Better Buildings and Better Plants Initiative

Better Buildings and Better Plants Initiative is sponsored by U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation. Encourages commercial businesses, industrial organizations, data centers, universities, states, municipalities, school districts, and other building owners to improve energy efficiency.

At the annual Better Buildings & Better Plants Summit today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced new Better Buildings & Better Plants Initiatives to help organizations in all sectors of the U.S. economy save energy while reducing costs and emissions.

Among the new initiatives is the Better Buildings & Better Plants Initiative Commercial Building Heat Pump Accelerator, through which manufacturers will produce higher efficiency and life cycle cost-effective heat pump rooftop units and commercial organizations will evaluate and adopt next-generation heat pump technology.

DOE’s Better Buildings & Better Plants Initiative is partnering with leaders in the public and private sectors to advance next-generation solutions, promote climate leadership, and support workforce development—underscoring the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to drive energy innovation, lower energy costs, and address the climate crisis.

DOE also announced the following at the Summit today: * Recognizing Leadership: More than 40 organizations received Better Project, Better Practice and Climate Finance Innovator awards for their industry-leading accomplishments in decarbonization, energy and water efficiency, or waste reduction.

65 organizations were recognized as recipients of the tenth annual Green Lease Leaders awards for their leadership in leveraging green leases for the advancement of sustainability or net zero goals.

* New Working Groups on Decarbonization: DOE launched three new working groups for Better Climate Challenge partners focusing on central plant decarbonization, shifting to low-impact refrigerants, and financial strategies for industrial decarbonization.

* Sharing Successful Pathways: DOE’s Better Buildings & Better Plants Solution Center has been overhauled to improve navigation, functionality, and design, focusing on a new, powerful search platform to more effectively filter 3,000+ efficiency and decarbonization solutions. Read the full press release. View the 2024 Spring Handout.

_New Report Recognizes Public and Private Sector Partners for Accelerating Climate Solutions and Significantly Cutting Harmful Greenhouse Gas Emissions_ **WASHINGTON, D. C. —**The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today published the “_2023 Better Buildings Initiative Progress Report_,” which summarizes the achievements of DOE’s Better Buildings public and private sector partners since the initiative’s inception in 2011.

The report shows that partnering entities, including more than 900 businesses, state and local governments, utilities, housing authorities, and other public and private organizations, to date have collectively saved $18. 5 billion through efficiency improvements and cut harmful carbon dioxide emissions by nearly 190 million metric tons— an amount roughly equivalent to combined annual emissions of 24 million homes.

This report also includes the results of the Better Climate Challenge, an initiative that challenges major building portfolio owners and industrial partners to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 50% within 10 years. In year one of the Challenge, partners have reported on nearly 1 billion square feet of buildings and 1,500 industrial plants.

“To meet President Biden’s ambitious climate goals, the public and private sector need practical pathways to reduce emissions while cutting costs—and that’s exactly what they get from DOE’s Better Building Initiative,” said**U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm****.

**“We’re proud to partner with hundreds of businesses from every pocket of the nation to develop and deploy the innovative solutions we need to combat the climate crisis and secure our clean energy future.

” * U.S. Department of Energy Press Release * Read the 2023 Progress Report The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recognized Better Buildings, Better Plants partner Waupaca Foundry, Inc. for energy efficiency advances made in its Waupaca, Wisconsin facilities. DOE staff toured Waupaca’s Plant 1 to see firsthand examples of the efficiency innovations made throughout its portfolio.

As the world’s largest iron foundry, Waupaca melts up to 9,500 tons of iron per day. The company committed six facilities across the U.S. as an inaugural Better Plants partner and has reduced energy intensity by more than 20% to date. Since joining Better Plants, Waupaca's commitment has expanded to include decarbonization through participation in DOE's Low Carbon Pilot and Better Climate Challenge.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released the2022 Better Plants Progress Update. The report highlights the leadership of more than 270 manufacturers and water utilities who partner with DOE to increase energy and water efficiency. Collectively, these partners have saved $10.

