Building Innovation

This mission-critical research, technical analysis, tools and guidance helps those seeking to drive better energy performance outcomes in commercial buildings.

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Summary

NBI’s work is built on a foundation of proven building science. Under its Building and Program Innovation efforts, NBI provides direct services and consulting, conducts building science research, technology assessments, and develops building standards and tools. 

NBI also provides training and education on the technical analyses, tools and guidance that demonstrate feasibility of advanced efficiency measures and practices. The resources developed under this program provide critical support for building owners, practitioners, utilities and jurisdictions that want to create or enhance programs that favor ultra-efficiency in commercial buildings.

Our premier guidance includes the New Construction Guide and Multifamily Guide that offer prescriptive measures for achieving high performance in new construction projects with up to 30% better efficiency than traditional construction practices. We also have developed a number of resources, including a Zero Energy Project Guide and Zero Energy Charette Toolkit that helps design teams optimize their process for designing ultra low-energy projects. Our building portfolio diagnostic tool, FirstView, has been used by cities and other portfolio owners across the country to assess and identify underperforming buildings as well as identify renovation projects that are viable to achieve zero energy goals.

The NBI team of architects, engineers, and researchers work to advance approaches by both the energy and building industries to raising levels of efficiency in buildings. NBI’s study on the measured energy performance of LEED buildings was a catalyst for the need to focus on outcome-based performance of buildings rather than relying solely on predictive models. Other research examines the effectiveness and benefits of advanced design practices such as daylighting as well as technology applications including controls, lighting, shading, plug loads, and HVAC systems.

Our training and education program provides practitioners with webinars and resources, often at no cost, to help them better understand the opportunities for improving energy performance in their design and operations. Case studies document projects that serve as models for others to follow.

NewsView All

Hot off the Presses: New Grid-Interactive Buildings for Decarbonization Guide

Post / November 2, 2023

To succeed in decarbonizing our energy systems, we will be relying much more on variable renewable resources like wind and solar energy—but we’ll need to do more than install more clean generation resources. We’ll also need to get better at...

Focused Strategies

There are no codes & policy for Building Innovation. Please see our other codes & policy below.

2024 IECC Code Change Proposal Synopsis

Codes & Policy / February 14, 2022

Below you will find summaries of the draft code amendments and links to revision details that were submitted by NBI into the ICC process to advance the 2024 IECC. They are identified as Commercial or Residential and categorized by efficiency,...

Embodied Carbon

Codes & Policy / February 13, 2022

Building operations and construction-related activities are responsible for approximately 39% of humanity‘s global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. More than a fourth of those are embodied carbon emissions, those associated with the production of building materials, construction activities, operations, and end...

Building Performance Standards

Codes & Policy / January 21, 2022

Building performance standards (BPS) set targets for existing building energy performance and are one of the best tools we have for achieving deep energy savings and emissions reductions in existing buildings. They can be written to optimize the energy use...

Model and Base Energy Codes

Codes & Policy / July 16, 2021 / Energy Codes

For more than 20 years, NBI has been working with partners and within the code-making bodies to advance codes at the national, state, and local government levels. National model energy codes and standards like ASHRAE 90.1 and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) have...

Zero Cities Project

Codes & Policy / February 13, 2019 / Energy Codes

The Zero Cities Project is a three-year project supporting both cities and their most impacted communities* to co-develop and implement actionable and equitable roadmaps and policy strategies to achieve a zero-net-carbon (ZNC) building sector by 2050. Through a community collaboration...

Zero Energy/Carbon Codes

Codes & Policy / October 28, 2018 / Zero Net Energy (ZNE)

Building energy codes are playing an increasing in facilitating the move to ZE buildings. As advances in construction practices and building components and systems are proven out, communities are  strengthening the building codes so that higher levels of building efficiency...

Stretch Codes (Advanced Codes)

Codes & Policy / October 15, 2018 / Energy Codes

New design and process strategies can be demonstrated through a variety of advanced code strategies.  NBI builds market capacity for higher efficiency energy codes by encouraging the use of stretch codes (also referred to as reach codes). To support the...

Washington State Energy Code Roadmap to 2031

Codes & Policy / October 15, 2018 / Energy Codes

Many organizations and jurisdictions have adopted a range of building performance goals over the past decade that have significantly changed the conversation about energy codes and building energy performance.  The primary policy driver for the Washington State Energy Code increases in...

Steps to Achieving Outcome-Based Energy Codes

Codes & Policy / December 22, 2015

Outcome-based energy codes, codes  require that a number of policy, data and administration pieces be put in place.  

zEPI

Codes & Policy / December 22, 2015

The 2015 International Green Construction Code (IgCC) includes many progressive measures that will improve the energy performance of buildings. One important provision describes the Zero Energy Performance Index (zEPI), which provides a scale for measuring commercial building energy performance. zEPI...

Zero Net Energy Policies

Codes & Policy / December 22, 2015

Policies and programs can dramatically change the landscape for Zero Net Energy (ZNE) buildings. There is burgeoning market interest in ZNE, and policies and programs can foster and grow that interest through leadership, direct support, and the reduction of risks and...

Aligning Utility Programs with Local Codes (Policy)

Codes & Policy / December 22, 2015

Bringing energy codes to market often involves a comprehensive approach that starts years before a code is adopted by a local jurisdiction. NBI provides technical assistance through each stage of code development. NBI aggregates technical information from existing high performance buildings. Observed trends...

Outcome-Based Energy Codes (Advanced Codes)

Codes & Policy / December 21, 2015

Our nation’s current energy codes include structural and enforcement characteristics that limit the ability to achieve significantly more energy savings without major changes. Current energy code strategies consider only a limited number of the factors that impact building energy performance. ...

Model Energy & Green Codes

Codes & Policy / December 19, 2015

NBI works collaboratively with a wide range of industry partners to bring model energy codes up to current market capabilities. Measures promoted by NBI include higher efficiency standards for equipment and advanced design strategies such as daylighting. Once adopted by states...

COMNET (Polcy)

Codes & Policy / December 19, 2015 / Policy

NBI manages the development of COMNET, a quality assurance initiative to standardize building energy modeling, by creating consistent baselines relative to various energy codes and standards. COMNET extends and supports existing systems for assessing and rating the energy efficiency of...

