Top Navigation

The top navigation, which is located in a blue horizontal bar directly below the site name in the header, is used to access the major content sections of each EERE Web site. All of the content on the site (with the exception of the News and Events sections) must reside within one of the top navigation categories. The top, or "site-wide" navigation will appear on every page of the site.

How the Top Navigation Works

Users will select one of the menu choices in the blue bar. If there is only a single page of content beneath that section, the user will go directly to that page of content.
If there are several pages of content below that section, a vertical bar of menu choices that are specific to that content section will appear down the left side of the page (see left navigation section for more information).
The menu choices in the blue bar must be used in the order shown above. If additional categories are approved, they should go after the required categories. "Home" should appear at the end of the horizontal line of categories for all pages below the home page.

Required Sections and Appropriate Content

All of the content accessed from the top navigation bar is unique to each of the 10 programs. However, to maintain consistency across the program sites, each site is required to use the headings: (and therefore, to develop content for) "About the Program," "Program Areas," "Information Resources," "Financial Opportunities," "Technologies," and "Deployment." Additional sections may be added with approval from the EERE Information Architect (see "Rules" for more information on developing a unique label).

Below you'll find guidelines that can give you an idea of the type of information that should go under each required top navigation section.

About the Program (required): Information on the program's mission, staff, contacts, budgets, organizational charts and responsibilities, policies, success stories, outreach strategies, funded activities, and future plans.
Program Areas (required): Information on the principal elements or activities of the program (may correspond to budget line items). Should include background information, budget, partners, etc. for that activity. Should also include links to other sections of the site that would contain information on the activity's solicitations, publications, technologies, and deployment activities.

Because some EERE programs may be able to organize all program operations information under the "About the Program" button, please consult with the EERE Information Architect if you have questions about how the Program Areas button applies to your program Web site.
Information Resources (required): Information on the program's publications, software, models, videos, CD ROMs, conferences and meetings, glossary, related links, and information for audiences.
Financial Opportunities (required): Information on financial opportunities offered by the program, including solicitations, grants, or other financial opportunities of interest to potential program partners.
Technologies (required): Information on the technologies being supported by the program. Could include basic information on the technologies, applications and uses (plants, tools, equipment, success stories, environmental resources or impacts), benefits, and research and development (R&D) projects.

Programs that don't conduct technology R&D, but do deploy technology applications, may choose to include a Technologies button that links to the Technologies sections of other relevant EERE programs.
Deployment (required): Information on the deployment products, services, or activities supported by the program (note that all "products" — publications, software, models, etc. — would reside under "Information Resources" but you can always link to your relevant products from the Deployment section). Could include information on activities and products for improving awareness about the application of available energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies and practices. Energy audits and assessments, training and technical assistance, energy management "best practices," awards and recognition, demonstrations, success stories, patents, licenses, and testing and evaluation projects are all examples of deployment activities.