Commercial new construction represents a significant opportunity for energy savings. Approximately 69 million new commercial buildings are constructed every year, representing more than 1 billion square feet of new floor space.

To maximize energy efficiency, it is necessary to begin integrating energy-saving designs early in the construction process. CEE has developed Fact Sheets for three market sectors – hospitals, commercial office space, and schools – that help program managers make a case for energy-efficient design before it begins.

Since 2004, CEE has convened the Commercial New Construction Roundtable, which is a quarterly forum for discussion and information-sharing in the new construction market sector. Topics at these meetings include program resources, results and innovative approaches. Through these quarterly discussions, CEE can continue to gauge if a more active role is appropriate in this area.

For further information about CEE's Commercial Building Performance efforts, contact Jason Erwin at 617-589-3949, ext. 212.

Resources/links

• ENERGY STAR Target Finder
  ENERGY STAR's Target Finder is an internet-based tool that helps manage energy during the design of a new building. using the whole-building approach, it enables architects and designers to set an aggressive energy performance target for a building design and then compare estimated energy consumption to the established target.

• Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
  The LEED Green Building Rating System^™ is a voluntary, consensus-based national standard for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. It addresses existing buildings and new construction.

• Advanced Buildings
  This protocol for energy efficiency in new construction is produced by the New Buildings Institute, a nonprofit, public benefits corporation that researches ways to increase efficiency in buildings. NBI has put together Advanced Buildings Core Performance, a prescriptive approach to high energy performance buildings for buildings 50,000sf and under.

• Energy Design Resources
  EDR contains various resources including integrated design briefs and guides, case studies, commissioning resources, LEED education pages, etc. People can also sign up for an E-newsletter.