ResearchView All

Culture Over Carbon

Report / September 7, 2023

The Culture Over Carbon report shares the first in depth review of energy use patterns in cultural institutions across the United States and creates a roadmap for energy reductions based on best practices from this sector. Cultural institutions play a…

Plug-In heat Pump Water Heater Field Study Findings & Market Commercialization Recommendations

Report / July 12, 2023

Water heating and space heating together account for two thirds of residential energy usage in the U.S. and should be the cornerstones of any plan to decarbonize the built environment. Emerging, plug-in 120-volt heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) are entering…

Central Heat Pump Water Heaters for Multifamily Supply Side Assessment Study

Report / January 10, 2023

The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) contracted with New Buildings Institute (NBI) in January 2021 to conduct research and outreach to better understand the current landscape of central heat pump water heater (HPWH) adoption in multifamily buildings. Research objectives included…

Increasing Sustainability of Multifamily Buildings with Heat Pump Water Heaters

Report / November 18, 2021

From four-unit townhomes to large complexes, multifamily buildings use a significant amount of energy to provide hot water to their occupants. Much of that hot water is provided by natural gas and other fossil fuels, which emit harmful greenhouse gases…

The GridOptimal Buildings Initiative

Paper / October 26, 2021

The role of buildings, renewable energy, and energy storage in the utility industry is changing. New near-term solutions are needed to address today’s challenges and capitalize on opportunities for market transformation. New Buildings Institute, in partnership with the U.S. Green…

Reopening Office Buildings: Creating a Healthy Environment for Occupants and the Planet

Paper / June 27, 2021

This white paper provides an overview and summary of the multiple building systems that affect occupants’ return to a safe indoor air environment, their energy use implications, and recommendations for best practices. Included is Retrofit and Reopening Recommendations for Offices—a…

Bringing Heat Pump Water Heaters into the Mainstream

Report / February 10, 2021

The Advanced Water Heating Initiative (AWHI) Playbook and 2020 Progress Report summarizes the activities of AWHI through the end of 2020. The West Coast AWHI has made tremendous progress in the two years it has been underway. The Initiative includes…

Building Electrification Technology Roadmap

Paper / January 12, 2021

The Building Electrification Technology Roadmap (BETR) is a guide for utilities and other organizations developing, implementing, and supporting electrification technology programs as a way to advance high efficiency technologies, reduce GHG emissions, and improve public health. It’s the first study…

GridOptimal Phase 2 Outcomes

Report / July 19, 2020

The role of buildings, renewable energy, and energy storage in the utility sector is changing. New near-term solutions are needed to address today’s challenges and capitalize on opportunities for market transformation. New Buildings Institute (NBI), in partnership with the U.S.…

New Metrics for Evaluating Building-Grid Integration

Paper / May 18, 2020

Since mid-2018, the not-for-profit, multi-stakeholder GridOptimal Buildings Initiative (GridOptimal 2020) has been developing metrics to measure the grid impacts of building features and operating characteristics to support a new design approach that prioritizes better building-grid integration across the building stock.…

Putting Data to Work: Using Monthly Data From Benchmarking Programs

Report / January 27, 2020

This guide from the Institute for Market Transformation (IMT) provides an overview of the powerful ways in which monthly building consumption data can yield new insights, and how these insights can help cities to design more effective targeted programs.

GridOptimal Phase 1 Outcomes

Document / June 19, 2019

The role of buildings, renewable energy, and energy storage in the utility sector is changing. New near-term solutions are needed to address today’s challenges and capitalize on opportunities for market transformation. New Buildings Institute (NBI), in partnership with the U.S.…

Energy Efficiency Savings Up in Smoke: The Budding Impact of Indoor Agriculture and Cannabis Production

Document / August 27, 2018

This poster was presented by NBI staff at the 2018 ACEEE Summer Study. Indoor horticulture energy usage is projected to grow substantially over the next several years, driven in large part by the legalization of medical and recreational cannabis. How…

Radiant Solutions: Energy Findings from the Largest Study of Commercial Buildings with Radiant Cooling and Heating System

Document / August 27, 2018

This poster about energy efficiency advantages of radiant cooling was presented by NBI staff at the 2018 ACEEE Summer Study. Buildings with radiant cooling have similar comfort and use less energy. Learn more about how with this resource.

Energy Performance of Commercial Buildings with Radiant Heating and Cooling

Report / August 10, 2017 / HVAC

This report is part of the California Energy Commission (CEC) EPIC project (EPIC-14-009), Optimizing Radiant Systems for Energy Efficiency and Comfort. The main goal of this research was to determine the building characteristics of projects with radiant heating and cooling…

High Performance Buildings Measured Performance and Key Performance Indicators

Report / April 24, 2013

This Final Research Summary Report summarizes the findings for the High Performance Buildings Measured Performance and Key Performance Indicators project within the Evidence-based Design and Operation research program.

Evidence-Based Design and Operations PIER Program: Improving the Real World Performance of Commercial Buildings

Report / April 23, 2013

This Final Project Report presents the results of the Evidence-based Design and Operations Research Program led by New Buildings Institute from 2008-2013. The program included four technical projects for commercial buildings. This work included the development of feedback tools for…

Enhanced Skylight Modeling and Validation

Report / April 23, 2013

This report details tasks, findings, and recommendations undertaken for the Enhanced Skylight Modeling and Validation project. The scope involved developing and validating computer simulation alternatives to physical measurements for producing optical daylighting system photometry.

Plug Loads

Report / March 24, 2013

Plug loads are among the biggest energy end uses in commercial office buildings. This is in part because plug loads are growing with greater information technology power demand and also because design approaches, codes and efficiency programs typically address other…

Key Performance Indicators – Field Metering Study and Energy Performance Feedback

Report / July 23, 2012

This report describes an investigation by NBI of metered key performance indicators (KPI) for commercial building energy use.

A Search for Deep Energy Savings

Report / August 23, 2011

A report from NEEA's BetterBricks program and New Buildings Institute investigates* 11 energy retrofits in existing commercial buildings that, on average, resulted in energy use 50% less than the national average – many with an energy use intensity (EUI) below…

Sensitivity Analysis: Comparing the Impact of Design, Operation, and Tenant Behavior on Building Energy Performance

Report / July 27, 2011

This study compares the magnitude of energy impact that various design features, operations and tenant behaviors have on total building energy use. The findings of this study can help the building community begin to align their priorities with those building…

Using Measured Whole-Building Performance for Green Building Program Evaluation

Paper / December 28, 2010

Green building program energy efficiency strategies often use integrated design, precluding the measurement of results simply from deemed savings of specific measures. This paper describes the use of whole-building measured energy use, by month and fuel, to evaluate the achievements…

Energy Performance of LEED for New Construction Buildings

Report / February 17, 2010

NBI has completed the broadest study to-date of measured energy performance of LEED buildings called “Energy Performance of LEED for New Construction Buildings.” Aimed at better quantifying the actual energy performance levels of green building, the study gathered whole building…

Windows and Classrooms: A Study of Student Performance and the Indoor Environment

Report / October 21, 2003

This study investigates whether daylight and other aspects of the indoor environment in elementary school student classrooms have an effect on student learning, as measured by their improvement on standardized math and reading tests over an academic year.

Windows and Offices: A Study of Office Worker Performance and the Indoor Environment

Report / October 21, 2003

This study reports on a statistical investigation into the influences indoor physical environment has on office worker performance, especially daylight and view, and secondarily ventilation and thermal comfort.

Daylight and Retail Sales

Report / October 21, 2003

This study presents evidence that a chain retailer is experiencing higher sales in daylit stores than in similar non-daylit stores.

Events

There are no events for Building Innovation. Please see our other events below.

Sizzling Solutions: Accelerating Heat Mitigation – Policies, Programs, and Design Dynamics!

