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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Innovative Products and Technology from the Greenbuild Expo
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Our product editors pick some winners from the expo floor at Greenbuild 2013 while raising questions about some materials.
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Are Cool Roofs Green? The Answer’s Not Black and White
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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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Natural Ventilation: The Nine Biggest Obstacles and How Project Teams Are Beating Them
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Designers are reinventing the art and science of passive comfort control even where climate and culture favor mechanical systems.
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Cladding: More Than Just a Pretty Façade
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Cladding materials should be chosen to minimize environmental impacts and help maximize a building’s energy performance.
Quick Takes
Jump straight to the essentials with these short explanations of green building concepts.
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Glazing Performance Metrics
Explainer
A few key metrics are important for understanding the thermal performance of glazing units used in curtainwalls and windows.
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Energy Performance: Learn the Lingo
Explainer
The AIA 2030 Commitment and many other programs require project teams to predict and report on energy use. Here are the key terms you’ll need to get the job done.
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Building Decarbonization: Learn the Lingo
Explainer
Building decarbonization 101 for architects, engineers, and sustainability consultants cutting emissions from building materials and operations.
Product Guidance
Unbiased information from our product experts helps you separate green from greenwash.
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Heat-Pump Water Heaters Ready for Prime Time
Product Review
Heat-pump water heaters offer significantly greater water heating efficiency than conventional electric water heaters. EBN takes a look at three new products, along with two existing products and one that is expected out soon.
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Pentadyne GTX: Backup Power from a Flywheel
Product Review
The Pentadyne GTX supplies short-term power, without the use of lead-acid batteries, to cover the time between a power anomaly and the start of the generator.
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Infrared Cameras Provide View of Building Performance
Product Review
Infrared cameras are valuable, non-invasive tools for diagnosing potential problems in buildings and electrical and mechanical equipment.
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Commercial Induction Ranges from CookTek
Product Review
CookTek's induction ranges produce little extraneous heat and no combustion gases, potentially reducing the amount of ventilation needed in a commercial kitchen.
In The News
We break news down to the essentials and provide expert analysis.
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Canceling the "Ban" on Fossil Fuels? Bill to Clarify 2030 Targets
News Analysis
Efficiency advocates have taken opposite sides on the Shaheen-Portman energy bill. Will a new compromise bring them back together?
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New Energy Data Is Changing How We Judge Efficiency—And LEED
News Analysis
Seeking lessons from New York City benchmarking data, researchers question everything we thought we knew about energy metrics.
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GSA Shares More "Green Proving Ground" Experience
News Analysis
With lessons learned from its own buildings, GSA reports conditions under which high-performance window panels, mag-lev compressors, and onsite PV are viable.
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$9 Million to Help Ten Mayors Jumpstart Energy Programs
News Analysis
The New City Energy Project brings mayors from ten U.S. cities together to make their cities' large buildings more energy efficient.
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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