6 billion in energy costs, 2. 2 quadrillion British thermal units (Btus) of energy, and more than 130 million metric tons of CO2. "Decarbonizing the industrial sector is one of our great challenges,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency Carolyn Snyder.

“Better Plants partners are rising to the challenge and showing leadership by prioritizing energy efficiency and sharing best practices with their peers. Industrial partners save energy and money while creating good-paying jobs, strengthening our economy, and driving market innovation.

” As part of the Better Buildings Initiative, Better Plants works with industrial partners to develop, implement, and share technologies and best practices to increase energy and water efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in manufacturing plants and other industrial facilities. Partners represent every major U.S. industrial sector, comprising 14% of the domestic manufacturing footprint and 3,600 facilities across the country.

Better Plants partners voluntarily pledge to reduce portfolio-wide energy intensity by 25% over 10 years. DOE works with partners to meet their goals by providing technical assistance, peer-to-peer learning, technology validation and training, and workforce development. To date, Better Plants partners have achieved more than 75 energy or water goals.

* 2022 Better Plants Progress Update _New Report Recognizes 12 Organizations for Achieving Energy and Water Goals; Highlights New Partners in Better Climate Challenge_ **WASHINGTON, D. C. —**The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $15.

3 billion in energy savings through the Better Buildings Initiative, a public-private partnership with more than 900 businesses, state and local governments, utilities, housing authorities, and other organizations across the United States pursuing ambitious energy, waste, water, and/or greenhouse gas reduction goals and sharing their solutions.

These savings represent 155 million metric tons of carbon emissions, or roughly the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by 20 million homes in one year. Decarbonizing America’s building sector is a key part of President Biden’s plan to reach a net-zero carbon economy by 2050.

“Leading companies, state and local governments, and other organizations are working with DOE’s Better Buildings program and have committed to using less energy, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and sharing the solutions that work,” said**U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm**.

“This year’s progress report underscores the incredible impact of those commitments in decarbonizing the sectors responsible for over 35% of America’s emissions. Our partners are leading the way to a prosperous clean-energy economy and a healthier planet.

” Since 2011, the Better Buildings Initiative has partnered with leaders in the public and private sectors to improve the energy efficiency of American homes, commercial buildings, and industrial plants. Better Buildings partners commit to expanding their investments in energy-saving technologies, sharing best practices, and measuring their progress toward pre-determined goals.

The 2022 Better Buildings Progress Report, released today during the program’s annual Summit, summarizes the achievements of Better Buildings partners, which include 36 of the country’s Fortune 100 companies, 10 of the top 25 U.S. employers, and more than 100 state and local governments. Together these companies represent 14% of the American manufacturing energy consumption footprint and 13% of total commercial building space.

* Read the 2022 Progress Report _**During Scotland Visit, Sec. Granholm Launched Third Energy Earthshot, Established Major Initiatives with International Partners to Accelerate Emissions Reductions**_ **WASHINGTON, D. C.

**–U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm traveled to Glasgow, Scotland for the 26th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(COP26).

As a key member of the U.S. delegation, the Secretary convened a series of bilateral and multilateral meetings with her international counterparts to drive forward collaboration that will raise global climate ambition,accelerate the pace of clean energy innovation and deployment, and create millions of jobs in a clean energy economy, at home and abroad.

In the U.S. Pavilion on the COP26 stage, the Secretary was joined by the Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, to announce Net Zero World—DOE’s flagship contribution to President Biden’s Build Back Better World (B3W) initiative.

Through Net Zero World, countries announced they will work with the United States in a whole-of-government approach and with DOE’s 17 national laboratories, along with private entities, to create and implement tailored, actionable technology road maps and investment strategies that put net zero within reach.

**Additional DOE announcements made at COP26 to advance climate and clean energy goals include:** * **The Better Climate Challenge**—DOEis challengingcompanies, states, municipalities, and other organizations to commit to reducing emissions from enterprise-wide operations—that’s buildings and manufacturing—by at least 50% within 10 years.

