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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Natural Ventilation: The Nine Biggest Obstacles and How Project Teams Are Beating Them
Feature Article
Designers are reinventing the art and science of passive comfort control even where climate and culture favor mechanical systems.
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Are Cool Roofs Green? The Answer’s Not Black and White
Feature Article
Roofing choices are complicated by heating tradeoffs, climate effects, and condensation, but proponents say reflective roofs still make sense in most climates.
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Innovative Products and Technology from the Greenbuild Expo
Feature Article
Our product editors pick some winners from the expo floor at Greenbuild 2013 while raising questions about some materials.
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Solar Thermal Hot Water, Heating, and Cooling
Feature Article
By creating heat instead of electricity, solar thermal achieves three times the efficiency of photovoltaics at a lower price.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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How the Sun's Path Can Inform Design
Primer
Designing a building with the sun in mind can help reduce both heating and cooling loads.
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Solar Reflectance Index and Cool Roofs
Primer
Understanding reflectivity and emissivity of roofing materials is important to evaluating their effect on cooling loads and the urban heat island effect.
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Energy Metrics: Btus, Watts, and Kilowatt-Hours
Primer
Mixing units of electric power with those of energy is a common mistake, but distiguishing kilowatts from kilowatt-hours is not that complicated, and is worth getting straight.
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Thermal Mass: What It Is and When It Improves Comfort
Primer
Heavy or massive objects like masonry can help improve thermal comfort, if used properly. They often don't insulate well, however.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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Innovative Australian Fan Blows Into U.S.
Product Review
A new energy-efficient fan from Aeratron offers performance and looks at a reasonable cost.
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Aerogel Coating May Reduce Thermal Bridging
Product Review
Thermal breaks can be pricey and may affect structural integrity. Aerolon is a non-structural alternative designed to have similar benefits.
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Replacing Fluorescent T8s with LEDs: Is It Time?
Product Review
CREE’s LED T8 sets a new benchmark for linear fluorescent replacements, but LEDs aren’t ready for all applications.
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New Ground-Source Heat Pumps Saving Energy and Dollars in Commercial Applications
Product Review
WaterFurnace’s CLW Chiller “geothermal” heat pump also uses excess heat and cooling within a building to provide energy-efficient HVAC.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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Urgent: Zero-Carbon Buildings Needed
News Brief
Zero-carbon buildings and energy retrofits need to happen—fast—to keep global warming at tolerable levels.
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Thoughts on the Future of the Zero Energy Market
News Analysis
A Q&A with Brad Liljequist, director of the Zero Energy Program at ILFI.
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NBI Stretches Code to Save 20% More Energy
News Analysis
The goal is to move energy codes forward more rapidly.
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Energy Use, Carbon Emissions Down in NYC Buildings
News Analysis
New York’s benchmarking law has created a treasure trove of data on energy and water use in large buildings. Researchers are unpacking it and discovering noteworthy trends.
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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