U.S. DOE's Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy website is an excellent resource for information about renewable energy and energy efficiency.  In particular, the Energy Efficiency section on Buildings provides a host of useful links to information and resources from DOE's buildings programs and other sources.

Orientation and Renewable Energy

Properly sited buildings--those that are placed on an east-west axis with the longest wall facing south--will benefit from solar heat, natural shading, and natural lighting and thus reduce energy requirements. Energy-efficient floor plans place the primary living spaces on the south side and lesser-used rooms, such as storage and utility rooms, on the colder north side. 

Incorporating passive solar design principles into buildings can reduce energy requirements by relying on the sun to satisfy at least some of the heating requirements during colder months. Similarly, passive solar design can provide shading during summer months to help keep the house cool, as well as natural light, which reduces the need for artificial light.  

The Sustainable Buildings Industry Council (SBIC) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to advance the design, affordability, energy performance, and environmental soundness of residential, institutional, and commercial buildings nationwide. SBIC offers professional training, consumer education, and energy analysis tools. SBIC provides guidelines, software, and general information about energy conservation measures, energy efficient equipment and appliances, daylighting, and sustainable architecture. 

SBIC also distributes and holds workshops on Energy-10, a DOE-supported computer design tool for small commercial and residential buildings. Developed by DOE's National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Energy-10 helps architects and designers assess how a building will use energy and identify which energy-efficiency strategies are the most effective.  It's at the forefront of the new generation of easy-to-use programs that help architects and engineers evaluate the details of building energy use at every step in the design process.  

Other renewable resources, such as wind and geothermal energy systems can also supply energy to buildings. It is important to do complete site and resource assessments to ensure that the system or resource you are considering can supply the necessary energy.  

The Million Solar Roofs Initiative is an effort to place one million solar energy systems on the roofs of buildings across the U.S. by the year 2010. The U.S. Department of Energy, through its Regional Offices, leads this effort by encouraging national, state and local partnerships to install photovoltaic and solar thermal systems. 

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, conducts research in energy efficiency and renewable energy. NREL’s Web site includes information on research areas, program activities, publications and reference resources. The site offers a Renewable Resource Data Center that provides localized information useful in assessing potential for renewable energy systems.

The American Solar Energy Society (ASES) offers a variety of publications and activities related to research, design, and performance of solar components and systems, and other renewable energy systems. 

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) is the trade association for the wind energy industry. AWEA advocates the use of small- to large-scale wind energy conversion systems for stand-alone and grid-connected applications as non-polluting, renewable energy sources. Website contains a host of useful information, including questions and answers on residential wind systems, a list of manufacturers of small wind turbines, and more. 

The Renewable Energy Policy Project and the Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technology website provides information on a variety of renewable energy sources, initiatives for increasing their use, and energy markets.

Publications 

Solar Living Sourcebook, published annually by Real Goods Trading Corporation.  
This publication serves as a complete guide to renewable energy technologies and sustainable living. Available from: Real Goods Trading Corporation, 555 Leslie Street, Ukiah, CA 95482-5576. Phone: (800) 762-7325. 

Building Envelope 

Houses that are airtight and well-insulated consume less energy. The U.S. Department of Energy has established recommended insulation levels for different climates. To find the most economic insulation level for your new or existing house, you can use the online ZIP-Code Insulation Program.

Energy Savers  is a US DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy website that provides information to help you conserve energy in your home, with insulation, efficient heating and cooling and efficient appliances. A virtual home tour is offered, along with additional references and Major Appliance Shopping Guide.

Energy Star, an energy-efficiency program sponsored by EPA and DOE, certifies homes and commercial buildings built to set energy efficiency standards, as well as windows, heating and cooling equipment and appliances.

The Efficient Windows Collaborative is a coalition of window, door, skylight, and component manufacturers; research organizations; federal, state, and local agencies; and others interested in expanding the market for high-efficiency fenestration products.  Its Web site offers useful information on the benefits of high-efficiency products, how to select windows, and how windows work.  There is also a list of resources, including software, links, and references. 

The National Fenestration Rating Council was formed to develop a voluntary, national rating systems for windows, doors, and other fenestration products. NFRC’s uniform energy performance rating and labeling system allows builders and consumers to compare the efficiency of products. NFRC Certified Products Directory, available online, contains energy performance data for more than 20,000 certified windows, doors and skylights.

Simply Insulate provides detailed information on what programs for purchasing and installing insulation are available in each state, including eligibility requirements, incentive amounts, and how to begin redeeming incentives. In addition to complete incentive information, Simply Insulate includes other helpful resources that can teach homeowners about upgrading home insulation. Information is provided by the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA), in partnership with state and federal energy and environmental agencies.

Other techniques, such as advanced sealing measures, energy trusses, and air-infiltration barriers ("housewraps"), can also help reduce energy consumption and make buildings more comfortable.

Building Systems 

Select the most energy-efficient equipment possible. While this equipment might cost more upfront, the energy cost savings will more than offset the higher initial cost. For example, front-loading washing machines use as much as 50 percent less water and detergent as their top-loading counterparts. Compact fluorescent lamps cost more initially, but they last much longer and use considerably less electricity than incandescents. 

In commercial buildings, lighting consumes a considerable amount of energy. Switching to more energy-efficient lighting systems can reduce these costs while conserving electricity.  

Energy Star is an energy-efficiency program sponsored by EPA and DOE for businesses and consumers in the United States. The program certifies both buildings and individual products that meet energy efficiency standards, including windows, lighting, appliances, and heating and cooling systems.  

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) offers several publications related to energy-efficient buildings, including Consumer Guide to Home Energy Savings, which discusses the entire spectrum of home energy savings and residential appliances, including a list of the most energy-efficient equipment and appliances available; and Guide to Energy-Efficient Office Equipment, which offers recommendations about the types of equipment to purchase and how to best operate it for maximum energy efficiency, as well as energy-use characteristics of microcomputers and displays, printers, copiers, and fax machines.  The Online Guide to Energy-Efficient Commercial Equipment addresses critical needs in three areas common to commercial buildings: lighting; heating, air conditioning, and ventilating systems; and energy-efficient motors.

The Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE), a national, non-profit public benefits corporation, promotes the manufacture and purchase of energy-efficient products and services. The CEE compiles a Residential Home Appliance Programs National Summary, available in PDF, that details incentive programs in regions across the country for purchase and installation of energy efficient appliances.

Publications 

Residential Energy: Cost Savings and Comfort for Existing Buildings, Saturn Resource Management. 
Provides useful information on a wide variety of energy conservation measures for existing homes. Includes chapters on energy principles, energy and the building shell, air leakage, insulation, windows and doors, heating, cooling, water heating, lighting and appliances. Available from:  Saturn Resource Management, 324 Fuller Avenue, N-13, Helena, Montana  59601.  Phone: (406) 443-3433.

Energy Savers: Tips on Saving Energy & Money at Home 
A booklet produced by the U.S. Department of Energy that will help you achieve a whole-house energy efficiency plan.  Includes chapters on insulation and weatherization, heating and cooling, water heating, windows, landscaping, lighting, and appliances, as well as an appliance shopping guide, a resource list, and a list of additional resources. 

US DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Fact Sheets 
Offers numerous buildings-related fact sheets on topics such as natural cooling techniques, energy-efficient water heating, energy-efficient lighting, landscaping for energy efficiency, and sunspace basics. 

Last updated: February 9, 2005

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