Better Buildings

What Better Buildings does

Better Buildings & Better Plants is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), administered through the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), that drives voluntary energy efficiency improvements across U.S. commercial buildings, industrial plants, higher education campuses, K-12 schools, healthcare facilities, government buildings, data centers, hospitality, multifamily housing, and retail. The program has operated since 2011 (per the year_founded field) and convenes 650+ public- and private-sector partner organizations that commit to multi-year efficiency targets — principally the Better Buildings Challenge (20% energy savings over 10 years for building owners) and the Better Plants Challenge (typically 25% energy intensity reduction over 10 years for manufacturers). Partners share implementation results publicly, creating a transparent peer-learning model.

The core platform is the Better Buildings Solution Center (betterbuildingssolutioncenter.energy.gov), an online knowledge hub containing 3,000+ documented energy, water, waste, and decarbonization solutions contributed by partners. Supporting tools include the Financing Navigator (connecting organizations to Financial Allies such as NYCEEC, Redaptive, Metrus Energy, and Connecticut Green Bank), the Funding and Incentives Resource Hub, the E-Learning Center, and on-demand webinar content. Technical assistance is delivered directly through DOE staff and a network of national laboratories (LBNL, ORNL, PNNL, Argonne), while specialized accelerators target individual technologies and sectors (HVAC, Smart Labs, Data Center, Zero Energy Schools, Packaged CHP).

The business model is non-commercial. The initiative is funded through federal appropriations; there are no fees for participation, no subscription revenue, and no traditional GTM monetization. Distribution occurs through a direct engagement model — annual summit, webinar series, working groups, and partner recruitment by DOE staff. Cumulative reported partner outcomes include 3.9 QBtu of energy saved, $24.2B in cost savings, 25B gallons of water saved, and $41B in financing enabled.

Name

Better Buildings

Legal name

Better Buildings & Better Plants Initiative

Website

https://betterbuildingssolutioncenter.energy.gov

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Better Buildings & Better Plants is a U.S. Department of Energy initiative that partners with 650+ public and private organizations to reduce energy use in U.S. buildings, industrial plants, and homes through voluntary multi-year commitments, a 3,000+ solution knowledge hub, sector-specific accelerators, and a financing navigator.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Energy Efficiency Programs

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241)

SIC

Services-To Dwellings & Other Buildings (7340)

akta.pro primary industry

Green Building & Energy-Efficient Construction (LEED, Weatherization) (EDAOAAAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Residential Green / High-Performance Home Construction (Net-Zero, Passive House) (IMAFABAH), Housing Facilities Management (Repairs, Custodial & Grounds Liaison) (EDALACAE)

Keywords

• Energy efficiency programs
• Building decarbonization
• Industrial energy savings
• Building benchmarking solutions
• Renewable energy financing

Headquarters

HQ city

Washington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: The Better Buildings & Better Plants Initiative is a U.S. Department of Energy program funded by federal appropriations. There is no commercial revenue model as participation is voluntary and free for all partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Better Buildings & Better Plants is a U.S. Department of Energy initiative that partners with public and private sector organizations to reduce energy, water, and waste in commercial buildings, industrial plants, and homes. The initiative operates through voluntary challenge-based partnership programs (Better Buildings Challenge and Better Plants Challenge), a knowledge-sharing web portal (Better Buildings Solution Center) hosting 3,000+ solutions, and supporting tools such as the Financing Navigator that connect partners to financing resources for efficiency projects.

Product overview

Better Buildings & Better Plants is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Energy designed to improve energy efficiency across America's buildings, industrial plants, and homes. The core platform is the Better Buildings Solution Center (betterbuildingssolutioncenter.energy.gov), which serves as a web portal containing 3,000+ solutions, implementation models, fact sheets, and showcase projects. The initiative operates primarily through two challenge programs: the Better Buildings Challenge (requiring 20% energy savings over 10 years) for building owners, and the Better Plants Challenge (requiring 25% energy intensity reduction over 10 years) for manufacturers. Supporting tools include the Financing Navigator and Funding and Incentives Resource Hub, which help partners access funding for efficiency projects. Educational resources are provided through the E-Learning Center and webinar series. The initiative spans sectors including commercial real estate, local/state government, K-12 schools, higher education, data centers, healthcare, hospitality, multifamily housing, and industrial manufacturing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Better Buildings Solution Center
• Better Buildings Challenge
• Better Plants Challenge
• Financing Navigator
• Funding and Incentives Resource Hub
• E-Learning Center

