United States Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson has announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) will create a Commercial High Performance Buildings project to increase the energy efficiency of commercial buildings. The effort, a joint partnership between the private sector and the DOE, will also focus on improving the utility, comfort, quality, and cost-effectiveness of commercial buildings. “Thirty-two percent of the electricity in the United States goes to heat, cool, ventilate, and light commercial buildings,” Secretary Richardson said. “The actions we are taking to decrease building energy use will save businesses money and reduce the impact of energy generation on global climate change and the environment.”

The project will identify and publicize innovative whole building approaches that increase the quality and efficiency of commercial buildings. The project seeks to bring together the diverse groups involved in the design and construction of commercial buildings to encourage the adoption of energy efficient building technologies.

More information is available at www.eren.doegov/buildings/highperformance/.