In Your Government . . .

Expert Links

Building Shells

  • DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Clearinghouse provides a good overview of why and how to set up an energy program.
  • EnergyStar programs for government agencies are sponsored by US EPA.
  • EnergyIdeas - This site's Q and A on energy questions, on the Solutions page, is good for most topics.  Energy Ideas is sponsored by the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and the Washington State University Cooperative Extension Service Energy Program.
  • The Building Commissioning Association is a Pacific Northwest professional association. They don’t have many Montana members yet, but they can tell you about commissioning a building, a process that can tell you how efficiently or inefficiently your building is operating. HVAC systems can be out of balance, or energy controls out of adjustment, but these problems may not be obvious. Commissioning evaluates how well a building’s systems work together, then recommends improvements. Commissioning can reduce energy use, lower repair and replacement costs, and improve air quality, lighting and comfort.
  • Energy analysts, and anybody wanting to compare their usage to national figures, might be interested in the Energy Information Administration’s Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey.
  • News and information pertinent to facility operators and managers is available at http://facilitiesnet.com/fn.
  • Federal agencies can obtain technical and financial assistance from the Federal Energy Management Program. There is very useful information to all government agencies.
  • This site offers information on performance contracting, one way to evaluate possibilities for energy improvements in buildings and to finance the ones that will save money.

http://escperform.org/index.htm
http://naesco.org

Windows

  • Experts say that proper daylighting can improve employee performance, but improper window design can lead to higher energy bills in warm and cold climates. New window designs should weigh beneficial daylighting with heat control and heat loss. Here are some links to sites that help evaluate window design and energy efficient windows.
  • The Efficient Windows Collaborative, part of the Alliance to Save Energy, works with the window industry and the Department of Energy's laboratories. This site focuses on energy-efficient windows.
  • The National Fenestration Rating Council is the nation's recognized organization for measuring and evaluating window energy performance. This site has a good description of windows and how they work.
  • For a quick fact sheet on all aspects of windows, see DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network.
  • The Lighting Design Lab helps architects design daylighting into new and existing buildings.
  • For those who want to delve into the more technical details of windows, try Lawrence Berkeley Labs.
  • List of window manufacturers in the Pacific Northwest.

Appliances and Light Bulbs

  • Savings calculator for light bulbs and all sorts of appliances, sponsored by EPA.
  • The Bonneville Power Administration has a nine-page, detailed but easy to read Helpful Hints section that explains compact fluorescent bulbs and how you should choose them.
  • DOE has good but technical information on compact fluorescent bulbs.
  • The Federal Energy Management Program puts out product efficiency recommendations for federal procurement officials, but the advice is good for private sector, too.
  • American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy prepares a list each year of the most energy efficient appliances.
  • Gas Appliance Manufacturers Association provides efficiency ratings for all sorts of gas appliances.
  • The Lighting Design Lab has information about new lighting technology.
  • Help on motors and compressed air systems is available from the US Department of Energy's Best Practices site. These are good places to look for energy savings in large government and school buildings.