State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network

The State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network (SEE Action) is a state and local effort facilitated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that helps states, utilities, and other local stakeholders take energy efficiency to scale and achieve all cost-effective energy efficiency by 2020. This initiative has engaged diverse stakeholders in the development and implementation of eight energy efficiency roadmaps across the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors, as well as key crosscutting topics, including evaluation, measurement, and verification; financing; building codes; consumer information and behavior; and driving ratepayer-funded efficiency through regulatory policies.

SEE Action provides a central clearinghouse for state and local governments to convene, organize, and share information at the national level. The SEE Action Existing Commercial Buildings Working Group has developed a blueprint for action to meet its goal of reducing energy use 20% or more in 3 billion square feet of commercial space each year by 2015 through whole-building approaches. The blueprint lays out multiple solutions for achieving this goal:

• Improve information through benchmarking and disclosure in public and private buildings
• Use retro-commissioning to drive improvements in public and private buildings
• Encourage ratepayer-funded programs that target whole buildings
• Engage in public-private partnerships such as energy challenges and recognition programs for private buildings
• Adopt strategic energy management programs and encourage the use of these organization-wide energy management programs in the private sector
• Integrate energy efficiency and green practices in public sector leasing practices and encourage this leasing language in the local real estate market
• Implement and scale emerging financing mechanisms to spur investment in energy efficiency in commercial buildings
• Support workforce development through conducting education and training, developing training materials, and supporting standardized certification programs.
• Improve procurement processes, including bulk purchasing, specifications, life-cycle costing, and streamlined energy savings performance contracts
• Implement emerging technology demonstration programs that can create opportunities to commercialize promising new energy-saving technologies.

For more information on SEE Action go to the SEE Action website.

Additional Resources

Building Energy Codes State-Level Technical Assistance
Browse this DOE Building Energy Codes Program website to find assistance for state and local governments on building energy codes, policy adoption, compliance, training, analysis, and software support.

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Technical Assistance
Browse the information on this Solution Center website from DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy to find tools, resources, and assistance that can help state, local, and tribal officials develop and implement successful energy efficiency and clean energy projects and programs.

Resources for State and Local Decision Makers
Browse the SEE Action website for resources designed to educate, engage, and support state and local decision makers as they develop energy efficiency policies and programs.

State and Regional Electricity Policy Assistance
Learn more about the unbiased policy assistance and analysis available to states and regions on electricity policies, programs, laws, and regulations from DOE's Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability.

State Climate and Energy Program
Browse this U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website for cost-effective best practices, peer exchange opportunities, and analytical tools that can help states develop policies and programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower energy costs, improve air quality and public health, and help achieve economic development goals.