DOE Better Building Initiative eclipses 3.8 trillion Btus, $3.1 billion in energy savings

The U.S. Department of Energy (DoE) Better Building Initiative has achieved 3.8 trillion British thermal units (Btus), or $3.1 billion, in cumulative energy and cost savings through public-partnership with more than 900 organizations, according to the 2018 Better Buildings Progress Report released on Thursday.

Better Building Initiative partners adopt new energy-efficient technologies, use collaboration to overcome market barriers and increase investments in specific clean energy commitments. More than 30 Fortune 100 companies, 12 of the top 25 U.S. employers, and 12 percent of the U.S. manufacturing segment take part in the Better Building Initiative.

“Partners in the Better Buildings Initiative are achieving impressive energy savings worthy of celebration,” U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry said. “Partners are meeting their savings goals, testing the latest technologies, and sharing their results. Together, they are showcasing a new generation of energy saving solutions.”

The Better Buildings Challenge, meanwhile, has engaged 350 partners with a combined total of 4.4 billion square feet of business space who are striving to reduce energy intensity by an average of 2 percent per year. More than $12 billion in capital has been made available through 40 financial partners of the Better Building Initiative.