind of performance can you expect to get out of your vehicle? How does it compare to other vehicles? What’s the monthly impact on your pocketbook?
The same goes for homes because owners and renters want to…
A vital component of the development of an energy-efficient, sustainable building stock is the availability of highly skilled professionals to assist in its development. As energy-efficient technologies and strategies become more advanced it is imperative to have a workforce that is capable of…