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The National Association of State Energy Officials (NASEO) will convene the Zero-Energy Commercial Buildings Consortium in order to support the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative. 

You are invited to participate...

The GOAL:  achieving affordable and marketable net-zero energy commercial buildings in all climate zones by 2025.

The Consortium will include representatives from more than 300 organizations from the following building areas:

• The design professions, including national associations of architects and professional engineers
• The development, construction, financial, and real estate industries
• Building owners and operators from the public and private sectors
• Academic and research organizations with extensive commercial building energy expertise
• Building code agencies and organizations, including a model energy code-setting organization
• Independent high-performance green building associations or councils
• Experts in indoor air quality and environmental factors
• Experts in intelligent buildings and integrated building information systems
• Utility energy efficiency programs
• Manufacturers and providers of equipment and techniques used in high-performance green buildings
• Public transportation industry experts
• Non-governmental energy efficiency organizations.

In turn, the Consortium will support DOE, DOE national laboratories, and the Commercial Building Energy Alliances and Commercial Building Partners in achieving affordable and marketable net-zero energy commercial buildings in all climate zones by 2025.

Consortium Working Groups

The Consortium Working Groups are chaired by a Steering Committee member and composed of Active Consortium Members.  These Working Groups will assist the Consortium in conducting technology reviews, identifying cost and non-cost barriers and solutions, and participating and facilitating in industry collaboration.

Technologies and Practices

1. Building Envelope
2. Mechanical Systems, Plumbing, and Controls
3. Lighting/Daylighting and Controls
4. Process, IT, and Miscellaneous Equipment
5. Combined Heat and Power (CHP), Distributed Generation, and Multi-Building systems
6. Grid and Micro-Grid Integration

Market and Policy

7. Codes and Standards
8. Integrated Design and Building Delivery
9. Benchmarking and Performance Assurance
10. Financing and Appraisal
11. Voluntary Programs and Incentives
12. Owner/Tenant Issues
13. Workforce Development (education, training, certification)

Consortium members have the opportunity to collaborate with a critical mass of high-performance building industry stakeholders and the DOE to:

• Demonstrate your organization's commitment zero energy buildings
• Share knowledge
• Strengthen relationships  

Who Can Be a Member

All organizations interested in advancing energy-efficient commercial building technologies, practices and policies, including building designers, owners and operators, financiers, manufacturers, state and regional policy makers and program planners, researchers, and funding agencies.

Types of Membership

Active Consortium Members are expected to commit time and resources in support of the tasks above by:

• participating in one or more working groups (see attached list)
• contributing best practices and case studies
• reviewing Consortium reports
• promoting the Consortium at industry events
• collaborate with other Consortium members

Active Consortium Members will receive regular correspondence and be recognized as an Active Member on the program website.

Complete a Membership Registration Form (doc 1.9MB) and return it to Diana Lin at the Alliance to Save Energy (dlin@ase.org). There is no fee to join.

Zero Energy Commercial Buildings Consortium

http://zeroenergycbc.org/

GOAL: Safe and sustainable building code

WHAT: Denver will be the next stop for the "IGCC: Safe and Sustainable by the Book" initiative to develop green construction guidelines for commercial buildings. The International Code Council Sustainable Building Technology Committee (SBTC) will hold its second meeting in a five-part series in a national effort to engage the public and the construction industry on the first generation of a safe and sustainable building code. The meeting will address the development of the first draft of the International Green Construction Code (IGCC). The meetings are open to the public. Media is encouraged to attend.

WHY: The IGCC initiative will develop the first model green construction code to address new and existing commercial buildings with a focus on increasing building performance. It will apply to traditional commercial and high-performance buildings, and will be consistent and coordinated with the Code Council's family of codes and standards. Results of the increased building performance driven by IGCC implementation are expected to include: increased efficiency in use of energy, water, materials and resources; improved indoor environment quality; education for building owners and facility managers; and a reduction in overall carbon emissions. The first draft of the IGCC is expected to be available for public comments in March.

CONTACTS:

Steve Daggers, 1-888-ICC-SAFE (422-7233), ext. 4212, (708) 351-8880 (cell).

Michael J. Armstrong, Senior Vice President, Member Services & Communications is the on-site media contact. He is Coordinator of Outreach for the IGCC Initiative and a former Deputy Director of the Colorado Energy Office. (202) 468-8293 (cell).

Trade associations provide a variety of best practices information such as conferences, newsletters, websites and networking meetings.  Here are some of the many trade associations for building contractors.

• ABC -- Associated Builders and Contractors

• ACCA -- Air Conditioning Contractors of America

• ACEC -- American Consulting Engineers Council

• AGC -- Associated General Contractors

• AIA -- American Institute of Architects 

• APWA -- American Public Works Association

• ASCE -- American Society of Civil Engineers

• ASID -- American Society of Interior Designers

• ASA -- American Subcontractors Association

• AWCI -- Association of Wall and Ceiling Industry

• CSI -- Construction Specification Institute

• NAHB -- National Association of Home Builders

• NAWC -- National Association of Women in Construction

• NECA -- National Electrical Contractors Association

• NFPA -- National Fire Protection Association

• NRCA -- National Roofing Contractors Association