Commercial

Photo of the inside of an atrium that is part of the Adam Joseph Lewis Center. The atrium is two stories with a curved roof and with windows covering two of the three walls visible in the photo.

The Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative (CBI) is aggressively working to improve the performance of commercial buildings. The program goal is to develop technologies and strategies that lead to marketable net-zero energy commercial buildings by 2025. On this site you can:

• Read about the Commercial Building Initiative including:
  • Alliances and Partnerships
  • Building Design and Evaluation
  • Energy Modeling Software
  • Net-Zero Energy Building Projects
• Find information about building energy codes
• Learn about tax incentives
• Get information on EnergySmart schools and hospitals.

Residential

A photo of a traditional two-story home under construction. The front of the home is shown and blue insulation and many windows are visible. Photo of 2009 K Hovnanian Homes Eagles Pointe project provided by IBACOS

The Building America program is leading the way in research for highly energy-efficient homes. The goal is to create technologies and design approaches that will lead to marketable zero energy homes by 2020. On this site you can:

• Read about the Building America program including:
  • Best Practices and Case Studies
  • Systems Engineering Approach
  • Builders Challenge
• Find information about building energy codes
• Learn about tax incentives
• See teams building energy-efficient homes for the Solar Decathlon
• Read about the ENERGY STAR® program to improve existing homes.

Partner with BTP

Close-up photo of a handshake. One person appears to be wearing a suit. The other person is holding a hard hat. In the background is the faded image of a tall building under construction and a crane.

BTP actively partners with industry, states, and research facilities to work toward the goal of zero energy buildings. Public-private partnerships are a key element of the research conducted through the Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative (CBI) and Building America. These partnerships ensure that BTP's research focuses on technologies that benefit the building community.

Businesses can participate with the Commercial Building Initiative by:

• Joining alliances that work to reduce energy use in many industry sectors
• Committing to energy goals and receiving technical assistance through National Accounts

Residential builders can work with Building America by:

• Getting marketing and technical support for energy-efficient homes
• Participating in zero energy homes research with industry teams

Homeowners

Photo of a two story home with a sloped metal roof, awnings over the windows and back porch, and solar panels on the far right side of the roof.

The Department of Energy offers comprehensive resources to homeowners who want to use less energy in their homes.

Energy Savers—Learn how to use energy more efficiently and incorporate renewable energy technologies in your home

Tips on Saving Energy & Money at Home—Find tips to save money and energy in areas like insulation, heating, cooling, landscaping, and energy-efficient appliances.

Consumer Energy Tax Incentives—See which energy-efficient home improvements qualify for tax credits. Visit the ENERGY STAR® Web site for additional tax credit information.

Financial Opportunities for Consumers—View a list of Web sites that provide information about financial incentives.

ENERGY STAR—Learn about energy-saving products. Also, see if Home Performance with ENERGY STAR, a program to help with energy-efficient remodeling, is in your state.