U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Building Technologies Office

Manage Organizational Energy Use in a Commercial Building

Photo of participants listening to a speaker at the Commercial Building Energy Alliances Executive Exchange with Commercial Building Stakeholders forum at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, on May 24, 2012.

Participants in the Commercial Building Energy Alliances Executive Exchange with Commercial Building Stakeholders forum learn how they can improve energy efficiency in their organizations.

Integrating ongoing energy efficiency upgrades for your commercial building(s) into the fabric of your organization's culture frees up funds to support other organizational goals.

Improving organizational energy efficiency requires commitment at all levels, from top management to maintenance personnel, but the benefits are worth the effort. Financial analysts have even noted correlations between strong energy management programs and strong stock and financial performance. Each organization's approach will be unique, based on its perception of risks and opportunities, available resources, cultural considerations, and other factors, but certain steps are essential to successful energy savings efforts.

The U.S. Department of Energy's Building Technologies Office manages projects that assist building managers and tenants in making improvements to increase energy efficiency, such as Global Superior Energy Performance, and the Standard Energy Efficiency Data Platform. The ISO 50001 Energy Management Standard also provides a framework for implementing an effective energy management system through their electronic guidebook: DOE eGuide for ISO 50001.

Key Resources

Achieving Energy Efficiency Through Real-Time Feedback
Learn about how real-time feedback can produce changes in occupant behavior and significantly improve energy efficiency, according to this report from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Guidelines for Energy Management
Use this Energy Star site to learn about the key steps to take in order to instill a superior energy management practices in our building.

Assessing and Reducing Miscellaneous Electric Loads (MELs) in Banks
Learn about how reducing plug and process loads can improve energy efficiency in banks, according to this report from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Assessing and Reducing Miscellaneous Electric Loads (MELs) in Lodging
Learn about how reducing plug and process loads can improve energy efficiency in lodging, according to this report from the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory.

Assessing and Reducing Plug and Process Loads in Office Buildings
Learn about how reducing plug and process loads can improve energy efficiency in office buildings, according to this application guide from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory.

For additional resources regarding managing organizational energy, see the Commercial Buildings Resource Database.