Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse (EREC)
This rich resource is provided by the U.S. DOE Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy. EREC offers information and
assistance to a broad audience (consumers, educators and students,
builders, businesses, government agencies, and entrepreneurs) on a
wide range of topics. It provides publications, customized
responses, and referrals to energy organizations. It also responds
free of charge to phone, mail, and electronic inquiries regarding
energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.
Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (EREN)
This resource is provided by the U.S. DOE Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy. It features detailed information
on a variety of topics, including buildings, utilities, and more.
It also spotlights other federal government sites that provide
energy information. Includes a list of links to building
energy efficiency sites.
Energy Star
(U.S. EPA)
This high-profile family of government programs seeks to reduce
air pollution by encouraging energy efficiency. Energy Star focuses
on voluntary partnerships with business, and it includes programs
for residences, commercial buildings, and equipment manufacturers
(in which efficient products are certified as "Energy-Star
products").
The Web site of the Energy Star Buildings program offers a wide
range of information and assistance, including publications,
software, and updates on workshops.
Also available online is the directory of Energy Star "Ally" products and services, and
the Energy Star Buildings Upgrade Manual.
Energy Star also includes a Small Business Program. In addition, the Green
Lights program (see below) also is part of Energy Star.
Federal
Energy Management Program (FEMP)
This program provides technical information on energy-efficiency
issues specific to federal facilities. The site features technical
assistance, case studies, news, financing information, downloadable
tools and resources, and more.
Green Lights
Program (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)
Green Lights is a voluntary program sponsored by the U.S. EPA
Atmospheric Pollution Prevention Division to encourage the use of
efficient lighting technologies. In exchange for agreeing to pursue
energy efficient lighting upgrades, Green Lights partners receive
recognition and technical support.
Green Lights is part of the U.S. EPA's Energy Star
family of programs.
Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory (LBNL), Center for Building Science
The Center for Building Science is an international leader in
developing and commercializing energy-efficient technologies and
analytical techniques to improve energy savings. It offers three
major programs of special interest to building-industry
professionals. Technical reports from each can be read online or
downloaded over the Internet.
- The
Building Energy Efficiency Program offers expertise in windows,
daylighting, lighting systems, and building energy simulation. This
program develops technologies and software to aid energy efficient
building design in new-construction and retrofit applications.
- The Energy Analysis Program studies energy use in
the U.S. and abroad. It compiles and analyzes energy data, and
conducts computer modeling of energy scenarios for the residential,
commercial, industrial, and transportation sectors.
- The Indoor Environmental Quality Program
researches how to greatly reduce energy consumption for thermal
conditioning and for distributing ventilation air in buildings -
while simultaneously improving indoor air quality, comfort and the
health and productivity of building occupants.
LBNL also hosts the Building Simulation
Research Group (SRG) - the leading national organization
researching and developing simulation tools for evaluating building
energy performance. This group publishes a free newsletter for
simulation users and operates a DOE-2 telephone help line.
National Renewable
Energy Laboratory (NREL)
NREL is the DOE's laboratory for research and development in
renewable energy and energy efficiency. Among its many research
programs are projects that explore
buildings and thermal systems.
Its Web site features a primer (Clean Energy 101) that offers
information on energy technologies and solutions for small
businesses, industry, and state and local governments. The NREL
site also offers access to searchable databases of energy-related
documents and updates on energy research.
Oak Ridge
National Laboratory, Building Technology Center (BTC)
The BTC identifies, develops, and deploys sustainable and
energy-efficient building-system technologies by forming
partnerships between the public sector and private industry. This
Web site offers information on current and past research projects
involving:
U.S. Dept.
of Energy:
Department of Energy, Office of Building Technology, Building
Standards and Guidelines Program
The DOE Office of Building Technology, State and Community
Programs (BTS) is leading a comprehensive effort to establish
minimum efficiency codes, standards, and guidelines for appliances,
building equipment, and buildings that lay the groundwork for
reduced energy use and lower operating costs.
U.S. Dept. of
Energy:
National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT)
With programs in energy, agriculture and
communities, NCAT provides information on sustainable
technologies and community-based approaches that can help improve
the lives of economically disadvantaged people.
U.S. Dept.
of Energy:
Office of Building Technology, Community and State Programs
(BTS)
This office "develops, promotes, and integrates energy
technologies and practices in order to make buildings more
efficient and affordable, and communities more livable." Part of
the EERE network of
government sites, BTS includes (among other resources) information
specifically for commercial building owners and operators, and also
for builders and designers.
The BTS site also features a directory of downloadable energy
software tools, as well as a library of building codes and
standards.
U.S. Dept.
of Energy:
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EE)
This office manages federal research and development activities
for energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. The EE
site provides links to many federal energy-related R&D sites,
as well as information about the Office.
U.S. Dept.
of Energy:
Office of Power Technologies (OPT)
The Office of Power Technologies works with industry, state and
local governments, universities, and the Department of Energy's
national laboratories to support aggressive research and
development (R&D) in photovoltaic, concentrating solar, wind,
geothermal, hydropower, and biomass power technologies and
systems.
U.S. Dept. of
Energy:
Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI)
The Office of Scientific and Technical Information is to collect,
preserve, disseminate, and leverage the scientific and technical
information resources of the Department of Energy to provide access
to this information for use by DOE, the scientific research
community, academia, US industry, and the public to expand the
knowledge base of science and technology.
U.S. Dept.
of Energy:
Research and Development Reports
The DOE Information Bridge provides free and convenient access to
full-text and bibliographic records of Department of Energy (DOE)
research and development reports in physics, chemistry, materials,
biology, environmental sciences, energy technologies, engineering,
computer and information science, renewable energy, and other
topics.
U.S. Dept. of Energy:
Smart Communities Network
A Department of Energy site which allows you to read about other
communities that have discovered the benefits of sustainable
development; locate technical and financial resources that can help
your community plan and carry out sustainable development projects;
and access model codes and ordinances other communities have used
to implement sustainable development.
U.S.
Dept. of Energy:
Windows and Glazings Program
The Efficient Windows web site is sponsored by the Efficient
Windows Collaborative (EWC) with support from the U.S. Department
of Energy's Windows and Glazings Program and the participation of
industry members. This web site provides unbiased information on
the benefits of energy-efficient windows, descriptions of how they
work, and recommendations for their selection and use.
United States
Department of Commerce, National Technical Information Service
(NTIS)
The National Technical Information Service is the largest, central
resource for government-funded scientific, technical, engineering,
and business related information available today. The NTIS provides
access to nearly 3 million publications covering over 350 subject
areas supporting the Nation's economic growth by providing access
to information that stimulates innovation and discovery.