Webinar / March 27, 2024 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm PDT

Join New Buildings Institute and Cool Roof Rating Council for an informative journey through heat mitigation policies and cool surface strategies! Speakers will present examples of extreme heat mitigation policies that are in progress in several jurisdictions and how to…

2024 Getting to Zero Forum

Event / May 21, 2024 - May 23, 2024

The Getting to Zero Forum is the premier event dedicated to building decarbonization. With a growing number of climate emergencies across the United States and around the world, there is no more important time than now for the Getting to…

NewsView All

Central Heat Pump Water Heaters Are A Crucial Technology To Decarbonize Multi-Family & Commercial Buildings

News / May 30, 2023

Published by Clean Technica: NBI’s project manager, Joe Wachuna, shares an in-depth report on the barriers to Central Heat Pump Water Heaters that was created by New Buildings Institute for NEEA to define the investment needed to geet the technology...

Working Towards Reducing The Hotel Building Carbon Footprint

News / May 8, 2023

Published by Hotel Executive: New Buildings Institute has stated there are 5.9 million existing commercial buildings in the U.S. comprising 97 billion square feet of floor space. New construction represents less than 2% of building activity in any given year,...

Building emissions are the climate change contributor you hadn’t heard of – until now

News / April 28, 2023

Published by Journal Inquirer: New Buildings Institute’s Webly Bowles shared how different factors in different locations affects the goals of achieving better carbon-free, sustainable and climate-conscious buildings. “We’re looking at different climates, right? We’re looking at what can the electrical...

Automated Building Systems Turn Data into an Energy-Saving Asset

News / March 29, 2023

Published by BizTech Magazine: As companies pursue sustainability strategies, networking has emerged as an essential element. An effective, intelligent network can facilitate connected ecosystems that rely on data, sensors and automated building systems to enhance efficiency, reduce energy consumption and...

Bay Area Sets NOx Emissions Standards For Gas Water Heaters & Furnaces, Effectively Ending Sales Starting In 2027

News / March 24, 2023

Published by CleanTechnica: Big news for clean air last week. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) adopted amendments requiring the elimination of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions from new water heaters by 2027 and new furnaces by 2029. The...

Podcast: The New Grid Demands Flexibility

News / March 20, 2023

In the fifth episode of our series of NBI staff discussing papers presented at the 2022 ACEEE Summer Study, we talk with NBI Acting Director of Building Innovation Alexi Miller about the ways utility programs can encourage buildings to play...

AWHI News: Central heat pump water heaters can act as massive hot water batteries, meetings, webinars, and more

News / March 1, 2023

Pilot project in Seattle shows central heat pump water heaters can act as massive hot water batteries that help reduce carbon emissions Central heat pump water heaters (CHPWHs) present a tremendous opportunity to reduce the substantial energy used for water...

Electrification On the Rise in the Southwest U.S.

News / February 1, 2023

Published by Green Builder: With 2023 off to a flying start, this new year is an opportunity for the building industry to act on the benefits of heat pump technology for space and water heating in cold climates–especially in the...

AWHI News: webinar, IRA resources, supporting members, meetings, call for photos, and more

News / January 17, 2023

Join us for a webinar tomorrow on tankless gas water heaters and their infamous methane puff AWHI will participate in an Electrify Now webinar about tankless gas water heaters tomorrow (Wednesday, January 18), from 12:00 – 1:30 pm PST. There...

Podcast: Carrots and Sticks in Hot Water – Role of Codes and Policy in Market Transformation

News / December 30, 2022

In the third episode of our series of NBI staff discussing papers presented at the 2022 ACEEE Summer Study, we talk with Senior Project Manager, Amruta Khanolkar, about the role of building codes in the market transformation of the heat...

Sonoma Clean Power’s new Santa Rosa headquarters named Best North Bay Sustainability Project

News / December 16, 2022

Published by North Bay Business Journal: Sonoma Clean Power unveiled its new all-electric headquarters in September. As the world’s first “GridOptimal” building, certified by the New Buildings Institute and the U.S. Green Building Council, it features an innovative microgrid that...

Advanced Water Heating Initiative December 2022 Newsletter

News / December 5, 2022

The latest newsletter from the Advanced Water Heating Initiative (AWHI) features information on a California study testing 120-V HPWH technology, a recap of Heat Pump Water Heater (HPWH) Day, a funding opportunity from DOE, upcoming stakeholder meetings, webinars, resources, news, and...

The retrofitting strategy behind Sonoma Clean Power’s all-electric headquarters

News / November 28, 2022

Published by GreenBiz: Sonoma Clean Power, a community-owned electricity provider for California’s Sonoma and Mendocino counties, is the owner of a unique carbon neutral, 15,330-square-foot headquarters in Santa Rosa, California. Perhaps the most innovative feature of all is the headquarter’s...

District explores electric buses

News / November 16, 2022

Published by Columbia Gorge News: Superintendent Rich Polkinghorn began with an exciting update at the Oct. 26 Hood River County School District school board meeting: The potential for electric buses and necessary infrastructure in the next few years. New Building...

A Public Building That Can Decarbonize Santa Rosa’s Electric Grid

News / November 1, 2022

Published by Next City: Two years ago, the energy company Sonoma Clean Power set out to renovate a 1979 structure in Santa Rosa, California, for its new headquarters. The building had long been powered by natural gas. The vision for...

Hug Your Super-Efficient Water Heater On Heat Pump Water Heater Day

News / October 25, 2022

Published by CleanTechnica: You’ve heard of tree huggers? Well, on October 26, the Advanced Water Heating Initiative and hundreds of other organizations will celebrate another cylindrical climate saving object we should all be excited about (and maybe even hugging) — the heat...

Rheem Releases 120V Plug-In Heat Pump Water Heater That Can Be Plugged Into Typical Outlet

News / September 26, 2022

Published by CleanTechnica: In 2019, the nonprofit-led Advanced Water Heating Initiative  saw the need for a water heater that could be plugged into a typical outlet and avoid the electric panel upgrades to help people easily switch from gas to electric...

California Municipal Building Takes Net-Zero Standard to Another Level

News / September 23, 2022

Published by Facilities Net: The Sonoma Clean Power (SCP) city building in California provides power for about 500,000 people in Sonoma and Mendocino counties, and is going beyond the net-zero goal line by recently unveiling its all-electric headquarters after a...

World’s First “GridOptimal” Building is Sonoma Clean Power’s Headquarters

News / September 20, 2022

SANTA ROSA, Calif., Sept. 20, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — Sonoma Clean Power (SCP) recently unveiled its new all-electric headquarters which features an innovative microgrid, and goes far beyond “net zero energy” standards by reducing greenhouse gas emissions on the State’s electric...

Advanced Water Heating Initiative September 2022 Newsletter

News / September 1, 2022

The latest newsletter from the Advanced Water Heating Initiative (AWHI) features information on the new 120V heat pump water heater technology, upcoming meetings, working group progress, the date for the upcoming Heat Pump Water Heater Day, resources, and more. Inflation Reduction...

