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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Commercial Kitchens: Cooking Up Green Opportunities
Feature Article
Commercial kitchens run energy- and water-intensive equipment for long hours, sometimes even when not in use. While the challenges of saving water and energy in commercial kitchens are daunting, they're not insurmountable. Careful equipment selection and a commitment to conscientious kitchen practices can dramatically cut down on waste-and utility bills.
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Retrocommissioning: Big Savings for Big Buildings
Feature Article
Retrocommissioning or RCx can be a valuable tool for commercial building owners. RCx addresses the same scope as new building commissioning but is performed on existing buildings. RCx can improve building performance, save energy and money-especially for large buildings.
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Measuring Energy Use in Buildings: Do Our Metrics Really Add Up?
Feature Article
How much energy our buildings use matters a great deal, but figuring out how to measure that use and compare it from building to building is tricky. Here's a guide to key metrics and how to use them.
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Energy-Efficient Multifamily Housing
Feature Article
Now you can get LEED, Energy Star, and other labels for designing or retrofitting high-performance multifamily buildings.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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Choosing Between an ERV and an HRV
Explainer
Don't get fooled into buying a more expensive and complex system if what you really need is a dehumidifier.
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The Embodied Energy of Tap Water
Explainer
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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Demand-Controlled Ventilation: Fresh Air Only When You Need It
Explainer
Balancing the need for fresh air with minimizing energy use is difficult. Demand-controlled ventilation is the responsive solution.
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Building Enclosure Commissioning: Ensuring Durable and Energy-Efficient Buildings
Explainer
The building envelope is crucial for all other building systems. How can we use commissioning to make sure it performs?
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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Energy-Efficient Water Coolers from Elkay and Halsey Taylor
Product Review
Elkay and Halsey Taylor have introduced two pressure water filters, the VRCGRN and HVRGRN, respectively, with improved compressor and bubbler technology that lowers energy and water consumption.
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Sealed Blinds from Unicel Offer Flexibility, Low Maintenance
Product Review
Vision Control sealed interpane louvers, available with any type of glazing, offer numerous benefits, including energy savings and reduced maintenance compared with other blinds.
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Hypewatch: Energy Savings Claims from Power Conditioning Equipment
Product Review
Power conditioning devices often promise across-the-board energy savings, but the claims don't hold up in practice. These devices are good, however, for solving specific power quality problems.
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Navien Condensing Tankless Water Heaters
Product Review
Navien's demand water heaters use conventional and condensing stainless steel heat exchangers to produce hot water with an industry-best 0.98 energy factor.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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Air Dryer Claims Lower Impact Than Paper Towels
News Analysis
If you thought paper towels were a better option than the hand dryer, think again.
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Heat-Pump Clothes Dryers Really Work, Study Confirms
News Analysis
The technology, prevalent in Europe, could be adapted for super-sized American laundry loads.
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Feds Forecast Steady Drop in Building Energy Use
News Analysis
Efficiency could lead to almost-flat energy demand through 2040 despite new construction-but there's some fine print.
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Tankless Water Heaters Don't Use Less Energy
News Analysis
Energy savings from on-demand water heating varies wildly depending on usage patterns.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Learning Resources
Syllabus supplements and CEU content, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
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Just For Fun
Something weird happens every April at BuildingGreen...
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