The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and its National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) recently published two reports which offer valuable recommendations toward cutting energy consumption by as much as 50 percent in large offices and hospitals. Technical Support Document: Strategies for 50% Energy Savings in Large Office Buildings reports that a 50 percent energy savings can be achieved in both low-rise and high-rise office buildings in an extensive range of U.S. climates. Research was performed in 16 cities that represented different climate zones…

Discover small steps you can take to reduce fuel costs, increase energy efficiency and altogether minimize your environmental impact at the upcoming annual Green Buildings Open House. On Saturday, Oct. 2, the Northeast Sustainable Energy Associates is welcoming the public to meet-and-greet with green building industry professionals and homeowners, and visit local sustainable buildings throughout the country. Homeowners and facility managers…

Kyocera Group has begun using viney plants to create “green curtains”, which are formed over trellises to shade portions of windows and outer walls of buildings at 20 different locations in Japan, Thailand and Brazil. These curtains create a canopy over the buildings to prevent direct sunlight from raising the temperature of the building’s interior, helping to reduce the need for energy-intensive air conditioning. Not to mention, the plants also help to protect the environment by absorbing…

Green Real Estate Education, an exclusive source of green education for the real estate industry, has joined forces with Pro Train LLC, to offer their customized online green training programs to college students. Pro Train, based in Raleigh, N.C., is a leading provider for affordable green programs in adult and continuing eduction in the United States. “Students who are introduced to our programs through Pro Train, LLC can take our online courses at lower costs. We still deliver the content…

Lighting accounts for roughly 40 percent of electricity use in the United States, and many major cities throughout the nation waste more energy through this source than any other activity. Building retrofits with energy efficient lighting systems are one of the most fundamental, yet simple ways that Americans can cut down on energy use…