Commercial Buildings

Cutting energy waste across America's commercial buildings.

Commercial buildings vary widely in design, size, and purpose—as does their energy use. From small independent stores and busy restaurants to high-rise offices and sprawling campuses, each building type presents its own challenges and opportunities for maximizing energy efficiency, reducing energy costs, and ensuring safety.

Together, commercial buildings account for roughly half of all building energy consumption in the U.S., making them a critical opportunity to reduce energy demand, lower costs, and cut emissions.

However, while some commercial buildings have dedicated energy managers and access to the latest efficient technologies and controls, others are left behind with limited capacity and options for managing their energy use. To achieve our energy and emissions goals, we need to find solutions and provide support for all commercial customers and stakeholders.

ACEEE’s research seeks to identify and expedite cost-effective efficiency and clean energy measures across all commercial buildings. Our work includes topics such as energy storage, demand flexibility, and HVAC retrofits, as well as mechanisms such as building codes, utility programs, and incentives. We work with utilities, manufacturers, research organizations, and the workforce to overcome barriers and find solutions.