A number of efforts are being undertaken by the U.S. Government to demonstrate green building technologies, to increase the practice of green building, and to make information on green building more readily available. The following links provide more information on these efforts. 

U.S. DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), is an excellent resource for information about renewable energy and energy efficiency. The site, formerly known as EREN, was redesigned and updated in early 2003. In particular, the Buildings Topics area provides links to energy audit and building design tools, case studies, and additional information. Meanwhile, EERE’s Building Technologies Program provides information on DOE buildings research and programs, including the Zero Energy Homes research initiative that demonstrates buildings with zero net energy consumption.

Rebuild America is a Department of Energy program that focuses on energy-efficiency solutions as community solutions. Rebuild America partners with communities from small towns to large metropolitan areas, to help them access technologies, services and tools that help make buildings more efficient.

Million Solar Roofs Initiative calls for the Department of Energy to lead an effort to place one million solar energy systems on the roofs of buildings and homes across the U.S. by the year 2010. 

Energy Savers, a consumer-oriented website from the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, offers consumers information on ways to save energy at home, as well as ways to use renewable energy to provide power, hot water, and heating and cooling.

Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) is a public/private partnership, managed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), that seeks to expand the development and utilization of new technologies to make American homes stronger, safer, and more durable; more energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly; easier to maintain and less costly to operate; and more comfortable to live in. Its Web site includes information on Best Practices, a Technology Inventory, a Residential Structural Design Guide and other resources.

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)  researches and develops technologies for efficient building systems, including heating, cooling, and refrigerating equipment; roofs, walls, and foundations; insulating materials; technology transfer; retrofit of existing structures; and evaluation and analysis of efficiency programs. 

DOE's Federal Energy Management Program (FEMP) aims to reduce the cost of government by advancing energy efficiency, water conservation, and the use of renewable energy sources. FEMP accomplishes its mission by creating partnerships, leveraging resources, transferring technology, and providing training and support. This website provides information on FEMP’s efforts, including the greening of federal facilities, such as the White House. FEMP also provides information on the annual Federal Energy and Water Management Awards program and recipients.

Energy Star, sponsored by EPA and DOE, aims to reduce energy consumption in buildings. Both homes and commercial buildings may qualify as Energy Star buildings, based on the energy savings they offer. The Energy Star website offers a registry of labelled homes and other buildings, as well as products and equipment that are certified by Energy Star to save energy. Energy Star and the National Association of Counties are cooperating in a special Courthouse Campaign to promote efficient county buildings.

Solar Decathlon is U.S. Department of Energy's student competition to design and operate the most attractive and effective solar-powered house. The next competition is slated for 2005, and 20 university teams have been named to compete.

Energy Efficient Rehab Advisor, an online tool developed by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, describes HUD's guidelines for conducting energy efficient housing rehabilitation. Users enter project information to receive energy efficiency recommendations.

EPA offers a Green Buildings website that acts as a portal to EPA information on various facets of green building, and reports on the efforts of each EPA region to green its own office buildings.

The Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) is seeking to demonstrate engineering leadership through a proactive commitment to environmentally sustainable facilities. NAVFAC supports the Whole Building Design Guide (WBDG), a website that provides guidance for designing environmentally-sound commercial buildings. WBDG sets energy use goals and suggests sustainable design materials and methods consistent with a Whole Building Design Approach.

The National Park Service Sustainable Design Initiative aims to develop, promote, and implement the broader concepts of sustainable practices in all aspects of the National Park Service. Under this initiative, a guidebook titled Guiding Principles of Sustainable Design (available on-line by clicking above hotlink) was produced, which articulates principles to be used in the design and management of tourist facilities that emphasize environmental sensitivity in construction, the use of non-toxic materials, resource conservation, recycling, and integration of visitors with natural and cultural settings. Sustainability principles have been developed for several topics, including building design, site design, and energy management.

Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory’s Environmental Energy Technologies Division is an international leader in developing and commercializing energy-efficient technologies and analytical techniques and in documenting ways of improving the energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality of residential and commercial buildings.

The Office of the Federal Environmental Executive has issued a report titled The Federal Commitment to Green Building: Experiences and Expectations that examines what the federal government is doing, in policy and practice, to make its buildings more environmentally sustainable.

Last updated: January 18, 2005

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