It's the latest in a series of initiatives the federalgovernment is sponsoring to help commercial and industrialproperties offset their energy use from the electricity grid.According to government statistics, commercial buildings used 18%of the energy nationwide and generated 15% of greenhouse gasemissions in 2005. In a typical office building, the DOE reports,energy use accounts for 30% of operating costs, the largest singlecategory of controllable costs.

Earlier this year, the DOE completed the 500th Energy SavingAssessment at the nation's largest industrial facilities. Theassessments reportedly have helped companies identify opportunitiesto save more than 80 trillion British Thermal Units (BTUs) ofnatural gas--roughly equivalent to the natural gas used in aboutone million American homes. If all of the recommendations from theassessments are implemented, the DOE estimates the properties wouldreduce carbon dioxide emissions by seven million metric tons andsave their owners more than $800 million in energy costsannually.

The DOE is also spearheading the creation of CommercialBuilding Energy Alliances (CBEAs), which are designed tominimize the energy and environmental impact of commercialbuildings and help property owners reduce energy costs. DruCrawley, team leader, Commercial Buildings R&D for the DOE'sBuilding Technology Programs, says the goal is to showcase bestpractice technology demonstrations, set standards and encouragesupport for mass production of promising processes andproducts.