Better Project and Better Practice Awards | Better Buildings & Better Plants Initiative

Better Project and Practice Awards

The Better Project Awards recognize outstanding accomplishments at individual facilities, and the Better Practice Awards recognize the implementation of practices and procedures within a portfolio or series of buildings or plants.

Award winners are selected using the following criteria:

Critical Benefits: What impact does the effort have on topics such as organizational competitiveness, productivity, energy reliability, cost reduction, safety, and/or quality of life?
Innovation: How imaginative, creative, or novel is the project?
Magnitude: What is the impact on the organization and the scope of the effort (e.g., a system-wide vs. equipment-replacement approach)? How much energy, water, and/or waste savings are realized by the project?
Replicability: Is the project easily replicable to other facilities? Have the results been shared broadly?

Financial Innovation Awards

The Financial Innovation Awards recognize active Financial Allies deploying innovative financing solutions that go beyond standard market practices to improve energy efficiency, water efficiency, and/or waste reduction.

Award winners are selected using the following criteria for the innovative product or service offered by the Financial Ally:

Directly enable energy efficiency, water efficiency, and/or waste reduction, in a new or innovative way that goes beyond standard market practices.
Focus on efficiency or waste reduction in marketing and/or value proposition.
Demonstrate scalable and replicable solutions that can be adopted by others.
Have a demonstrated track record of at least one (1) completed project.
Commit to develop a case study that describes the approach in detail (to be developed with DOE).

2026 Better Practice Award Winners

The Better Practice Award recognizes the implementation of practices and procedures more broadly. Click the names below to learn more about each award-winning practice.

	Chula Vista, CA Standardized the use of water heater retrofits, achieving more than $14,000 in estimated annual energy savings		San Luis Obispo County Airport Implemented a zero-cost waste diversion program to recapture unused supplies, benefitting a local nonprofit
	Conagra Brands, Inc. Piloted an AI program to detect compressed air and steam leaks, thermal hot spots, and equipment anomalies		Schneider Electric Transformed excess inventory into usable resources, generating $1.2 million in value in nine months
	Eastman Unified process energy optimization and technology-led ideation to identify low- and no-cost energy savings		Sika Corporation Engaged over a dozen suppliers to deliver packaging solutions that reduce energy intensity and waste
	Flowers Foods, Inc. Created a connected water management system that delivered $365,000 in water-related cost savings		SumiRiko Tennessee, Inc. Implemented IoT-enabled monitoring and optimized machine scheduling to unify operations and reduce energy use
	Marriott International Deployed an AI tool that simplifies energy decisions and evidence collection to identify savings opportunities		The Chemours Company Redesigned packaging for pigment products, reducing waste by 130 tons annually and packaging weight by 33%
	Niagara Bottling Scaled waste reduction across 54 sites, achieving 98% waste diversion in 2025		The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company Improved steam and compressed air performance across 23 sites, saving approximately $25 million in 2025
	RTX Deployed 34 water-saving actions across 114 sites to save more than 190 million gallons of water annually		The Sherwin-Williams Company Developed an application to find ideal rinse water amounts during batch changeovers, saving $500,000
	RXR Realty Energy management program identified over 400,000 MMBtu in energy savings and heat recovery opportunities		Weatherford US, LP Developed data-driven energy strategy framework that delivered 15 GWh of global energy abatement

2026 Better Project Award Winners

The Better Project Award recognizes outstanding accomplishments at individual facilities. Click on the names below to learn more about each award-winning project.