DOE will support their efforts with technical assistance and peer to peer learning to share solutions to reduce emissions from their facilities and fleets and through power purchasing decisions. This effort will build on over a decade of experience through the Better Buildings Initiative. DOE has started engaging leaders across the U.S. economy leading to 32 organizations already joining the Better Climate Challenge.

Learn more. * **U.S. Nuclear Technology Sales to Romania**— Secretary Granholm and Romanian Minster of Energy Virgil Popescu announced a new agreement to build a “first-of-a-kind” small modular reactor (SMR) plant in Romania in partnership with U.S. NuScale Power, bringing the latest civil nuclear technology to a critical part of Europe. Learn more.

* **Global Clean Technology Incubator Network**— DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory will partner with other national labs, technical institutions, investors and corporations, governments, and philanthropies around the world to create a global network of clean energy incubators.

This public-private partnership will work with entrepreneurs and corporations to scale up the development, financing, and adoption of low to zero emission clean energy innovations in emerging and developed markets. Partners from India, South Africa, Chile, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Norway, South Korea are ready to team with U.S. counterparts on this incubator initiative.

* **H2 Twin Cities Launch**—H2 Twin Cities will accelerate hydrogen deployments by having regions and communities pair up and showcase best practices and lessons learned to ramp up scale.

Through H2 Twin Cities, communities will partner to share ideas, mentor and learn from each other, build a community of hydrogen best practices, and strengthen global action to make environmental justice, social equity, and clean energy jobs central to hydrogen deployment.

This initiative is being launched in collaboration with other countries and part of the United States’ deliverables under the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) Hydrogen Initiative.

* **Global Nuclear Energy Transitions and Communities**—The Nuclear Energy Transitions and Communities initiative and the CEM Researching Impacts on Social Equity and Economic Empowerment (RISE3) Expert Group will accelerate the replacement of unabated coal plants with new advanced nuclear technologies through breakthrough nuclear innovations.

These initiatives will provide expert resources and create a blueprint for countries transitioning to a clean and just energy economy with nuclear as a key pillar. The initiative will focus on nuclear’s role in advancing environmental justice and equity; integrating variable renewable resources to the grid;and uplifting economies and quality of life, especially through coal plant conversions.

DOE is challenging companies, states, municipalities, and other organizations to set ambitious, portfolio-wide, and near-term operational greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals to demonstrate leadership and share real-world pathways to address climate change.

Through the Better Climate Challenge, partners will commit to a portfolio-wide goal of at least 50% by 2030 and DOE will support their efforts with technical assistance and peer-to-peer learning to share solutions to reduce emissions from their facilities and through power purchasing decisions.

This effort will build on over a decade of experience through the Better Buildings Initiative to drive portfolio-wide accountable and transparent commitments across the public and private sectors to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the commercial, industrial, and multifamily sector, while providing whole-of-government technical assistance to help those companies/organizations meet their targets.

DOE has started engaging leaders across the U.S. economy. There are already**32**organizations that have joined Better Climate Challenge. Learn more here.

On Thursday, October 14, 2021, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) released theFall 2021 Better Buildings, Better Plants progress update. The report highlights more than 250 manufacturers and water utilities that have introduced energy efficiency and decarbonization measures, cumulatively saving $9. 3 billion in energy costs and 1.

9 quadrillion British thermal units (Btus) -- more energy than the state of Wisconsin consumes in a year. The Better Buildings, Better Plants Program aims to decarbonize the industrial sector and the progress and success of its partners' achievements will help accelerate the Biden-Harris Administration’s climate goals of a net-zero economy by 2050.

“The industrial sector is one of the hardest to decarbonize, but America’s market leaders are leaning into the challenge to deliver cleaner air for all,” said**Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm.

**“DOE’s Better Buildings, Better Plants Program is helping industry partners develop, implement, and share cutting-edge technologies and practices that save energy and money, protect our environment, and increase our nation's competitiveness." DOE’s Better Plants program partners include every major U.S. industrial sector representing almost 14% of the domestic manufacturing footprint and 3,500 facilities across the country.

