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October 7, 2009
Buildings are responsible for at least 40 percent of our energy use and greenhouse gas emissions but also offer some of the fastest and least expensive solutions for reducing their environmental impact. By featuring high quality building envelopes and systematic air renewal, MINERGIE buildings consume at least 60 percent less energy than conventional buildings and ensure comfortable indoor environments. Only the final energy consumed is relevant for MINERGIE certification, and additional costs to meet the standard must not exceed 10 percent of construction costs.
On October 7, the Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI) and Embassy of Switzerland held a lunch briefing about how energy efficient buildings have become the cornerstone of Switzerland’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels with strong support from the Swiss building industry, financial sector, and public agencies. More than 14,000 buildings in Switzerland and neighboring countries have voluntarily earned the Swiss MINERGIE® label, including single-family homes, shopping centers and historically important buildings. As Congress considers energy and climate legislation, this briefing examined Switzerland’s success in promoting energy efficiency policies and whether similar strategies can be applied to reduce U.S. building energy consumption.