The DOE wants to reduce the amount of energy used by commercial buildings from about 19% of total US energy consumption to 0% by 2025. The goal is cost-effective net-zero energy commercial buildings-grid-connected buildings that, over the course of a year, generate as much energy as they consume.

The DOE kicked off its Zero-Net Energy Commercial Building Initiative last year by establishing the National Laboratory Collaborative on Building Technologies and developing the Commercial Building Energy Alliances. The Commercial Building Initiative focuses on "turning tomorrow's buildings into domestic energy assets by constructing energy-efficient, high-performance buildings that expeditiously and cost-effectively achieve sustainable carbon reductions and enable, through energy-efficient buildings, higher ROIs for building owners and occupants as well as to economy as a whole," says Drury B. Crawley.

Crawley, team leader in commercial buildings research and development for the DOE's Building Technology Programs, says DOE formed the Commercial Building Energy Alliances "to accelerate the improvements in building technologies and the commercialization of these products."

Each Commercial Building Energy Alliance brings together industry experts who can influence the energy footprints of the companies or institutions they represent, Crawley says. Although members meet face-to-face only twice a year, they are encouraged to network by phone and online to discuss energy challenges, share non-proprietary information, conduct energy saving assessments and cut the cost of high-efficiency building equipment through group purchases. They can also benefit from the technical assistance of the DOE, he added.

For more information: The DOE lists the tax deductions that are available for improving the energy efficiency of commercial buildings, as well as links to qualified software available for calculating the savings.