Finally, a heat-pump water heater that plugs into a standard outlet

News / August 29, 2022

Published by Canary Media: Last month’s launch of Rheem’s ProTerra 120-volt heat pump water heater might not seem like a big step forward in the fight against climate change. In terms of home electrification accessories, it’s not as sexy as...

How to Prepare Your House for Climate Change

News / August 24, 2022

Published by Bloomberg: Living on a warming planet requires protecting your home from threats exacerbated by climate change. But protection doesn’t only mean playing defense: In addition to anticipating extreme weather or wildfire threats, for example, homeowners can make proactive...

Unique Partnerships Across Clean Energy Leaders and Department of Energy Offices Advance Clean Energy Workforce Nationwide

News / June 3, 2022

The organizations are working in concert under the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’s EMPOWERED program, which is funded by three technology offices within the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. Three leading clean energy organizations have formed a unique...

Why Fenestration is a Crucial Part of a Sustainable Future

News / April 20, 2022

Published by Window + Door: Buildings generate nearly 40 percent of the annual global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, according to the World Green Building Council. This figure includes energy used to heat, cool and light buildings as well as embodied...

The promise of hydronic systems in building decarbonization

News / March 17, 2022

Published by Mechanical Business: As North America adds more renewable energy to the grid and more communities commit to building decarbonization as a way to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are fuelling climate change, demand for energy-efficient radiant designs,...

The HVAC Maintenance Toolbox Is More Advanced Than Ever

News / March 14, 2022

Published by Propmodo: Even the best property managers can overlook preventive maintenance of HVAC units. At times, heating and cooling systems are a perfect example of the phrase “out of sight and out of mind.” They may not be the...

Electrifying idea for cleaner buildings

News / March 3, 2022

Published by Consulting-Specifying Engineer: Building electrification refers to the use of electric technology where fuel sources were traditionally used. It’s the oil-fired furnace or the water heater, cooking stove, or clothes dryer that uses natural gas or propane. Those appliances...

Grid-interactive efficient buildings are the future, and utilities can help lead the way

News / February 22, 2022

Published by Alternative Energy HQ: More utilities across the United States are adopting programs to promote grid-interactive efficient buildings (GEBs), which will be critical to the grid of the future. Some programs focus on energy savings and others on demand...

At Bayview Tower, Ecotope and Bonneville Power Administration Mark A Step Forward in Decarbonizing Buildings

News / January 20, 2022

Published by the Urbanist: For tenants of large apartment buildings, the prospect of a new water heating system installation can be cause for alarm. Prolonged utility shutoffs present a real burden for residents, at times even forcing them to relocate...

Innovative Facility Managers Look To Save 40-50 Percent on Energy With Deep Energy Retrofits

News / January 5, 2022

Published by Facilities Net: A small but growing number of buildings have adopted an innovative, highly impactful approach to energy efficiency. Known as deep energy retrofits, these projects aim for big energy savings — sometimes 40 to 50 percent. The...

NYC’s new gas ban highlights market growth needs for building electrification

News / December 22, 2021

Published by Smart Cities Dive: While critics of building electrification policies worry about the transition’s potential harm to housing affordability, advocates see the built environment as a critical battleground for achieving climate goals. Advocates for change also highlight the negative...

Electric Water Heaters Could be a Carbon Cutter for Multifamily Buildings

News / December 10, 2021

Published by Electrical Contractor Magazine: Electrification of buildings is emerging as the new front in the fight against global warming, and in that effort, apartment buildings could take a leading role. A new report focuses on the potential for significant...

Efficient electric water heaters in multifamily buildings significantly reduce carbon emissions

News / November 29, 2021

Published by Building Design + Construction: Efficient electric hot water heating technologies significantly reduce the carbon emissions of multifamily buildings, according to a report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and New Buildings Institute (NBI). In multifamily...

New report from ACEEE and NBI examines benefits of electric pump water heaters

News / November 24, 2021

Published by DailyEnergyInsider: A new report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) and New Buildings Institute (NBI) finds that electric water heaters in multifamily buildings cause less than half the greenhouse gas emissions of gas-fired products. The...

Report: Efficient Electric Water Heating Would Slash Multifamily Buildings’ Carbon Emissions

News / November 18, 2021

Efficient electric water heaters in multifamily buildings cause less than half the greenhouse gas emissions of gas-fired products presenting a key climate opportunity, according to a study released today. The report by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE)...

Advanced Water Heating Initiative August Newsletter

News / August 17, 2021

The Advanced Water Heating InitiativeTM (AWHI) is working to move heat pump water heaters (HPWHs) rapidly into the market. HPWHs are an advanced technology that is highly energy efficient, can be grid-integrated, and delivers significant emissions reductions. Learn more about...

Video: How Air Conditioning is Warming the World

News / July 27, 2021

Published by CNBC: Summer 2021 is shaping up to be one of the hottest in history, as the effects of climate change are becoming ever clearer. Naturally, that’s led to an increase in global demand for air conditioning, which itself...

How all-electric design achieves energy efficiency

News / June 30, 2021

Published by Consulting-Specifying Engineer: The electrification of new buildings is a practical and impactful solution to address carbon emissions in the building sector. Predicated on the “greening of the grid,” all-electric building design yields the promise of a carbon-neutral operation....

The Whitehouse Turns Green with New Building Efficiency Policies

News / June 24, 2021

Published by memoori: The US has always been a leader in the development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technology but has lagged behind in the decarbonization of its own economy. Now, after laying roadmaps for a green revolution of...

NBI Study Sheds Light On Ways Existing Buildings Can Reduce Energy Costs

News / June 11, 2021

Forbes puts the spotlight on NBI-led study: High-quality automated shading slashes lighting energy use, while at the same time enhancing occupant comfort. Modern LED lighting with advanced controls also greatly cuts lighting energy use, and offers superior results. These are...

Getting Control of Comfort and Energy: The Benefits of Upgrading to Automated Shades and Advanced Lighting in Commercial Buildings

News / June 10, 2021

Published by Lighting Design and Specification: Interior lighting and window shading innovations have advanced leaps and bounds in the past two decades. Each innovation offers benefits to existing buildings, ranging from improved occupant comfort and wellbeing to significant energy savings....

Video: White House Social Media Briefing with Jen Psaki

News / June 8, 2021

Published by the White House: Watch as the Property Brothers, Drew and Jonathan Scott, sit down with White House Press Secretary, Jen Psaki. In the video, Jonathan Scott expresses the interest of his audience to save money on energy bills...

Integrating LLLC Technology with Building Systems

News / May 26, 2021

Published by EC&M: Luminaire level lighting controls (LLLC) technology enables greater control over a building’s lighting system, all the way down to the individual fixture level, resulting in optimized lighting for the space. One of the most promising features of...

DOE Announces Support for Program on Advanced Water Heating to Cut Carbon Emissions

News / May 26, 2021

Published by Renewable Energy Magazine: The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced its support of a new nationwide campaign to drastically cut carbon emissions and energy use from heating water with advanced heat pump technology. The Advanced Water Heating Initiative...

