Northwest Building Efficiency Programs

Following are selected programs that building professionals in the Northwest may find useful. We attempt to keep this list current but please let us know at if you meet a broken link. We are developing a searchable database of programs. Please send us program referrals that you think are useful.

  • Alaska Building Science Network An association dedicated to promoting energy efficiency as an essential component of durable, safe and affordable housing in Alaska. Provides residential construction and energy efficient building services, training, audits and outreach.
  • Alaska Housing Finance Corporation Weatherization and energy-efficiency grants, studies and programs; and research projects with the Cold Climate Housing Research Center.
  • BEEP: BOMA Energy Efficiency Program An innovative operational excellence program to teach commercial real estate professionals how to reduce energy consumption and costs with proven no- and low-cost strategies for optimizing equipment, people and practices.
  • Betterbricks Integrated Design Labs The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance commercial sector market transformation program offers workshops, brown bags and roundtable presentations to improve understanding about the benefits of and the implementation of high performance commercial building.
  • Bonneville Power Administration Federal power authority offers energy efficiency information and outreach for utility customers and service providers.
  • Building Commissioning Association A trade association that promotes practices that maintain high professional standards through trainings and technical assistance.
  • Building Commissioning Resources Washington State Department of General Administration supports building commissioning for state buildings.
  • Built Green Built Green is a non-profit, residential building program of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties. The website provides consumers with easy-to-understand rating systems, which quantify environmentally friendly building practices for remodeling and new home construction, communities and multifamily development units.
  • Campus Ecology Program National Wildlife Foundation website covering campus green efforts with publications, events calendar, and other news and resources.
  • City of Portland's Green Building Resource The Green Building Program offers free technical assistance for development projects in Portland, educational tours and classes, project guidebooks and grants that support innovative green building practices.
  • Cold Climate Housing Research Center
  • Earth Advantage for Professionals Resources for building professionals involved in the Oregon Earth Advantage program. Find a builder, remodeler or training class. View tours, guides and documents in their Design Resource Center.
  • EcoIQ Speakers Bureau A source of speakers on a variety of building related topics and information about green event planning.
  • Energy and Housing Program University of Alaska Fairbanks – Cooperative Extension Service offers publications, training, applied research and other resources for consumers and building professionals in cold polar areas.
  • Energy Star Northwest  ENERGY STAR Northwest offers information and incentives to help consumers save energy and money. They are based on standards and specifications developed by the Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. View home tours from Northwest states.
  • High Performance Commercial Buildings US Department of Energy website with research reports, case studies, buildings database and links.
  • Idaho Integrated Design Lab University of Idaho provides training, education, mock ups, modeling and design support for commercial buildings in Idaho.
  • Idaho Office of Energy Resources State Energy Office provides outreach, training and technical assistance to Idaho residents, business and industry.
  • Industrial Efficiency Alliance A Northwest program providing energy management assessments, training, educational tools and supporting companies interested in making an organizational commitment to effective energy use. Focused on pulp and paper, and food processing industries.
  • Industrialized Housing Partnership US Department of Energy Building America research initiative focuses on improving the energy efficiency, durability, and indoor air quality of new industrialized housing.
  • Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design US Green Building Council rating system, certification, training, reference guides, outreach.
  • Lighting Design Lab Seattle City Light and various sponsors support the LDL’s training, demonstration, and design support services for commercial businesses in the Northwest and British Columbia.
  • Montana Department of Environmental Quality State office supports outreach, training and assistance for consumers, public buildings and businesses.
  • National Center for Appropriate Technology A not for profit organization provides energy efficiency products and services including resources for home weatherization, home raters, solar design, support for Energy Star homes and the MontanaGreenPower website.
  • National Green Building Program National Association of Home Builders' program to bring green to the mainstream. Tools and resources for home builders and remodelers.
  • New Buildings Institute NBI manages projects involving building research, design guidelines and code activities to ensure all elements of this chain are available for use by energy efficiency programs throughout the United States. Articles, guidelines and newsletters are available.
  • Northwest Building Operators Association A nonprofit organization providing training, education and assistance to people responsible for the operation and maintenance of public and private facilities.
  • Northwest EcoBuilding Guild an association of builders, designers, homeowners, tradespeople, manufacturers, suppliers and others interested in ecologically sustainable building. Events, directories and newsletters.
  • Northwest Energy Education Institute NEEI offers both standard and custom learning opportunities throughout the Northwest for practicing professionals in the energy industry, including an energy management certification program. NEEI is located within the Science Department at Lane Community College.
  • Northwest Energy Efficiency Council A business association of the energy efficiency industry. NEEC’s mission is to promote policies and programs that enhance market opportunities for energy efficiency.
  • Oregon Green Schools Association Association helps Oregon schools in setting up, maintaining and recognizing effective, permanent waste reduction and resource efficiency programs that improve the school environment and community.
  • Oregon Department of Energy State Energy Office offers information, incentives and services for homeowners, businesses, industries, and building and energy professionals.
  • RCM Exchange  Online tools for Resource Conservation Managers. Includes success stories, networking and publications.
  • Regional Technical Forum An advisory committee established in 1999 (see charter) to develop standards to verify and evaluate conservation savings. View achievements and meeting minutes online.
  • Tax Incentives Assistance Project The latest information on federal income tax incentives for energy efficient products and technologies.
  • The Builders Challenge U.S. Department of Energy challenge to the homebuilding industry to build 220,000 high performance homes by 2012.
  • University of Alaska Fairbanks, Cooperative Extension
  • USDOE Building Technologies Program Partnership with states, industry, and manufacturers to improve energy efficiency of buildings. Encourages new technologies & systems-engineered building practices, as well as improved building codes and appliance and equipment standards.
  • USDOE EERE Information Center Many resources, documents, multimedia, information resources for consumers, teachers, students, businesses, industry and service providers.
  • Washington State University Extension Energy Program Outreach, training and technical assistance, program and service delivery for all sectors, by energy specialists, librarians and professional engineers dedicated to providing unbiased, accurate, and timely information to promote application of energy efficiency.
  • WSU Energy Newsbriefs weekly news email.