By joining Better Plants, partners voluntarily pledge to reduce portfolio-wide energy intensity by roughly 25% over 10 years. DOE works with partners to meet ambitious energy and sustainability goals by providing technical assistance, peer-to-peer learning, technology validation and training, and workforce development.

More than 60 partner organizations have met and, in some cases,substantially exceededthe energy and water goals established by Better Plants. * **U.S. Department of Energy Press Release** * **2021 Better Plants Progress Update** According to a new report released today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)’sBetter Buildings Initiative, in collaboration with nearly 1,000 businesses, government, and other partners, saved $13.

5 billion in energy costs and more than 130 million metric tons of carbon emissions in the past year—equivalent to the greenhouse gases emitted by 28. 2 million vehicles in a single year. These building efficiency improvements are key to reaching President Biden’s goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

“Through Better Buildings, leading organizations across the U.S. are demonstrating their commitment to use energy more efficiently,” said**Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm**. “In partnership with DOE, they are sharing the solutions needed to tackle our climate crisis, create jobs, and build healthy, safe, and thriving communities.

” Since 2011, the Better Buildings Initiative has partnered with leaders in the public and private sectors to make the nation’s homes, commercial buildings, and industrial plants more energy efficient by accelerating investment upgrades and products and sharing best practices.

The2021 Better Buildings Progress Reportreleased today outlines the progress and collaboration of Better Buildings partners, which represent more than 30 of the country’s Fortune 100 companies, 12 of the top 25 U.S. employers, 12% of the U.S. manufacturing energy footprint, and 13% of total commercial building space, as well as 17 federal agencies, eight national laboratories, and more than 80 states and local governments.

The report also highlights the12 organizationsthat achieved their Better Buildings Challenge energy, water, or financing goals in the past year.

* **U.S. Department of Energy Press Release** * **2021 Better Buildings Progress Report** Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced the launch of the Industrial Technology Validation (ITV) pilot to validate and accelerate the adoption of cost-effective, emerging technologies with the potential to generate significant operational efficiency improvements for the U.S. industrial sector and water and wastewater treatment facilities.

“Under the Better Buildings Initiative, DOE is proud to partner with industry in support of American energy competitiveness,” said Deputy Secretary of Energy Mark W. Menezes. “Participants are teaming with innovative technology vendors to realize significant energy savings for American businesses and consumers.

” * **Read the full U.S. Department of Energy News Release** The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced thatBetter Buildings, Better Plants partners have cumulatively saved more than $8 billion in energy costs and 1. 7 quadrillion British thermal units (BTUs). More than 235 organizations now partner with DOE through Better Plants.

This year, DOE welcomed 20 new partners to the program and challenge, representing 3,200 facilities and roughly 12% of the U.S. manufacturing energy footprint. These partners come from all 50 states, Washington, D. C.

, and Puerto Rico, and include Fortune 100 companies, family-owned small businesses, and water treatment organizations. “Better Plants Partners exemplify the innovative spirit of American manufacturing,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency Alex Fitzsimmons.

“These partners are developing, implementing, and sharing innovative, energy-efficient practices that help their organizations save energy and money, which in turn helps the U.S. economy stay competitive.

” * **Read the full U.S. Department of Energy News Release** The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has announced nearly $11 billion in energy-cost savings by more than 950 public and private sector organizations in DOE’s Better Buildings Initiative. To date, partners have saved nearly 1. 8 quadrillion British thermal units of energy, which is equivalent to the electricity consumption of 27 million homes in America over one year.

The2020 Better Buildings Progress Report, released at theBetter Buildings, Better Plants Virtual Leadership Symposium, details partners’ progress in advancing energy productivity and highlights the 20 organizations that achieved their energy efficiency goals in the past year. DOE also recognized partners that met previous challenge goals and have set new goals to achieve even greater energy efficiency.

