Energy & Advocacy News


>>Housing Innovation Award Winners

Source: energy.gov
DOE presented Housing Innovation Awards to 28 industry leaders at the Energy Environmental Building Alliance’s Excellence in Building Conference in St. Louis, Missouri in late September. These leaders are at the forefront of a revolution. You may think it is calm now -- it usually is right before the storm – but be prepared. Zero energy ready homes are in the news daily.  A recent study by Navigant Research expects the zero energy building market to grow to $1.4 trillion by 2035.  Learn more about how each of these winners has prepared for the future today and get ideas for your preparations. 

>>EPA Releases Guidance to Improve Schools’ Indoor Air Quality and Energy Efficiency 
Source: epa.gov
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released new guidance to help school districts protect indoor air quality while increasing energy efficiency during school renovations. 

Both energy management and protection of indoor air quality (IAQ) are important considerations for school facility management during energy upgrades and retrofits, and schools can protect occupant health by addressing both goals holistically. These renovation and construction activities can create dust, introduce new contaminants and contaminant pathways, create or aggravate moisture problems, and result in inadequate ventilation in occupied spaces. EPA’s Energy Savings Plus Health: Indoor Air Quality Guidelines for School Building Upgrades offers opportunities to prevent and control potentially harmful conditions during school renovations. Read more here.
 
>>Updates from the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
Source: energy.gov
The current issue of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Building America Update newsletter addresses:

-Presenting the 2014 Housing Innovation Awards!
-Registration and Webinar for the 2015 Race to Zero Student Design Competition: Deadline Is Dec. 15, 2014
-Notice of Intent: Building America Industry Partnership for High Performance Housing Innovation
-New Building America Code Compliance Brief—Floor Insulation
-Zero Energy Ready Home Webinars and Trainings
-October 2014 Residential Successes: 2014 Housing Innovation Awards
-Building America in the News
-New Publications from Building America

Click here to access the most current Building America Update. Learn more about the Building America program.