Biden administration to announce new Energy Star standards, develop emissions targets for federal buildings

News / May 17, 2021

Published by Washington Post: On Monday afternoon, the Biden administration will announce a major push aimed at cutting carbon emissions from federal buildings and homes by setting new efficiency standards and investing in innovative research. The White House says that,...

New Report Highlights Activities of Advanced Water Heating Initiative

News / April 7, 2021

Published by HVAC & Plumbing Product News: The recently released Advanced Water Heating Initiative Playbook and 2020 Progress Report by NBI summarizes the activities of AWHI through the end of 2020. The West Coast AWHI has made tremendous progress on...

Building Decarbonization

News / March 2, 2021

Published by Impact Cafe: In this Impact Café webinar and podcast the focus is on the transition to net zero carbon energy networks and the decarbonization of buildings. Amy Cortese, Director of Programs, participated in this panel discussion.

How Your Water Heater Can Be a Secret Weapon in the Climate Change Fight

News / February 11, 2021

Published by Bloomberg News: Nearly every home has a water heater, but people tend not to think about it until the shock of a cold shower signals its failure. To regulators, though, the ubiquitous household appliance is increasingly top of...

New Building Electrification Technology Roadmap Shows Pathways to Achieve Zero Carbon

News / February 2, 2021

A first-of-its-kind study from New Buildings Institute provides a comprehensive analysis of electric technologies that can displace fossil fuels in buildings.  Energy use in California’s buildings is a leading source of climate-changing emissions. Homes and commercial buildings must be electrified...

Get ready for grid-integrated buildings

News / January 5, 2021

Published by The Keneda Fund: Imagine an energy system in which each building serves as an extension of the power grid. When all buildings were simply at the receiving end of electricity generated by a few big power plants, that...

Decarbonizing the Built Environment

News / December 4, 2020

Decarbonizing the Built Environment, is a new brief and online event from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). NBI Program Director, Amy Cortese was part of the conversation that informed this piece. She discussed the domestic environment for...

Getting Building Height Right for the Climate

News / November 30, 2020

Published by GTM: Skyscrapers use and lose more energy than low-rise buildings, research shows. Can smarter design and technology change that? It may seem obvious that cities filled with big buildings use energy more efficiently than dispersed suburban landscapes, and...

Cutting Carbon Emissions Through Electrification

News / November 17, 2020

Published by Commercial Property Executive: A new report from the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy finds that energy-efficient electric heat pumps cut commercial buildings’ greenhouse emissions by 44 percent. Sean Denniston, senior project manager at the New Buildings Institute,...

New Awards Program Spotlights All-Electric Building Innovation in San Mateo County

News / November 5, 2020

Peninsula Clean Energy and New Buildings Institute have launched a new awards program spotlighting all-electric building innovation across San Mateo County. The All-Electric Leadership Awards and Directory invites designers, builders, developers and owners of all-electric, high performance residential and commercial...

Fighting Climate Change, One Building At A Time

News / October 18, 2020

Published by NPR: When Donnel Baird was in his 20s, he had twin passions, and he didn’t want to choose between them. “I vowed that I was going to try to combine my passion for Black civil rights with trying...

Designing Low-to-Mid-Rise Multifamily Residential Buildings

News / August 25, 2020

Published by ASHRAE Journal Newsletter: Multifamily buildings are often built like commercial buildings and used as residential buildings, making them challenging to design. There is research that explores codes, standards and best practices to help designers and practitioners achieve high...

NBI Study Keys in on Optimizing Automated Shading

News / July 29, 2020

Published in Architectural Products on page 46: Identifying automated shading as a key component in achieving net-zero retrofits for existing buildings, the California Energy Commission has commissioned New Buildings Insitute (NBI) to retrofit two Southern California offices with automated shading...

Five Ways To Begin Energy Benchmarking

News / April 23, 2020 / Measured Results

Published by Facility Executive Magazine: You may think your building operations reflect a green building approach, but how do you know what is happening on a month to month basis? Energy benchmarking is the ongoing monthly review of energy performance...

Innovations in Energy-Efficient Apartments

News / September 28, 2019

Published by MHN: Faced with the urgency of reducing carbon footprints and greenhouse gases, multifamily operators are embarking on a new era of energy efficiency. No one-size-fits-all approach exists; strategies vary widely by location and multifamily category. Whether the community...

EV Stations Spark Broad-Based Change

News / September 19, 2019

Published by Commercial Property Executive: As EVs continue to grow in popularity, the need for electric charging stations is also growing and commercial real estate owners and managers are helping lead the charge to make them available. While some states...

The California Roadmap to a Carbon Free Future for the Built Environment

News / May 8, 2019

Published by Meeting of the Minds: Participants of COP21 (Paris, 2015) agreed that limiting the average global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius was an absolute imperative, and that this goal would require that human-produced emissions peak in 2020 and...

GridOptimal Initiative Changes Power Grid Interaction

News / April 12, 2019

Published by BUILDINGS: GridOptimal, a new initiative by the New Buildings Institute and the U.S. Green Building Council, aims to help buildings become better “grid citizens” by improving communications between the built environment and the power grid. A good grid...

13 HVAC Money-Saving Products for 2019

News / April 4, 2019

Published by BUILDINGS: No matter what side of the country your building sits, facilities professionals seek out solutions for HVAC systems. This is why the HVAC category of BUILDINGS’ Money-Saving Products annual program receives so many submissions. 2019 is no...

Online Tool Helps Cities Frame Energy Performance Goals

News / March 14, 2019

Published by Facility Executive: The National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) and New Buildings Institute (NBI) have developed a new tool, with support from the U.S. Department of Energy and the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, to help jurisdictions tackle energy...

“GridOptimal” Buildings Can Smooth Transition to Renewables

News / November 5, 2018

Published by BuildingGreen: Getting a solar array on your project might seem like a huge triumph, but there could be a downside. Too much “distributed generation” (grid-connected power generation coming from individual buildings) can disrupt how the electrical grid works,...

Radiating Efficiency

News / November 4, 2018

Published by Net Zero Buildings (page 12): Because of the drive for optimized energy efficiency, design teams need to look at alternative HVAC methods in order to meet energy goals. A recent NBI report on radiant heating and cooling in...

Show Me the Money: The Business Opportunity of Grid-Interactive Buildings

News / July 25, 2018

Published by GreenBiz: Utilities, grid operators, homeowners, and private- and public-sector building owners and operators are all buzzing about buildings that dynamically interact with the electric grid. They present an exciting opportunity to go beyond net-zero energy and provide valuable...

NBI Unveils New Multifamily Energy Guide

News / October 30, 2017

Published in EC&M: Multifamily buildings offer a largely untapped opportunity for improving energy efficiency, according to a recent report from the New Buildings Institute (NBI). Despite tremendous potential for savings, the organization explains why the multifamily market is hard to...