* **U.S. Department of Energy News Release** Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recognizedBetter Buildings, Better PlantspartnerTE Connectivityfor energy productivity advances made in its Lickdale, Pennsylvania, plant. The 254,000-square-foot plant employs 500 people and manufactures electrical connectors and contacts used in many applications, primarily household appliances.

Through its energy-efficiency efforts, the facility saves more than $200,000 per year in energy costs and nearly 10 billion British thermal units, compared to a 2012 baseline. * U.S. Department of Energy news release Today, the Department of Energy (DOE) announced that Better Buildings, Better Plants partners have cumulatively saved $6. 7 billion in energy costs and more than 1.

3 quadrillion British thermal units (BTUs). More than 220 organizations now partner with DOE through Better Plants; DOE welcomed 22 new companies to the program this year. These partners have more than 3,200 facilities and represent roughly 12% of the U.S. manufacturing energy footprint.

* **U.S. Department of Energy News Release** Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recognized the energy productivity achievements ofEastman Chemical, a global advanced materials and specialty additives company headquartered in Kingsport, Tennessee.

As a partner inDOE’s Better Plants Challenge, Eastman committed to improving its energy performance across all U.S. operations by 20%, from a 2008 baseline, while sharing strategies and results. Eastman has improved its energy productivity by approximately 12% since joining, putting the company more than halfway toward its goal.

"By partnering with companies like Eastman to lower energy costs, the Better Plants program is helping to improve manufacturing competitiveness in the United States,” said Daniel R. Simmons, Assistant Secretary for the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Office at DOE. Simmons visited Eastman’s Kingsport headquarters, the partner’sShowcase Project, and toured the facility."

Seeing first-hand the energy productivity gains that Eastman has accomplished at their Tennessee operations, one of the largest chemical manufacturing sites in North America, it’s clear they have a model for other U.S. manufacturers to follow. Their energy productivity gains help cut costs, create jobs, and drive economic growth."

* **U.S. Department of Energy News Release** The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) launched the Individuals Taking Energy Action in Manufacturing (ITEAM) prize, a competition designed to identify and attract attention to a wide range of ideas and practices that are driving measurable energy savings at U.S. manufacturing plants to stimulate innovation at other facilities.

The ITEAM Prize is a means to find individuals who were responsible for creative, specific, and innovative ideas and practices that led to significant, measurable energy savings at their manufacturing facilities; and encourage those individuals to widely share their ideas and practices for the benefit of U.S. manufacturing facilities nationwide.

DOE is dedicating up to $75,000 for these awards, and will select up to five winners in each category of small, medium, and large manufacturers, for a total of up to 15 winners. Each winner will be awarded a cash prize of $5,000.

In addition to the cash prize, the winners will be recognized and given an opportunity to present their submissions at the annual Better Buildings & Better Plants Summit and/or the World Energy Engineering Congress or a similar event.

Winning ideas and practices will be highlighted on DOE’s Better Buildings & Better Plants Solutions Center website and winners may have an opportunity to participate in webinars and other events to share their ideas and practices with other organizations. * U.S. Department of Energy News Release Today DOE announced that Better Buildings, Better Plants Program partners have reported a savings of more than $5.

3 billion in cumulative energy costs. This represents approximately 12% of the U.S. manufacturing energy footprint. DOE is recognizing 12 new program partners, as well as 10 partners that have achieved their energy or water savings goal this year, bringing the total number of partners who have achieved their goals to 53.

More than 200 partners in the Better Plants program are reducing energy costs that increase productivity, create jobs, and strengthen manufacturing competitiveness. Read the full2018 Better Plants Annual Updatereport to learn more about the successes and how the Better Plants program plans to boost competitiveness through improvements in energy efficiency.

* **U.S. Department of Energy News Release** * **2018 Better Plants Progress Update** Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recognized 19Better Buildings & Better Plants Challengepartners who achieved their energy productivity goals for 2018 and 26 partners who have set new Challenge goals after meeting their initial goals.

