Better Project and Better Practice Awards | Better Buildings Initiative

Better Project and Practice Awards

The Better Project Award recognizes outstanding accomplishments at individual facilities, and the Better Practice Award recognizes the implementation of practices and procedures more broadly. Better Buildings Initiative partners can nominate their organization by downloading and completing the application form and emailing it to betterbuildings@ee.doe.gov. Nominations must be received no later than January 22, 2025. Read more about the awards in the 2025 Awards Overview.

Successful applications will address:

Innovative ways to improve energy or water efficiency, waste reduction, or decreases in greenhouse gas emissions.
Projects with significant savings and practices that can be replicated in other buildings or industrial facilities.
How the partner overcame one or more barriers to decarbonization, energy or water efficiency, or waste reduction.

Award winners will be selected using the following criteria and weighting:

Magnitude: What's the impact on the organization and the scope of the effort (e.g., a system-wide vs. equipment-replacement approach)? How much energy, emissions, water, and/or waste savings are realized by the project/practice?
Replicability: Is the project/practice easily replicable to other facilities? Have the results been shared broadly?
Innovation: How imaginative, creative, or novel is the project/practice?
Additional Benefits: What impact does the project/practice have on topics such as occupant health and wellness; safety, workforce development; community engagement; and other benefits to underserved communities?

ACCESS APPLICATIONS BELOW

Financial Innovation Awards

The Financial Innovation Award recognizes Financial Allies for deploying innovative financing solutions that go beyond standard market practices to increase efficiency. Financial Allies can apply by downloading and completing the application form and sending it to betterbuildings@ee.doe.gov with Financial Innovation in the subject line no later than January 22, 2025. Learn more in the 2025 Financial Innovation Award Overview.

Successful applications will address:

Innovative products and deal structures that financed improvements to buildings’ energy efficiency and/or reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
Projects that realized significant savings using financial products or deal structures that are replicable in other buildings, industrial facilities, or real estate portfolios.
How the Financial Ally overcame one or more barriers to decarbonization, energy or water efficiency, or waste reduction.

Past Award Winners

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

2024 Better Practice Award Winners

The Better Practice Award recognizes partners for implementing and promoting practices, principles, and procedures broadly within a portfolio or series of buildings or plants. Click the names below to learn more about each award winning practice.

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

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

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 Buildings: Better Project		Better Plants: Better Project
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

Better Buildings: Better Practice		Better Plants: Better Practice
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