Department of Energy helps Missoula hone in on carbon-cutting goals

News / June 14, 2017

Technical support offered by the U.S. Department of Energy and several other organizations could help the city of Missoula achieve the goals of its climate plan, becoming carbon neutral by its self-imposed deadline of 2025. NBI as part of a...

Smartglass International’s retrofit project with SPD-SmartGlass will protect priceless paintings at the University of Edinburgh and increases energy efficiency in buildings

News / September 23, 2016

Research Frontiers licensee Smartglass International addresses the long term savings that commercial organizations can realize when they install SPD-SmartGlass in their buildings. From 2016-2023, it is estimated that $960 billion will be invested to make existing buildings more environmentally friendly....

The Retrofit Savings Estimator

News / October 6, 2015

Building owners considering an energy-efficiency upgrade now have a new tool to help them weigh their options and choose strategies that will optimize energy savings or target the biggest opportunities among a portfolio of buildings. NBI has released a beta...

Danfoss’ Galyen: Incentives Will Boost Building Technology Development

News / September 24, 2015

On September 17, John Galyen, president, Danfoss North America, addressed the importance of taking a holistic approach to improving the efficiency of the U.S. commercial building stock as part of a broad objective to double energy productivity. Galyen was joined...

These Small Business Segments Make Super Customers

News / July 17, 2015

In 2013, Preservation Green Lab (PGL) and the New Buildings Institute (NBI) reported on seven small building segments with high energy savings potential: food service, main street buildings, freestanding offices, strip malls, schools, freestanding retail and lodging. This inspired Diana...

New Construction Guide endorsed by Architecture 2030 to meet the 2030 Challenge

News / June 16, 2015

The New Construction Guide has also been incorporated as the prescriptive path to comply with the energy prerequisites for both USGBC’s LEED v4 and the Northeast Collaborative for High Performance Schools standard. The guide has also been adopted as the...

New Construction Guide endorsed by Architecture 2030 to meet the 2030 Challenge

News / June 1, 2015

New Buildings Institute (NBI) and Architecture 2030 are excited to announce that Architecture 2030 has endorsed a prescriptive path to meet the current 2030 Challenge goal based on NBI’s New Construction® New Construction Guide. With this path, design teams now...

Industry experts plan for future focused on commercial building performance outcomes, increased attention to operations

News / May 6, 2015

Determining a building’s energy efficiency based solely on using predictive energy models and specifying certain design and construction attributes may be a thing of the past by the time the next generation of architects and engineers join the workforce. Communities...

Blog

Hot off the Presses: New Grid-Interactive Buildings for Decarbonization Guide

Post / November 2, 2023

To succeed in decarbonizing our energy systems, we will be relying much more on variable renewable resources like wind and solar energy—but we’ll need to do more than install more clean generation resources. We’ll also need to get better at...

Scaling up market transformation for heat pump water heaters

Post / January 19, 2022

While the average person might not think about it when turning on the faucet, changing the way you heat water in your home or business could drastically reduce your carbon footprint. Water heating accounts for a large share of the...

U.S. DOE announces support for national program on advanced water heating to cut carbon emissions and energy use

Post / May 21, 2021

Clothes washer, shower, kitchen sink. These are the places where hot water lives. In fact, water heating accounts for a large share of energy use in buildings—up to 32% in single-family and multifamily homes. Today, the U.S. Department of Energy...

New GridOptimal LEED pilot credit encourages designers to help solve grid issues

Post / March 31, 2021

In 2019, renewable energy provided more energy in the U.S. than coal. The last time this happened, in 1885, the Edison Electric Company had been running the first American central power plant for all of three years and was serving...

Future-Proofing Buildings for a More Resilient Tomorrow

Post / March 23, 2021

This is the second in a series exploring the COVID-19 pandemic’s relationship to buildings. In the first blog, Buildings’ Impact on Pandemics — we discussed how the building industry’s greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions can help fuel pandemics. These blogs are...

Buildings’ Impact on Pandemics

Post / February 26, 2021

As the people across the globe respond to the COVID-19 pandemic, a concerted effort has been made to keep occupants safe as office buildings reopen, an endeavor that can inherently use more energy from carbon-intensive generation resources exacerbating climate change...

Improving Health and Resilience Through Better Building Design

Post / October 6, 2020

This summer, as a record number of uncontained wildfires burned along the West Coast, residents feverishly checked websites such as PurpleAir to determine if it was safe to go outside. Every year, wildfires raise awareness about the impacts of poor...

Bringing Heat Pump Water Heaters into the Mainstream

Post / August 12, 2020

It takes a village to change technology. We in the efficiency industry have witnessed decades of partnerships to bring transformative change to refrigerators, lighting, motors and HVAC. With increasing concern over the energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated...

Electrification Nation?

Post / July 29, 2020

Natural gas, once the darling to replace carbon-intensive coal in electricity production, is increasingly being recognized as a significant cause of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that are fueling climate change. The main component of natural gas is methane, which when...

The Embodied Carbon Conundrum: Solving for All Emission Sources from the Built Environment

Post / February 26, 2020

Increasing urgency among policymakers and the design community to meet the goals of the Paris Climate Accord has spurred more aggressive codes and energy policies in jurisdictions around the United States. These strategies are making gains on driving down carbon...

Los Angeles Mayor Garcetti Leading the Way to Decarbonization with Municipal Buildings

Post / February 11, 2020

Less than year after Mayor Eric Garcetti unveiled a Green New Deal for the city of Los Angeles, he is building on that leadership with a new Executive Directive that will help kick-start the decarbonization movement by accelerating the transformation...

Local Governments Can Lead by Example in Climate Action, Starting with the Buildings They Own

Post / February 27, 2019

For communities across the United States that are committed to implementing policies and practices that advance the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, buildings represent a golden opportunity to lead by example. Overall, about 20% of the nation’s building floorspace...

Technology Talk—Getting to Zero Energy in Existing Buildings

Post / February 22, 2019

Without upgrading our existing buildings to higher efficiency technologies we have zero hope of getting to zero energy (ZE)–or at least ultra-low energy performance–and our carbon reduction targets. We know that there are many roads to retrofits but rapid scaling...

GridOptimal Buildings: Achieving Maximum Benefit for Smart Building-to-Grid Integration

Post / August 22, 2018

As policymakers and the building community encourage improved building efficiency and reduced carbon impacts, the rapid proliferation of distributed renewable energy resources–on local businesses and homes–creates technical challenges for grid operation, even as traditional revenue models for utilities face significant...

New Multifamily Guide Offers Solutions that Deliver Up to 25% Energy Savings

Post / October 10, 2017 / Energy Codes

Multifamily buildings pose a conundrum for advancing energy performance. As a building type, they are caught somewhere between commercial buildings and single-family residences – they are often constructed like commercial buildings, yet used as residential buildings. Energy-efficient technologies and design...

NBI Completes Study into Energy Performance of Commercial Buildings with Radiant Systems for Cooling and Heating

Post / August 10, 2017

During the renovation of the Edith Green Wendell Wyatt Federal Building, a variable air volume (VAV) system was replaced with a radiant design system. The design team included numerous CBE industry partners, including SERA Architects, Stantec, Interface Engineering, and Charles...