Since the start of this voluntary program, Better Buildings & Better Plants Challenge partners together have saved $3. 1 billion in energy-cost savings and 380 trillion British thermal units of energy. Since the start of the program, more than 65 partners and financial allies have met their energy efficiency, water efficiency and/or financing goals ahead of schedule.

Many of these goal achievers have publicly committed to new Challenge goals, demonstrating that continual energy efficiency improvement is possible even after sizable gains have already been made.

DOE recognizes the following partners for achieving the energy, water, and financial goals they set as partners in the Better Buildings & Better Plants Challenge: * **Anthem, Inc (energy and water) – Indianapolis, Indiana** * **Ascension (energy) – St. Louis, Missouri** * **Bank of America Merrill Lynch (financial) – New York, New York** * **C. F.

Martin & Co.

, Inc. (energy) – Nazareth, Pennsylvania** * **Citi (financial) – New York, New York** * **City of Chicago, Illinois (energy) – Chicago, Illinois** * **Columbia Association (energy) – Columbia, Maryland** * **EDF Renewables (financial) – San Diego, California** * **General Motors (energy) – Detroit, Michigan** * **Jersey City Housing Authority (energy) – Jersey City, New Jersey** * **Legrand (energy) – Hartford, Connecticut** * **Metrus Energy (financial) – San Francisco, California** * **New York City Energy Efficiency Corporation (financial) – New York, New York** * **PACE Equity (financial) – Milwaukee, Wisconsin** * **Shari’s Café & Pies (water) – Beaverton, Oregon** * **Sol Systems (financial) – Washington, D.

C.

** * **State of North Carolina (energy)** * **Tower Companies (water) – Rockville, Maryland** * **UW Health (energy) – Middleton, Wisconsin** The following partners have met their goals previously and are being recognized today for setting new Challenge goals to achieve even greater energy and/or water efficiency: * **3M – 30% reduction in energy intensity by 2025** * **Bank America Merrill Lynch – an additional $3 billion in funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects** * **Bentley Mills – 25% reduction in energy intensity by 2024** * **Cardington Yutaka Technologies – 25% reduction in energy intensity by 2029** * **Celanese – 15% reduction in energy intensity by 2020** * **Citi - $2.

25 billion in funding committed for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects** * **City of Hillsboro, OR – 20% reduction in energy intensity by 2025** * **City of West Palm Beach, FL – 15% reduction in energy intensity by 2025** * **Enterprise Community Partners - $130 million in funding committed for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects** * **Hannon Armstrong - $1 billion in funding committed for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects** * **HARBEC – 25% reduction in energy intensity by 2025** * **Havertys – 30% reduction in energy intensity by 2019** * **Legrand – 20% reduction in energy intensity by 2025** * **Lennox International – 25% reduction in energy intensity by 2025** * **Metrus Energy - $175 million in funding committed for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects** * **Nissan North America – 15% reduction in energy intensity by 2022** * **River Trails School District 26, IL – 30% reduction in energy intensity by 2026** * **Schneider Electric – 20% reduction in energy intensity by 2028** * **Shorenstein Properties LLC – 40% reduction in energy intensity by 2025** * **TE Connectivity – 25% reduction in energy intensity by 2024** * **Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. – 20% reduction in energy intensity by 2026** * **United Technologies Corporation (UTC) – 17.

5% reduction in energy intensity by 2020** * **University of California, Irvine – 40% reduction in energy intensity by 2020** * **UW Health – 34% reduction in energy intensity by 2027** * **Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority – 60% reduction in energy intensity by 2025** * **Volvo Group North America – 25% reduction in energy intensity by 2024** DOE aims to make commercial, public, industrial, and residential buildings 20% more energy efficient over the next decade as part of the Better Buildings & Better Plants Initiative.

Greater energy efficiency saves billions of dollars, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and creates U.S. jobs. More than 900 Better Buildings partners are sharing their innovative approaches and successful strategies to accelerate the adoption of energy efficient technologies. Discover more than 1,500 proven solutions in theBetter Buildings & Better Plants Solution Center.