	ABB Inc. Modernized 20 injection molding processes, avoiding nearly $255,000 in energy costs in 2025		Niagara Bottling AI-enabled compressed air monitoring system enabled $800,000 in savings in one year
	Arlington County, VA Constructed a new operations and maintenance facility that reduced annual energy costs by more than 80%		OxyChem Installed membrane chlor-alkali electrolyzer technology, expected to save 97,000 MWh and $18 million annually
	AvalonBay Communities Piloted an energy management initiative that saved over $540,000 in gas and electric utility costs since 2022		Pace University Modernized flagship campus building, now expected to avoid more than $1.8 million in energy costs
	Bard College Constructed four residence halls reducing estimated annual energy use by 47%		Rexford Industrial Realty, Inc. Modernized an aging warehouse, achieving over 60% in site energy savings and reducing water use by over 45%
	BXP Retrofitted a property with heat recovery technology, improving energy performance without tenant disruption		RiseBoro Community Partnership Delivered the first modular building designed to passive house standards, saving $800,000
	Christopher Newport University Implemented energy savings measures at McMurran Hall, reducing the building's energy use by 20%		Sika Corporation Avoided more than $320,000 in material loss and disposal costs through material reclaim program
	City of Grand Rapids Water Resource Recovery Facility Implemented a phosphorus recovery system, avoiding over $550,000 in costs		Textron, Inc. Automated rinse tank water flow using conductivity probes and valves, delivering $905,000 in annual savings
	Conagra Brands, Inc. Integrated flash energy recovery and closed-loop condensate return, saving nearly $170,000 in energy annually		The Chemours Company Zero-capital automated standby logic project cut waste steam per unit by nearly 98%
	Entegris Replaced liquid nitrogen cooling with immersion chillers and vapor traps, saving $28,000 annually		Toyota Motor North America, Inc. Converted paint booth air supply to pre-tempered building air, reducing annual shop energy costs by over 80%
	Fairfax County Park Authority Modernized and upgraded a recreation center, guaranteed to save over 360,000 kWh annually		University of Virginia Renovated an existing laboratory, reducing annual energy costs by $1.1 million and energy use by 30%
	General Mills Smart target dashboard enabled realtime monitoring, reducing utility expenses by approximately $500,000		Volvo Group North America Machining line upgrade reduced energy intensity by over 50% and delivered $113,000 in annual energy savings
	KYB Americas Corporation Installed 14 modular switch-mode power supply units, delivering over $490,000 in annual profit improvements		Vornado Realty Trust Piloted an AI solution that identified 12,000 MMBtu in potential annual energy savings, equal to $398,000
	Metal Technologies, Inc. Upgraded ladle preheating system for iron casting production, avoiding over 200,000 kWh of annual energy use

2026 Financial Innovation Award Winners

The Financial Innovation Award recognizes Financial Allies for deploying innovative financing solutions that go beyond standard market practices to increase efficiency. Click on the names below to learn more about the winning solutions.

	Counterpointe SRE Closed New York City’s first C-PACE new construction financing, creating a framework for future projects		PACE Equity Finance In-house engineering team works with developers and designers to identify and implement energy saving measures
	Nuveen Green Capital Completed a C-PACE transaction to convert a vacant building into 532 apartments, including 61 affordable units		Renew Energy Partners Deployed a heat and power-as-a-service offering that unlocked energy use reductions with no upfront cost
	NYCEEC Launched a loan product for multifamily properties, enabling owners to implement single-transaction upgrades

Past Award Winners

See last year's Better Practice, Better Project Award Winners below.

2025 Better Practice Award Winners

Alexandria, VA Reduced energy use by 14%, lowered costs, and improved resilience through city building efficiency program	Town of Manchester, CT Leveraged multiple funding streams to upgrade schools, resulting in annual utility savings of $150,000
Avient Corporation Reduced waste to landfill volume by over 25% since 2023 driven by Annual Incentive Plan	Mutual Housing California Factory-built housing units will improve efficiency, lower construction costs, and accelerate timelines
Carnival Corporation Achieved $40 million in annual energy cost savings through standardized approach to energy efficiency improvements	Nestlé Purina Deployed robotic solution in predictive maintenance program to capture energy savings and improve efficiency
Celanese Corporation Centralized digitalization platform enables $265,000 in annual savings while improving staff efficiency	Nissan North America Ultrasonic meters helped reduce compressed air leakage rate by 30% and peak demand by 27% at Tennessee plant
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Data-driven asset management system for equipment upgrades and replacements helped reduce emissions by 19%	Saint-Gobain Corporation Piloted replicable energy management system across four sites to empower employees to support efficiency work
EnerSys $20 million Green Revolving Fund finances efficiency projects and reinvests savings	Schneider Electric Standardized Building Management Systems across 50 sites estimated to save more than 1 million kWh of energy
Frito-Lay Inc Preventative spray nozzle maintenance program to save 400 million gallons of fresh water in five years	Sherwin-Williams Incentivized auxiliary power unit use across trucking fleet, reducing idle time and saving over $1 million
Howard Hughes Holdings Implemented real-time energy optimization, resulting in $173,000 in annual energy cost savings	Sika Corporation Pilot program reduced water use by 54%, saving $93,000 and laying groundwork for future implementations
Link Logistics Landlord-customer partnership program reduces tenants' annual utility costs by $0.16 per square foot	Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation Achieved 27% reduction in water use, saving over $770,000 annually in water bills across 33 properties
Loudoun County Public Schools Energy Savings Performance Contract enabled $300 million in school improvements across 100 facilities	The University of Kansas Health System Leveraged utility bill benchmarking for retrocommissioning efforts, yielding up to 42% savings
Marriott International Saved $28 million in costs across 2,200 hotels through comprehensive efficiency improvements scorecard	Weatherford US, LP Deployed data-driven intelligence dashboards to improve communications and inform decision making

