Benchmark Study on Green Buildings - Royal Architectural Institute ...

accelerate and expand the global market for renewable energy and energy efficiency
technologies.
If only ten southern US states installed energy-efficient windows in all new buildings
over the next twenty years, the resultant energy savings could prevent the emissions of
1.5 million tons of carbon. For some homeowners, upgrading to energy-efficient
windows could cut annual energy costs by more than $500, yet, according to recent
estimates, only 35 percent of US homes currently use Energy Star-certified windows. To
help increase the use of energy-efficient windows, the ASE established the Efficient
Windows Collaborative to promote energy performance rating and labeling among
manufacturers. The Collaborative also educates builders, homeowners, and other
consumers about the benefits of energy-efficient windows.
The Responsible Energy Codes Alliance (RECA) is another ASE initiative and is a
consortium of energy-efficiency professionals, product and equipment manufacturers,
and trade associations whose primary objective is to support and urge all states and local
jurisdictions to adopt and implement the most recent International Energy Conservation
Code (IECC) without substantive local weakening amendments. The RECA also works to
improve the energy efficiency of homes through greater use of energy-efficient practices
and building products. To accomplish these objectives, RECA is actively involved in
discussions and processes of state and local jurisdiction code adoption.
When a manufacturer with a five percent profit margin achieves one dollar of net savings
through energy efficiency, the impact on net income is equivalent to generating $20 of
revenue. Despite this simple and direct relation between energy-efficiency and the bottom
line, many plant managers struggle to convince top management that energy efficiency is
a worthwhile investment. Therefore, the mission of the ASE’s Executives for Energy
Efficiency (E4EE) Program is to motivate business leaders to improve business
performance through energy efficiency. The project seeks a full understanding of the
issues that compete with the implementation of energy efficiency. These issues include
the uncertainties of deregulated energy markets, professional divisions between engineers
and finance staff, the unforeseen impacts of new technology, and other potentially
conflicting priorities. The project also develops strategies for promoting and
implementing energy efficient practices in industry.
The Alliance to Save Energy also runs the Green Campus and Green Schools Programs,
both of which try to reduce energy consumption and redirect money away from utility
bills towards academics and other developmental areas. Through Green Campus, students
are working to save energy on campuses by building general campus awareness,
incorporating energy conservation and efficiency into course curricula, and implementing
projects targeting energy use, student purchasing decisions, and operational changes. The
Green Schools Program engages students in creating energy-saving activities in their
schools using hands-on, real-world projects. Through basic changes in operations,
maintenance, and individual behavior, Green Schools has achieved reductions in energy
use of 5 to 15 percent among participating schools. In addition, Green Schools
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