Energy - Commercial Sector: Buildings and Equipment

Energy - Commercial Sector: Buildings and Equipment

Commercial buildings account for 19% of the energy consumed in the United States. The types of buildings that use more than two-thirds of that energy are office and retail buildings, educational and health-care buildings, and lodging. More than half the energy used by commercial buildings goes toward heating and lighting. Opportunities for commercial buildings include improving the operations and maintenance of existing buildings, and finding ways to deal with the split incentives that often occur between the bill-payers and the tenants of the building. Additionally, in many cases (particularly in schools and public buildings) capital is not always readily available for efficiency improvements.

Building Codes
The value of energy efficiency in properly implemented construction standards is universally recognized as the easiest and most cost-effective way to help consumers save energy and money, make housing more affordable, and reduce air pollution. All...
Building Envelope
The “building envelope” refers to the external walls, windows, roof, and floor of a building. This barrier between indoors and outdoors is important with regards to ventilation and insulation of a conditioned space. A “tighter...
Building Performance
Building performance efforts seek to improve the energy performance of existing buildings by taking a comprehensive approach to improving their energy efficiency, comfort and productivity. Building performance initiatives address building systems...
Building Rating and Disclosure
Building owners and potential purchasers and renters rarely have access to the information they need to understand the energy efficiency of a given building and opportunities for improvement. This information can motivate owners to upgrade their...
Commissioning and Retrocommissioning
Commissioning is a quality assurance process for new construction projects that begins with pre-design and continues through design, construction, and early operation.  Commissioning is intended to ensure that building systems and equipment...
Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
HVAC systems are comprised of the heating, air conditioning, and ventilation systems in a residential or commercial building. These mechanical systems provide thermal comfort and air quality in indoor spaces.  Types of HVAC systems...
Market Transformation
The term market transformation is the strategic process of intervening in a market to create lasting change in market behavior by removing identified barriers or exploiting opportunities to accelerate the adoption of all cost-effective energy...
Office Buildings
Office buildings make up the largest sector of building type within the commercial sector, comprising 17% of all commercial buildings in the U.S, as well as 17% of the energy. There are many efficiency opportunities in both existing office...
Public Buildings
Public buildings (buildings owned by the federal or local government) represent a significant portion of buildings in the U.S., and therefore a large potential for energy efficiency savings. Federal buildings are already required to purchase...
Retrofits
America' existing housing stock offers tremendous opportunities for energy savings. However, capturing this savings potential within the established structure of the home improvement market has proven to be quite a challenge. Homeowners...
Windows
Windows include typical single- double- or triple-paned residential fenestration, as well as commercial building glazing. Windows are generally less efficient than walls, and are also a common site for air infiltration. Energy-efficient windows...
Building Modeling and Simulation
Building modeling and simulation is a growing discipline. Modeling software can be used to estimate a building’s projected energy and water use, as well as building performance, during the design phase of construction. Modeling can also be...
Indoor Air Quality
The goal of good energy efficient building design is to minimize energy consumption while providing healthy indoor environments. Poor indoor air quality can result from inadequate or inappropriate ventilation. In commercial office spaces, Sick...
New Construction
New construction has many more opportunities for the integration of energy efficiency measures than existing buildings. Often retrofits of measures like wall insulation are cost prohibitive for existing buildings but inexpensive for new...
Standby Power
(For information on emergency power and associated utility rates for distributed energy, see Standby Rates.) Standby, or “phantom” power is the power used by electronics and appliances when they’re not performing their main...
Emerging Technologies and Practices
Pulling emerging technologies from the R&D stage into the market is a critical step for reducing energy consumption while maintaining economic growth well into the future.  In light of this need, ACEEE has been tracking new energy-...