Buildings consume more energy than any other sector of the U.S. economy and account for 73 percent of national electricity consumption, 40 percent of total greenhouse gas emissions and large amounts of on-site fuel use. States are moving to advance the use of building energy codes to address energy use in new buildings, and many are also looking to implement large-scale building retrofit programs to lower energy use in existing homes and businesses. These efforts are designed to help reduce energy use, lower energy bills, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance local economic development. States are working to develop new funding and financing mechanisms, support voluntary measurement, labeling and disclosure programs and advance educational initiatives.

Focus of Center Activities

The NGA Center helps states design energy strategies for buildings part of a larger set of options for lowering energy use and addressing energy and environmental concerns. These efforts have included:

• Hosting webinars on a range of building energy strategies;
• Tracking building code policy development at the state level; and  
• Hosting policy academies to help states advance their building energy strategies.

NGA Center Resources

• Policy Academy on Advanced Energy Strategies for Buildings
• Policy Academy on State Building Efficiency Retrofit Programs