Best Practice Options for LED Lighting in Multifamily Offer Illumination Without Negative Impacts

Post / July 5, 2017 / Lighting

This material has been excerpted from the soon-to-be-released Multifamily Guide offering best practice design for high performance multifamily new construction projects. Stay tuned for more information on the Guide’s release. LED lighting had some of its earliest and broadest successes...

Cities Get Help to Prioritize Energy Upgrades, Improve Codes and Policies that Drive Better Building Performance

Post / April 21, 2017 / Benchmarking & Feedback, Existing Buildings

Buildings are responsible for almost half of all U.S. energy consumption (46%), and poor-performing buildings have an outsized impact on energy use. But without a systematic approach to track building performance, it’s often difficult to know where to start. By setting...

Congressional Members Look at Reinventing Existing Buildings

Post / September 29, 2015

I had the honor recently of addressing members of Congress on opportunities for “reinventing” existing buildings to achieve high levels of energy efficiency and productivity. The morning briefing was hosted by the Alliance to Save Energy. Why existing buildings? (more…)...

What Commercial Real Estate Executives Think and Do About Energy Efficiency

Post / September 16, 2015

The 2014 Northwest Commercial Building Stock Assessment estimates the size of the Commercial Real Estate (CRE) market in the Northwest to be 1.6 billion square feet–a market of existing buildings that are prime candidates for energy and carbon reductions through...

New Construction Guide and the Architecture 2030 Challenge

Post / July 1, 2015

In 2006, Architecture 2030 took a bold step: Challenge everyone involved with the built environment — designers, owners, government, utilities, operators and tenants, everyone — to reach for the goal of Zero Net Energy by 2030. Using the average performance...

Northwest cities get help from NEEA to address worst performing buildings

Post / November 20, 2014

Existing buildings with aging equipment and infrastructure represent a tremendous opportunity for energy savings. But, without a mechanism to identify inefficient buildings and prioritize budgets for upgrades, it’s difficult to know where to start. Under a pilot program, funded by...

NBI and NIBS Convene a Stellar Cast for August Summit with Compelling Outcomes

Post / September 12, 2014

NBI was thrilled to partner with National Institute of Building Sciences (NIBS) to host the Getting to Outcome-Based Performance Summit in Seattle. Together with a handpicked group of leading thinkers and practitioners in high performance building design, construction and operations, we...

Government Leadership Creates Powerful Action on Deep Energy Efficiency and Climate Change

Post / April 9, 2014

Vermont, California, Kentucky, Pima County, Salt Lake City, Fort Collins, Washington DC. These communities are among those leading by example in setting zero net energy (ZNE) goals for both local policies and their own government buildings. Policymakers in these jurisdictions...

Case StudiesView All

Automated Window Treatment Case Study

Case Study / June 1, 2021

Several manufacturers offer innovative window treatment solutions that allow daylight into spaces while controlling for glare and allowing views to the outdoors. In this case study, we focus on Indoor Sky’s Daylighter Shading System. The system has two parts: automated…

California State University Dominguez Hills—James L. Welch Hall

Case Study / June 1, 2021

The Welch Hall building on the CSUDH campus partnered with the project team to retrofit their existing Enlighted lighting system and manual shades to the INTER package – which included LED lighting with Luminaire-level lighting control (LLLC), solar-powered automated shades,…

Santa Ana City Hall Tower on 20 Civic Center Plaza

Case Study / June 1, 2021

The City Hall building in Santa Ana sought to improve their indoor environment and save on energy costs with automated shades, upgraded lighting fixtures and networked lighting controls. The project updated the existing T8 lamps to LEDs and controlled the…

Radiant Cooling and Heating Systems

Case Study / September 13, 2017 / HVAC

Several buildings with radiant heating and cooling systems were studied under a California Energy Commission EPIC research project in 2016-2017 and those case studies are available here. While forced-air distribution systems remain the predominant approach to heating and cooling in…

Savings Verification for Performance Contracting

Case Study / December 23, 2015

Washington’s Department of General Administration supervised an energy system retrofit of Spokane’s Westlake State Hospital and then was responsible for verifying the energy savings resulting from the improvements. However, when the hospital’s energy management system experienced a partial loss of…

The Runaway Building

Case Study / December 23, 2015

EZ Sim showed its versatility and its accuracy when analyzing a building with run away winter energy bills. While the building was initially modeled using a traditional engineering method, EZ Sim provided a quicker alternative to identify the nature of…

EZ SIM – Shows Bonus Energy Savings for County Office Building

Case Study / December 23, 2015

When a county building’s facility manager wanted to know if it was time to upgrade the building’s heat pumps, EZ Sim’s detective work helped to uncover more savings in more places than she bargained.

New England Regional Council of Carpenters

Case Study / December 23, 2015

The New England Regional Council of Carpenters (NERCC) represents 22,000 carpenters, pile drivers, shop and mill men, and floorcoverers working in the New England states.

Gibney Family Vision Center

Case Study / December 23, 2015

The Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (VABVI), a non-profit organization founded in 1926, is the only private rehabilitation agency to offer free training, services and support to visually impaired Vermonters of all ages. VABVI offices are located…

Fidelity Bank

Case Study / December 23, 2015

Fidelity Bank is one of the oldest and continually growing independent, local community banks in Central Massachusetts. In January 2007, the bank opened its new Corporate Center and Branch in Leominster, Massachusetts. The four-story building includes office space as well…

Duxbury Bay Maritime School

Case Study / December 23, 2015

Serving more than 1,800 students annually, the not-for-profit Duxbury Bay Maritime School aims to connect the community through educational and recreational programs with its primary resource, Duxbury Bay.

Child and Family of Newport County

Case Study / December 23, 2015

Child and Family of Newport County (CF) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening families and communities through services such as preschool childcare, counseling, home care for the elderly and disabled, substance abuse education, home-based child welfare, transitional housing for…

Abraham Lincoln Elementary School

Case Study / December 23, 2015

In September 2010, the Abraham Lincoln Elementary School opened its new green building, ready to accommodate 600 students. This new building includes masonry and steel construction, a 3,300 square foot state-of-the-art library and media center, a 5,700 square foot gymnasium,…

New Construction Project Directory & Case Studies

Case Study / December 23, 2015

Information about New Construction projects that have utilized Core Performance are available here and, when available, include links to case studies or project profiles.

