[USA] DOE announces $11 billion in energy cost-savings from Better Buildings Initiative partners

On June 9, 2020, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the roughly 950 public and private sector organizations in DOE’s Better Buildings Initiative have reached nearly $11 billion in energy-cost saving.[1] [2] Better Buildings Initiative partners have also saved nearly 1.8 quadrillion British thermal units of energy (Btu), which is equivalent to the electricity consumption of 27 million homes in one year. Partners represent 32 of America’s Fortune 100 companies, 12 of the top 25 U.S. employers, 12% of the U.S. manufacturing energy footprint, and 13% of U.S. commercial building space. Of these partners, 20 reached their energy efficiency goals in the past year, including Bank of America, Michigan State University, and University of Utah. Other partners like Iron Mountain and Kohl’s Department Stores have previously reached their energy efficiency goals and have set new ones.

DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy also announced four new Better Buildings efforts: the Better Buildings Workforce Accelerator, the Better Buildings Sustainable Corrections Infrastructure Accelerator, the Integrated Lighting Campaign, and the Building Envelope Campaign.[3] [4] [5] [6] These new programs aim to increase energy productivity, encourage investments in renewable energy and energy storage in public facilities, integrate advanced lighting controls in buildings, and help building owners and managers develop more energy-efficient building materials.

[1] https://www.energy.gov/articles/doe-announces-11-billion-energy-cost-savings-better-buildings-initiative-partners

[2]https://betterbuildingssolutioncenter.energy.gov/sites/default/files/attachments/DOE_BBI_2020_Progress_Report.pdf

[3] https://betterbuildingssolutioncenter.energy.gov/accelerators/workforce

[4] https://betterbuildingssolutioncenter.energy.gov/accelerators/corrections-infrastructure

[5] https://betterbuildingssolutioncenter.energy.gov/alliance/technology-campaigns/integrated-lighting-campaign

[6] https://betterbuildingssolutioncenter.energy.gov/alliance/technology-campaigns/building-envelope-campaign