What is the Better Buildings Challenge?

Utilizing green technology to create energy efficient “green buildings” is a great way to help the environment while saving money at the same time. One such government initiative that seeks to incentivize green buildings is the Better Buildings Challenge.

The Better Buildings Challenge is a national meeting where leading organizations from key sectors showcase solutions to cut energy usage in their buildings. The overall goal of these organizations is to cut the amount of energy consumed in their buildings by 20% over the next ten years. The Better Buildings Challenge is made possible by the US Department of Energy.

This meeting is a great place for the participants to exchange best practices and highlight demonstrated market solutions with an emphasis on discussing future opportunities for increased energy efficiency in American homes and buildings. Simply put, the Better Buildings Challenge is designed to improve the energy efficiency of America’s buildings in both the short-term and the long-term. The short-term is measured by achieving the 20% reduction in the next 10 years, and many of the discussions about the energy industry and best practices allow these companies and organizations to make big changes that will have long-term benefits for their buildings’ energy efficiency.

The Better Buildings Challenge provides its partners with technical assistance and proven solutions to improve their energy efficiency, as well as providing a forum for collaboration between all of their members and allies to discuss the future of energy efficiency.

But what are the real benefits of the Better Buildings Challenge? On top of the raw benefits of achieving a 20% reduction in energy use, the participants wind up also helping the renewable energy industry. The act of improving and upgrading buildings offers almost $100 billion worth of investment for the economy in general. In this way, participants can help be a part of this investment while finding ways to save money on their energy.

Participants in the Better Buildings Challenge are generally companies, universities, school districts, and multifamily organizations. As an energy consumer, you can get involved by informing your place of business, your school, your child’s school district, or another relevant organization about the Better Building Challenge.

You can read more in their overview document.