The retail, food service, and grocery sectors spend over $41 billion on energy costs a year and represent 14 billion square feet of floor space in the U.S. (CBECS 2012). Better Buildings sector partners represent 2 billion square feet of that floor space and have saved nearly $3 billion since 2011. Through their engagement with the program, these organizations share tips and strategies for overcoming energy-efficiency barriers and meeting their organization’s energy use reduction goals.
The Better Buildings & Better Plants Initiative’s 2025 Progress Update highlights progress from more than 650 partners and introduces the 2025 Goal Achievers.
Partners across the commercial, public, industrial, and multifamily sectors are working with the U.S. Department of Energy to share successful water reduction solutions and progress, network with peers, receive technical assistance, and more.
Watch all previously recorded webinars in the On-Demand Webinars library sorted by popular topics such as energy data management, waste reduction, and more.
Featured Solutions
This presentation covers the basics of advanced rooftop unit controls and how they can reduce energy use by 25-50%.
Watch this webinar to prepare for the hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) phasedown and learn how this regulation will affect refrigeration and space conditioning practices in commercial buildings.
As Whole Foods Market expands their retail footprint, they are committed to growing responsibly by making their stores, facilities, and operations even more energy efficient. Part of this strategy includes investing in alternative refrigerants with lower global warming potentials and installing more energy efficient HVAC systems. In pursuit of this responsible growth, Whole Foods Market undertook several projects in its brick-and-mortar locations to reduce refrigeration-related emissions of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).
Sheetz is taking steps to reduce the company’s environmental impact by adding utility efficient technologies to new store design and retrofitting existing stores accordingly.
The Life Time Chanhassen, MN Athletic Club reduced energy use intensity by 35% and water use intensity by nearly 60% by implementing a range of energy and water efficiency improvements from 2011 to 2021.
This collection of resources provides information on the applicability, technical considerations, and benefits of using natural refrigerants in place of traditional hydrofluorocarbon refrigerants.
Slipstream developed the “Maximize Your Facility” video series as a free, quick resource to help building operators learn proactive solutions to common commercial building problems, preventative maintenance strategies, and tips to save energy and improve equipment life.
This collection of resources can help building operators properly maintain HVAC systems to improve performance, save energy, and prolong the life of commercial HVAC equipment.
Other Resources
Fact Sheet
Using case studies from commercial partners Starbucks and Kohl's - as well as former Better Buildings Alliance member Walmart - this document offers guidance into sourcing energy through community solar.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory compiled recommendations and guidance for retail store operators trying to minimize disease risk to staff and customers. This fact sheet reviews HVAC system operations, exhaust systems, elevator controls, and building automation systems, as well as space uses and occupancies.
Oak Ridge National Lab developed this fact sheet for grocery store operators to help them minimize the risks of airborne disease transmission. It covers various systems within a grocery store including HVAC and refrigeration and suggests best practices and behaviors.
General
This collection of no-cost data management and modeling tools can support Better Buildings partners in the commercial sector to manage organizational energy, emissions, and other sustainability data.
Guidance
This guidance document from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) can help small businesses to improve indoor air quality and reduce occupant risk. Click here for the Spanish version.
This document contains a variety of resources intended to help commercial partners gain better access to energy data through the use of submetering.
This resource provides a list of steps for building owners/managers to consider when evaluating the suitability of new energy-reducing technologies or products for their commercial buildings.
Online Library/Resource
This resource includes a list of adaptive commercial refrigeration products receiving the ENERGY STAR® Technology Award for meeting rigorous performance criteria to reduce energy use and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
The Environmental Defense Fund hosts a digital platform called the Supply Chain Solutions Center to help companies incorporate more sustainability goals and policies into every aspect of their supply chain.
This resource from the North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council provides a high-level summary of current and future refrigerant options for U.S. commercial refrigeration applications, including stationary refrigeration remote systems, remote condensing units, and self-contained refrigerated cases.
Report
This report from the Rocky Mountain Institute summarizes an assessment of a large U.S. retail portfolio, recommending bundles of measures for optimized portfolio-wide investments and providing investment pathways to support efficiency.
Technology Info Suite
The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) developed a series of renewable energy primers that provide an overview of the various pathways retailers can use to integrate renewable energy into their portfolios.
-
Advanced Energy Design Guides
Created by ASHRAE and its partners, the Advanced Energy Design Guides for 50% Savings offer designers and contractors the tools needed for achieving a 50% energy savings compared to buildings that meet the minimum requirements of Standard 90.1-2004. View guides for big-box retail, small box retail, and grocery buildings.Advanced Energy Retrofit Guides
The Advanced Energy Retrofit Guides were created to help decision makers plan, design, and implement energy improvement projects in their facilities. Guides are available for office buildings, retail buildings, and grocery buildings.Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) - Retail Sustainability
Resources focusing on environmental sustainability issues primarily related to retail facilities and operations.ENERGY STAR for Restaurants
EPA’s ENERGY STAR® program website for restaurants, which provides building energy management and measurement resources and tools.Food Service Technology Center (FSTC)
The Food Service Technology Center provides energy-efficiency technical advice and training to the commercial food service industry.Consortium for Energy Efficiency's (CEE) Commercial Kitchens Initiative
Search thousands of evaluation studies, market characterizations, and relevant efficiency documents.
Sector Priorities
The Better Buildings Alliance's Retail, Food Service & Grocery Steering Committee helps to set priorities for the sector each year.
Steering Committee Members (FY2025)
- Evan Talan, adidas
- Katie Mendolera, Havertys
- Pooya Soltanian Sedeh, IKEA
- Jeff Adam, Kohl’s Inc.
- Bill Moritz, Life Time
- Erin Hiatt, RILA
- Emily Loftis, Sheetz Inc.
- Jenny Haan, Starbucks
- Amy Bond, T-Mobile
- Amy Kaspar, the Wendy’s Co.