2025 Better Project Award Winners

Atlantic Health System Combined heat and power system supplies 70% of hospital electricity, saving up to $4.2 million annually	Holcim U.S. Water management project enables net-zero freshwater use, laying the groundwork for future applications
Bard College Geothermal conversion at campus library reduces energy use by 38% and emissions by 64%	Hudson Pacific Properties First existing office building to achieve Living Building Challenge certification reduces energy use by 28%
Boardman Foods Reduced compressed air demand by 70% through new equipment and automated controls in onion peeling process	IKEA Retail U.S. Electric heat pumps, building automation, and enhanced insulation improve efficiency at two retail stores
Boston Medical Center Clean Power Prescription program provides 80 homes with energy bill credits through solar array installation	Intralox Prevented over 600,000 pounds of plastic waste by using recycled materials to create injection molded parts
Bristol-Myers Squibb Chiller plant optimization expected to save $750,000 per year and reduce annual emissions by 2,700 MTCO₂e	Niagara Bottling, LLC On- and off-site renewable energy reduces annual emissions by more than 80,000 MTCO₂e
Charter Steel 15 MW solar installation to generate over 27 million kWh annually and reduce emissions by nearly 12,000 MTCO₂e	Occidental Chemical Corporation Diverted vented hydrogen displaced natural gas consumption, reducing emissions by 3,200 MTCO₂e in 2024
The Chemours Company Total organic carbon analyzers drive over $520,000 in annual cost savings at Corpus Christi, TX facility	PaperWorks Industries Cut annual city water use by 15 million gallons and energy use by 10,000 MMBtu with water reclamation system
Emerson Building management system cut annual costs by $127,000 and mitigated 9% of site’s emissions footprint	Schneider Electric Waste heat recovery to reduce steam consumption by approximately 90% and Scope 1 emissions by 300 tons
EnerSys Cut energy costs by $250,000 and emissions by 1,900 MTCO₂e annually through collaborative efficiency program	Siemens All-electric paint line eliminated natural gas in painting operation, reducing annual emissions by 80%
Fairfax County, VA Extensive energy retrofit integrating multiple renewables and projected to reduce annual emissions by 36%	Sika Corporation Quality control automation reduces plant's energy consumption by 7% while improving production efficiency
General Motors Saved more than 120 million gallons of water annually with reverse osmosis system at Fort Wayne, IN facility	Stoneweg Reduced water use by 25% and natural gas use by nearly 18% at multifamily property
Gundersen by Emplify New 100% electrified clinic features geothermal and solar systems, reducing costs and enhancing patient care	Toyota Motor North America, Inc. Tri-gen facility enables hydrogen-powered vehicle use via renewable energy, hydrogen, and water generation

2025 Financial Innovation Award Winners

The Community Preservation Corporation - Climate Friendly Homes Fund (CFHF) $250 million initiative to finance efficiency measures across at least 10,000 units of multifamily housing	Nuveen Green Capital Financed efficiency upgrades for historic building, projected to save 21,000 MTCO₂e
The Community Preservation Corporation - Innovative Stacking Provided $137 million in financing for rehabilitation, renovation, and construction of multifamily properties	PACE Equity "CIRRUS Zero Carbon" financed projects to date expected to reduce emissions by nearly 96,000 MTCO2e
Kyotherm Leveraged replicable financing framework to enable energy use reductions without capital expenditures	Renew Energy Partners Turnkey financial solution enabled central plant upgrade at New York City hotel with long-term energy savings
Metrus Energy Provided financing to improve efficiency across 56 facilities, saving $15 million in annual energy costs	Triple Bottom Line Foundation Enabled solar installations at eight multifamily buildings, covering 100% of residents' energy use
New York Energy Efficiency Corporation $8 million loan for construction of 13.66 MW solar project bridges critical funding gap