* **U.S. Department of Energy News Release** ## Energy Department Brings Energy Training and Peer Event to Cleveland to Expand Progress in Resilient Energy and Water Management in Federal Facilities The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is hosting theEnergy Exchange and Better Buildings Summit, the largest DOE training, trade show, and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing event of the year, in Cleveland, Ohio, from August 21–23, 2018.

Co-sponsored by DOE’sFederal Energy Management ProgramandBetter Buildings Initiative, the event is an annual, collaborative forum between the federal government, industry, and state and local stakeholders within the building, energy, water, and transportation communities.

Thought leaders will convene to work toward accelerating the adoption of energy and water efficiency, integrated resilience, emerging and secure technologies, and replicable renewable energy solutions.

This year’s event features more than 200 technical training sessions and serves as DOE’s most dynamic opportunity to share best practices, provide technical information and tools, and offer accredited training to federal facility and energy managers.

DOE will recognize innovative private sector partners and federal leaders at the FEDS Spotlight and Better Buildings Challenge Partner Recognition sessions and will provide on-site technical expertise alongside experts from the national laboratories at the Ask-an-Expert Lounge. * U.S. Department of Energy News Release _The Opening Plenary begins at 8:30 a. m.

Tuesday, August 21, and features speakers from FEMP, the Defense Department, the Department of Homeland Security, and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. On Tuesday afternoon, attendees can participate in Showcase Building Tours.

Better Buildings partners and other Cleveland-area organizations are opening their doors to share the insights and experiences behind their energy- and water-efficient properties and the strategies that help them achieve their goals. Tour groups will meet in Grand Ballroom C at the Huntington Convention Center by 2 p. m.

to check in, sign a waiver, and be guided to their destination. A limited number of walk-on spaces will be available; these are first-come, first-serve.

_ _Wednesday features Better Buildings Sector meet-ups, keynote speakers - including the mayor of Cleveland, chairman of the Ohio PUC, and C-suite executives from Legrand and Cleveland Clinic - the Resilience Roundtable and Buildings and the Grid roundtable discussions, and a reception for all attendees from 5:30 - 7:30 p. m.

Throughout the conference Tuesday-Thursday, technical experts from the national labs, FEMP, and more will be staffing the Ask-an-Expert Lounge outside the Energy Exchange Trade Show. _ The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) recognized the energy productivity achievements ofC. F.

Martin & Co. ® (Martin Guitar)"), a Nazareth, Pennsylvania-based guitar manufacturer and a partner in DOE’sBetter Plants Challenge. As a partner in DOE’s Better Plants Challenge, Martin Guitar committed to improving its energy performance across all of their U.S. operations by 25% within 10 years while sharing their strategies and results.

Martin Guitar, founded in 1833 and continuously family owned and operated for six generations, achieved this energy efficiency milestone only two years after joining the program.

* U.S. Department of Energy News Release The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the progress made by more than 900 public and private-sector organizations that are driving energy efficiency in the U.S. economy through their participation in the Better Buildings Initiative. This includes 380 trillion Btus, or $3.

1 billion in reported cumulative energy and cost savings from the set of market leaders that have stepped up to the Better Buildings Challenge. Moreover, partners across the Better Buildings Initiative are sharing their innovative approaches and successful strategies to accelerate the adoption of energy efficient technologies and practices.

The2018 Better Buildings Progress Reportreleased today highlights this progress in the commercial, industrial, residential and public sectors to improve energy productivity. "Partners in the Better Buildings Initiative are achieving impressive energy savings worthy of celebration," said U.S. Secretary of Energy Rick Perry. "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 Initiative has grown to encompass more than 900 organizations, which represents 30 of the country’s Fortune 100 companies, 12 of the top 25 U.S. employers, 12% of the U.S. manufacturing energy footprint, and 13% of total commercial building space, as well as 28 states and close to 100 cities and counties across the nation.

* U.S. Department of Energy Press Release The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today unveiled the fourth installment of the "Better Buildings Challenge SWAP," featuring General Motors and L'Oréal USA.