StopWaste

Case Study / June 6, 2012

In March 2007, 31 staff at StopWaste.Org moved into a renovated building in downtown Oakland, California. Their goal was to transform a dilapidated, 14,000 SF, two-story structure into an attractive and environmentally responsible building. Built in 1926, the building is…

FirstView and USGBC Building Performance

Case Study / May 18, 2012

NBI's FirstView™ software and services have been used on over 200 LEED buildings involved in the U.S. Green Building Council’s Building Performance Partnership (BPP). BPP is a voluntary program designed to improve the performance of green buildings by providing a…

Alliance Center

Case Study / April 27, 2012

The Alliance for Sustainable Colorado launched a project titled “Modeling a Net Zero Future: Energy Efficiency in Existing Buildings” to explore options that will enable it to approach a zero-net energy goal. Several documents developed for the project are referenced…

Joseph Vance Building

Case Study / April 27, 2012

Since its acquisition, significant investments have been made to renovate this building in Seattle to improve energy efficiency and environmental performance, as well as tenant experience. Occupancy increased from 68% to 96% and has seen increased rents, tenant retention and…

200 Market Building

Case Study / April 27, 2012

The 200 Market building in Portland, OR, has made continuous energy retrofits and system improvements. These efforts have moved the building from an ENERGY STAR score of 79 in 2006 to a score of 98 (out of 100) in 2010,…

Beardmore Building

Case Study / April 27, 2012

The Beardmore in Priest River, Idaho has the distinction of being one of the few buildings in the country that is both LEED Gold certified and on the National Register of Historic Places. The project demonstrates a very successful renovation…

Home On The Range

Case Study / April 27, 2012

This Project Profile builds on a case study prepared by USGBC, including data on energy performance for one year, and provides updated owner feedback and energy use data. The actual energy use of the building in Billings, MT, is 46…

Mercy Corps Headquarters

Case Study / April 27, 2012

This building in Portland, OR is 50% historic renovation and 50% new construction. The information in this profile addresses both the renovated and the new parts of the building. Pursuing energy efficiency supports their mission of sustainability, and lower operating…

1525 Wilson Boulevard

Case Study / April 27, 2012

This all-electric building in Rossyln, VA used a combination of energy efficiency strategies, including replacing HVAC and lighting systems and providing tenant education. Energy use was reduced by 35% in just one year, resulting in savings over $250,000 on energy…

A Case For Deep Savings: 11 Case studies of Deep Energy Retrofits

Case Study / August 23, 2011

For NEEA’s BetterBricks program, New Buildings Institute investigated* 11 examples of energy retrofits in existing commercial buildings that, on average, use 50% less energy than the national average – most with an energy use intensity (EUI) of less than 40…

Measured Performance Case Study: Science & Engineering Building 1, UC Merced

Case Study / January 26, 2010

Science & Engineering (S&E) Building I is one of five buildings in the initial phase of development at UC Merced. This case study examines the actual post-occupancy energy performance of S&E in relation to design elements and objectives.

Measured Performance Case Study: Classroom & Office Building, UC Merced

Case Study / January 26, 2010

The Classroom and Office Building (COB) examined in this case study is one of five buildings in the initial phase of development at UC Merced. This case study examines the actual post-occupancy performance of COB in relation to design elements…

Tools & Guides

GridOptimal Measure Analysis Tool and Utility Programs Guidance

Online Tool / February 1, 2022

Energy efficiency strategies, or measures, can have impacts well beyond simply saving energy. The time of day and season of energy savings is increasingly important. This interactive tool enables you to explore the time-of-use implications of a variety of energy…

GridOptimal Design and Operations Guidance

Guideline / October 26, 2021

These easy-to-understand fact sheets are available for six building types and seven regions across the United States and provide key context and recommend selected high-impact building design and operations strategies. The GridOptimal Buildings Initiative aims to improve building-grid interactions across…

Controlling Comfort and Energy in Offices: Upgrading to Automated Shades and Advanced Lighting for Occupant and Owner Benefits

Guideline / August 27, 2021

Interior lighting and window shading innovations have advanced leaps and bounds in the past two decades. Each innovation offers benefits to existing buildings, ranging from improved occupant comfort and wellbeing to significant energy savings. Geared toward building owners and operators,…

GridOptimal Factsheet

Factsheet / May 19, 2020

This factsheet outlines the key components of the GridOptimal Buildings Initiative and explains how buildings can support grid operation and decarbonization. Learn about the challenges of modern grid management, how buildings can be a part of the solution to support…

FirstView

FirstView / October 15, 2018 / Benchmarking & Feedback

FirstView is a software tool that enables building owners and designers to extract more targeted and useful energy performance information from basic data inputs. The software takes in basic building data and one year’s energy usage and uses multivariable regression…

Public Buildings Portfolio Management

Guideline / January 11, 2018 / Existing Buildings

Hundreds of Mayors across the United State have made formal commitments to the Paris Climate Accord. Others have signed onto the 2030 Challenge and/or the Better Buildings Challenge. To meet these goals, an effective strategy to track, manage, and improve…

Multifamily Building Guide

Guideline / September 6, 2017

NBI's Multifamily Guide offers an advanced standard that addresses the issues faced when applying building code to multifamily buildings. This single prescriptive standard delivers savings regardless of whether the project is subject to the residential or commercial versions of the…

HVAC Primer

Guideline / June 14, 2017

This primer describes energy savings opportunities and context for packaged rooftop units (RTUs) for utility energy managers and their trade allies. RTUs are ubiquitous in commercial spaces but are also a difficult market to reach. Analysis shows many opportunities for…

Quantifying the Water-Energy Nexus at the Building Project Scale

Online Tool / June 1, 2017 / Water-Energy Nexus

NBI has laid the groundwork to connect the water-energy nexus at the power plant with the energy consumed at the building level. With the support of existing research and funding from the Edwards Mother Earth Foundation, NBI has created a…

SMARTScale

Online Tool / February 21, 2017 / Existing Buildings

Introducing SMARTScale... In 2014, the US Department of Energy (DOE) awarded a grant to NBI partner Ecology Action to create and demonstrate a nationally scalable model targeted to utility and public benefits efficiency program operators for delivering deep retrofits in…

Daylighting Pattern Guide

Online Tool / December 20, 2015 / Daylighting

The Daylighting Pattern Guide is a free, interactive tool that helps design teams incorporate proven daylighting strategies into commercial building projects for substantial reductions in lighting power consumption and overall building energy use.

New Construction Guide

Guideline / December 12, 2015

Increasing energy code stringency and owner demand for higher efficiency in buildings are challenging design teams to deliver high performance without adding costs. The New Construction Guide offers a comprehensive prescriptive approach to new commercial construction projects that achieves efficiencies…

FirstView for Multifamily Buildings

Online Tool / May 27, 2014

Multifamily buildings offer a largely untapped opportunity for improving energy efficiency. Despite tremendous potential for savings, the multifamily market is hard to penetrate due to complexities in market structure and split incentives. More and more attention is being paid to…

Plug Load Best Practices Guide

Guideline / July 17, 2012

The Plug Load Best Practices Guide outlines no-cost and low-cost measures for reducing the energy and costs associated with plug loads, or any device that is plugged into a building’s electrical system—think computers, printers and data servers. The guide, based…

Core Performance Guide

Guideline / January 27, 2012

The Core Performance Guide is a prescriptive path was first published in 2007. The Core Performance Guide offered a prescriptive approach to achieving high levels of energy efficiency above contemporary energy codes. It was also included in previous versions of…