Programs

The Builders Challenge

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has posed a challenge to the homebuilding industry to build 220,000 high performance homes by 2012. The initiative is called the Builders Challenge, and homes that qualify must meet a 70 or better on the EnergySmart Home Scale (E-Scale). The E-Scale is an easy-to-understand graphic that allows homebuyers to see — at a glance — how the performance of a particular home compares to that of others.

Resource:
http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/challenge/index.html

Commercial Lighting Challenge

The Commercial Lighting Challenge is an initiative to achieve a 30 percent improvement in lighting energy use in office space.

Commercial Building Challenge

The Commercial Building Challenge is an initiative to increase the number of states to adopt 30 percent upgraded commercial buildings code.

AHRAE Advanced Design Guides: http://www.ashrae.org/publications/page/1604

Energy Smart Schools

DOE's program goals are to upgrade new schools to 50 percent better than current energy codes and improve existing schools by 30 percent in the next three years. To achieve these goals, the program provides:

Information and resources on financing
Tools and resources to assist decision makers in planning
Best practices for building industry professionals on energy efficient school construction and renovation
Best practices for facilities managers on operating and maintaining high-performance systems and equipment
Resources for teachers in developing energy-related curricula.

AHRAE Advanced Design Guides: http://www.ashrae.org/publications/page/1604

Case studies: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/buildings/energysmartschools/
case_studies.html

Energy Smart Hospitals

A national initiative to: increase efficient and renewable energy applications in our nation's hospitals, reduce energy use and operating costs, create healthier healing and work environments, maximize successful hospital upgrades and design strategies, ensure reliable backup power during disasters, improve environmental performance, and promote 20 percent improved efficiency in existing buildings and 30 percent in new construction over ASHRAE 90.1-2004.