Energy Efficiency
Our buildings consume more energy than industry or transportation, and we haven’t done a great job of reducing that consumption. We can do better by:
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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
As great as all these ideas are, they won’t be nearly as effective if we don’t engage occupants about energy use as well. Our articles look at all these strategies and more.
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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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.
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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.
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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.
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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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.
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Putting Key-Card Entry Systems on an Energy Diet
Product Review
Assa Abloy's Power over Ethernet solutions can reduce a large hidden electrical load in commercial buildings.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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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.
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New York State Launches Initiative to Scale Net-Zero Retrofits
News Brief
The state has budgeted $30 million to develop a self-sufficient, private sector-based market for deep energy retrofits of multifamily buildings.
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New Zero Energy Certification Powered by ILFI and NBI
News Brief
Focused solely on net-zero-energy performance, the new certification aims to distinguish projects that verify outcomes with actual data.
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Scaling Up Engagement with Net-Zero-Energy Goals
News Analysis
The International Living Future Institute (ILFI) and Architecture 2030 collaborate to scale up energy efficiency reporting and certification.
Perspective
Thought-provoking opinions from the most trusted minds in sustainability.
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Learning Resources
A wide range of education options, with automatic reporting for AIA and GBCI.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Energy-Efficient Multifamily Housing
Feature Article
Now you can get LEED, Energy Star, and other labels for designing or retrofitting high-performance multifamily buildings.
-
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.
