Energy Efficiency
Energy efficiency involves a set of strategies that can be used to reduce the consumption of energy—especially fossil-fuel energy—in buildings. These strategies include:
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monitoring energy use
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improving building commissioning
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applying insights from building science
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selecting innovative HVAC and building envelope technology
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using natural ventilation and daylighting to provide low-cost alternatives to standard systems
Energy Efficiency
Deep Dives
Get up to speed on complex topics. You can also earn CEUs and download PDF Spotlight Reports.
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Is Using Smart Glass Smart?
Feature Article
Electrochromic glazing holds the promise of less glare and better energy efficiency with fewer attachments. The reality is much more complicated.
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Net-Zero Energy Isn’t the Real Goal: 8 Reasons Why
Feature Article
Net-zero-energy buildings don’t always reduce carbon emissions. These are the tweaks we need to ensure they do.
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Can Commercial Kitchens Go Electric?
Feature Article
An all-electric commercial kitchen offers potential energy and carbon savings over using natural gas, but making the switch can be complicated—and even controversial.
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Changing Building Design for a Changing Electrical Grid
Feature Article
The way we get our electricity is evolving, and buildings need to be ready to respond.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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Building Enclosure Commissioning: Ensuring Durable and Energy-Efficient Buildings
Primer
The building envelope is crucial for all other building systems. How can we use commissioning to make sure it performs?
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Demand-Controlled Ventilation: Fresh Air Only When You Need It
Primer
Balancing the need for fresh air with minimizing energy use is difficult. Demand-controlled ventilation is the responsive solution.
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The Embodied Energy of Tap Water
Primer
A third of the annual energy bill paid by a municipality goes toward water treatment. Here’s why clean water uses so much energy.
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Induction and OLEDs: Past and Future Lighting Technologies
Primer
Fluorescent and LED lighting get most of the attention, but there are other efficacious lighting technologies that could illuminate our future.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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High-Efficiency Commercial Window Inserts
Product Review
Alpen’s WinSert commercial window inserts significantly improve the thermal performance of aging window systems, without the cost or aesthetic concerns of full replacements.
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An Award-Winning Energy Management Outlet
Product Review
RAB’s Lightcloud Outlet enables wireless monitoring and control of plug loads while allowing for demand response and other energy-saving scheduling.
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Innovative LED Lighting from LightFair 2018
Product Review
The LightFair innovation award winners showcase LED lighting’s evolving technology and how its sustainability image has changed.
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Glass Façade with Vacuum Insulation
Product Review
Sedak’s Isomax system incorporates vacuum insulated panels into insulated glazing units to create thin glass façades with improved thermal performance.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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We’re Way Behind on Climate Targets; Can Electrification Save Us?
News Analysis
The global building industry is not on track for decarbonization by 2050—not even close. There is promising news from COP27, but we need structural change, starting with electrification.
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A Boatload of Building-Related Incentives in Inflation Reduction Act
News Analysis
Architects and engineers will be able to claim energy-efficiency tax credits when working for tax-exempt clients.
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NYC Carbon Caps Face Lawsuit
News Brief
Local Law 97, New York City’s building performance standard, is facing a legal challenge from building owners.
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Feds Introduce Decarbonization Specs for Government Projects
News Brief
A new concrete rule from GSA and energy code adoption from DOE continue U.S. efforts to curb both embodied and operational carbon.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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R-10 Vacuum-Insulated Glazing
Blog Post
The technological challenges for high performance, vacuum-insulated glazing may have finally been surpassed, but the results are still under wraps.
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Installing Insulation With the X-Floc Ventilated Dry Injection System
Blog Post
X-Floc claims the blowing equipment they use delivers cellulose at a more consistent density, and they were willing to prove it with this demonstration.
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Opting Out of Paris Accord Fortifies Global Warming Battle
Op-Ed
By making the administration’s position clear, Trump’s decision unleashed a wave of actions to stabilize the climate.
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The Energy Conservatory’s New Blower Door Kit
Blog Post
TEC did its homework: its new blower door package is a well-engineered and integrated equipment system
Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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The BuildingGreen Guide to Thermal Insulation
Special Report
The BuildingGreen Guide to Thermal Insulation, Fourth Edition, provides detailed guidance on insulation products and practices, including environmental and health comparisons, and recommendations on what insulation to use and what to avoid.
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Is Using Smart Glass Smart?
Feature Article
Electrochromic glazing holds the promise of less glare and better energy efficiency with fewer attachments. The reality is much more complicated.
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We Must Decarbonize Existing Buildings by 2050—but How?
Spotlight Report
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Net-Zero Energy Isn’t the Real Goal: 8 Reasons Why
Feature Article
Net-zero-energy buildings don’t always reduce carbon emissions. These are the tweaks we need to ensure they do.