2025 Award Winners

2024 Better Practice Award Winners

Better Buildings

Marriott International Implemented Climate Action Program for net-zero emissions, targeting climate risks and sustainable growth in 8,300+ hotels	The University of Alabama at Birmingham Prevented 685+ MTCO₂e through efficient freezer fleet operations and waste reduction software
MGM Resorts International Cut Las Vegas properties’ Scope 2 emissions by 41%, with a 323,000-panel solar farm	University of Virginia Green building standards require new construction and major renovations to be 40% more efficient than similar buildings
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction (ODRC) Increased energy, water, and waste efficiency through programs that train and engage incarcerated individuals	Vornado Realty Trust Implemented organics collection in 100% of in-service office portfolio, achieving 64% diversion, preventing 1,691 tons of food waste, and avoiding 14,887 MTCO₂e
San Diego, CA Implemented zero emissions policy and electrification planning for city buildings to meet climate action targets	The Wendy’s Company Energy Challenge program quadruples franchisee participation, achieving 14% energy use reduction per square feet and enabling cost savings

Better Plants

General Mills Reduced emissions at 12 major sites by 45,000+ MTCO₂e and utility costs by $8 million with no upfront cost using an energy efficiency as a service contract	Texas Instruments, Inc. Saved $5.3 million a year, reducing emissions by 27,000 MTCO₂e, by implementing an LED Roadmap
OxyChem Teamed with Industrial Assessment Centers from local universities to perform energy audits at local elementary schools	The Chemours Company Reduced energy intensity by 3.5% after launching a company-wide energy efficiency bonus metric
Stellantis Saved over 2.8 million kWh in two months by implementing Energy Treasure Hunt surveys more quickly and at a higher rate	Toyota Motor North America, Inc. Dealership Environmental Excellence Program resulted in savings of $40,000+ by cutting energy use by 17% and water use by 23%

2024 Better Project Award Winners

Better Buildings

Colorado State University Halved energy use at athletic complex with new ground source heat pump for heating and cooling	Pace University Uses 60% less energy in new mixed-use hub through sustainable design with efficient HVAC, and advanced lighting
Centersquare Optimized data center cooling system by improving airflow and water temperature, saving over $100,000 annually	River Trails School District 26 Renovated 1960s school uses up to 60% less energy than conventional buildings and meets net zero energy building requirements
New York City Housing Authority Leveraged passive house design, solar energy, and high-efficiency appliances in new affordable housing that also provides tenant support and workforce training	RXR Realty Achieved $1 million in energy savings via audits, system mapping, and improved heating/cooling system controls

Better Plants

3M Cut steam use by 85,000+ Mlbs and emissions by 4,000+ MTCO₂e with a wireless monitoring and communication system on 1,200 traps	Intralox Reduced the amount of waste produced in a highly utilized mold by over 60%, by modifying the existing mold with new technology.
The Chemours Company Achieved over $1 million in annual savings on waste disposal costs by employing a distillation column	Nestlé Health Science Wisconsin nutritional drink factory saved 26+ million gallons of water annually with a reverse osmosis system
EnerSys Reduced annual energy consumption at select plants by 20% after eliminating energy-intensive lead melting process while improving worker safety	Nissan North America Reduced air compressor electricity usage by 24% with an automated control system to increase system efficiency
PepsiCo Foods North America Reduced 420 MTCO₂e a year, 8% of the plant’s annual GHG emissions, by installing air-cooled compressors and adding heat recovery systems	The Sherwin-Williams Company Completed onsite solar project with rooftop and carport arrays, reducing plant’s carbon emissions by 680 MTCO₂e annually
FMC Corporation Multi-stage cooling tower project improved energy efficiency by 75% and cut water use by 25%	Trane Technologies Reduced annual water use by 53 million gallons using thermal energy storage, heat pump technology, and more
General Motors Eliminated steam use and reduced carbon emissions by 30% with a CHP solution	Volvo Group North America Powertrain facility cut GHG emissions by 14% using renewable diesel (HVO100) for engine testing
HNI Corporation Reduced natural gas consumption of paint ovens by up to 30% with new air curtains designed in-house	Waupaca Foundry, Inc. Saved 1,600+ MTCO₂e annually with “Smart Controls” for exhaust fans, improving workplace conditions and reducing gas usage

