Energy-efficiency progress made by the 345 leading public and private sector organizations in the Better Buildings Challenge have led to a combined 240 trillion Btus and an estimated $1.9 billion in cumulative energy and cost savings, according to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
These results are summarized in the newly-released 2017 Better Buildings Progress Report that highlights accomplishments across the broader Better Buildings Initiative. The goal of this initiative is to make commercial, public, industrial, and residential buildings 20 percent more energy efficient over the next decade by focusing on overcoming market barriers and sharing partner-created solutions.
“Through the Better Buildings Initiative, hundreds of leaders from the public and private sectors are demonstrating innovative approaches and deepening American investments in critical building infrastructure,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry. “By planning ahead and investing in cost-effective energy efficiency strategies, partners are bringing better buildings to our communities and improving the everyday places Americans live and work, while creating new and lasting jobs.”
The more than 345 organizations from diverse sectors that have stepped up to the Challenge committed to improve the energy intensity across their entire building portfolio by at least 20 percent within a decade. These organizations represent more than 4.4 billion square feet of building space, include more than 1,000 industrial facilities, and have committed $7 billion in financing. Partners have shared energy performance results for nearly 38,000 properties. On average, partners are improving by more than 2 percent per year, and are staying on track to meet their energy-savings goals of 20 percent over the next 10 years.
This year, 18 Better Buildings Challenge partners and allies met their energy, water, or financing goals. Since the start of the program, 40 Challenge partners have met their energy goals, six have met their water goals, and 12 financial allies placed sufficient investments to meet their financing goals.
This year’s 14 energy and water goal achievers are:
- Celanese International Corporation
- Chesapeake College
- CKE Restaurants Holdings, INC.
- Deustche Asset Management
- Digital Reality Trust
- General Motors (Water)
- Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly
- Johnson Controls
- Macy’s
- Schneider Electric
- Shorenstein Properties LLC
- Staples (Water)
- The Tower Companies
- Towson University
The four financial allies that have also met their goals this year are:
- Biostar Renewables
- CleanFund LLC
- LISC
- Renew Financial
More than 35 partners and financial allies joined the Better Buildings Challenge over the last year, committing 200 million square feet of building space, nearly 40 plants, and $650 million for efficiency projects. These partners are contributing to the more than 1,000 proven solutions now available online in the Better Buildings Solution Center.