2024 Climate Finance Innovation Award Winners

BlocPower Financed over $850,000 for upgrades saving 400,000+ kBtu/year in a historic building housing LMI tenants	RENEW Energy Partners Braided finance and incentives to enable a microchip manufacturer to install a Trigeneration system, reducing carbon emissions by 1,800 MT annually
Ecosave, Inc. Financed over $6 million of building improvements at three senior living facilities, reducing energy costs by 30%+ over 15 years	Skyven Technologies Provided $9 million of braided private-public financing for upgrades at food processing sites saving 7,000 MTCO₂e annually
New York City Energy Efficiency Corporation (NYCEEC) Provided a $90,000 predevelopment loan to rehabilitate three residential buildings, estimated to save 3,900,000+ kBtu/year	Triple Bottom Line Foundation (TBL Fund) Financed over $1.5 million of building improvements at three HUD sites saving 1.4 Mlbs of carbon emissions annually
PACE Equity Provided $11 million of C-PACE financing to redevelop a property with a projected 20,000 MT lifetime carbon emissions reduction

2024 Award Winners

2023 Better Project Award Winners
Columbia Association Conversion to dual fuel heat pumps reduces natural gas consumption by about 70%		ABB A full capture system for sulfur hexafluoride emissions lowers ABB’s carbon footprint by 16%
Credit Human New 12-story headquarters building is nearly 65% more efficient than comparable buildings		Bendix Commercial Vehicle Systems Wastewater recovery system for washing operations achieves Zero Discharge status
Empire State Realty Trust A long-term plan for carbon and energy reduction at the Empire State Building		The Chemours Company Boiler optimization reduces emissions by more than 1,200 MTCO₂e per year
Foundation Communities Low-Income studio homes with a 180kW solar array and various efficiency measures		Cummins A 3.62 MW solar farm at the Rocky Mount Engine Plant reduces site electricity consumption by 6%
Mercy Housing A replicable case study for detecting water leaks through sensors and real-time monitoring		Hewlett Packard Enterprise CHP power plant reduces annual energy costs by over $2 million and improves resiliency
Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Three-year facility project to cut emissions while reducing waste and energy and water use		Ingersoll Rand Die casting water reduction project reduces absolute water consumption by more than 23%
RiseBoro Community Partnership Affordable senior housing facility designed to the Passive House Standard		KYB Americas Corporation A new centralized chilled water system reduces annual energy use by 2.1 million kWh
Town of Southampton, NY Town Hall sustainability improvements reduce emissions by more than 210 MTCO₂e per year		Nestlé USA Electrochemical water treatment technology saves energy and water, and reduces use of chemicals
		Saint-Gobain A customized smart EMS contextualizes energy used per product SKU number

2023 Better Practice Award Winners
Allina Health Asset exchange platform reduces waste going to the landfill or incinerator		3M Converting to lithium-ion powered industrial vehicles to realize energy and emissions reductions
Atlanta Housing Authority A rent boost for landlords addresses the split incentive problem in low-income housing		AT&T Energy and building management solution manages over 240 million data points each day
Empire State Realty Trust Decarbonization plan that addresses water and waste reduction while prioritizing occupant health		The Chemours Company A roadmap to reduce fluorinated organic compound process emissions by 99% by 2030
Lendlease Energy solutions reduce average gross annual utility costs by nearly $20 million in two Hawaii communities spanning 10,000+ military homes		Eastman Chemical Company An organizational structure integrates the energy management and sustainability teams
Los Angeles Unified School District A pathway for achieving 100% clean renewable energy in all energy sectors by 2040		EnerSys A program to facilitate organizational change by fostering employee-driven opportunities
Louisville, KY Energy management program has saved more than $1.5 million since 2019		General Motors A self-paced Energy Treasure Map supplier program to achieve energy and water reduction
Maine Department of Corrections Portfolio-wide carbon reduction initiative includes pursuing 50001 Ready recognition at all facilities		The Sherwin-Williams Company Sustainability challenge engages early talent to drive energy and waste reduction
Pace University Coordinated energy management strategy reduced annual energy usage by nearly 20%		Steelcase, Inc. Step-by-step guidance to reduce manufacturing scrap waste and increase efficiency
University of Virginia Sustainable Labs Program decreases CO₂e by more than 20% in energy-intensive lab buildings		Stryker An Energy Playbook to drive a pipeline of future energy and emissions-reduction projects
Village of Montour Falls, NY Solid waste reduction and diversion strategies prevent waste and sludge from entering landfills

See Better Project and Better Practice Award winners prior to 2023 here.

2023 Award Winners