Quantifiable outcome

• Partners have saved 3.9 QBtu of energy
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers11 records

Segments11 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• National LaboratoriescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDOE national laboratories including Lawrence Berkeley National Lab, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory, and others provide technical expertise, research support, and validation services to Better Buildings partners.
• Technology AcceleratorsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSector-specific accelerators including Commercial Building HVAC Accelerator, Zero Energy Schools Accelerator, Smart Labs Accelerator, Data Center Accelerator, and Packaged Combined Heat and Power Accelerator drive focused market transformation.
• 3MmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner3M participates in Better Plants Challenge, Working Groups, and has received Better Project and Better Practice Awards for energy efficiency achievements.
• Ford Motor CompanymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFord participates as a Better Plants Challenge partner working on industrial energy efficiency improvements.
• General MillsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGeneral Mills participates in Better Plants Challenge with recognized energy savings achievements.
• Lockheed MartinmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLockheed Martin converted parking lot to energy-generating solar carport at Orlando campus as part of carbon emissions reduction commitment.
• Volvo Group North AmericamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolvo participates in Working Groups, Better Plants Challenge, has received Better Practice Award, and is part of Waste Reduction Network and Superior Energy Performance 50001 program.
• Electrolux GroupmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerElectrolux developed Green Financing Framework and Long-term Incentive Program, investing in energy-efficient products expected to reduce 228,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions.
• The Sherwin-Williams CompanymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSherwin-Williams conducted energy audits across eight U.S. facilities, identifying 136 reduction opportunities with 7.7 million kWh potential savings.
• Atlanta, GAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAtlanta participates as Better Buildings Challenge partner and was recognized among 10 cities best prepared for smart city future.
• Boston, MAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBoston participates as a Better Buildings Challenge partner working on commercial building energy efficiency.
• Chicago, ILmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChicago participates in Better Buildings Challenge focusing on local government building efficiency.
• Cleveland, OHmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCleveland participates in Better Buildings Challenge with focus on municipal building efficiency.
• Toyota Motor North America, Inc.majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerToyota received 2025 DOE Better Project Award for Tri-gen Facility at Port of Long Beach producing hydrogen and power from renewable sources.
• Trane TechnologiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrane Technologies participates as an implementation partner for energy savings performance contracts and Better Buildings Challenge.
• Schneider ElectricmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSchneider Electric earned DOE recognition for energy efficiency projects and participates in Better Plants Challenge.
• MGM Resorts InternationalmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMGM Resorts participates in Better Buildings Challenge for hospitality sector energy efficiency.
• HiltonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerHilton participates in Better Buildings Challenge focusing on hospitality energy efficiency.
• Whirlpool CorporationmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWhirlpool participates in Working Groups and Better Plants Challenge for manufacturing efficiency.
• L'Oreal USAmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerL'Oreal USA participates in Better Plants Challenge focusing on manufacturing sustainability.
• Valley Children's HealthcarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerValley Children's Healthcare is building renewable energy microgrid covering 80% of hospital's energy needs, expected to save $15 million over 25 years.
• West Palm Beach, FLmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWest Palm Beach celebrated energy efficiency milestone in DOE's Better Buildings Challenge as a local government partner.
• Denver Housing AuthoritymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDenver Housing Authority participates in Better Buildings Challenge and is recognized for setting efficiency standards for municipalities.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• New Buildings Institute (NBI): Nonprofit working to improve building energy performance through codes, standards, and program design. Comparable as a specialist organization targeting zero-energy and high-performance buildings, intersecting with Better Buildings' commercial and zero-energy schools accelerators.
• Institute for Building Technology and Safety (IBTS): Nonprofit providing energy services, building performance services, and technical assistance to local governments and public agencies. Comparable as a partner in the same energy efficiency ecosystem, particularly for municipal building programs.
• IMT (Institute for Market Transformation): Nonprofit focused on scaling building energy performance through policy, financing, and utility programs. Operates complementary work in energy benchmarking and commercial real estate efficiency that overlaps with Better Buildings' commercial sector focus.

Direct peers

• ENERGY STAR (U.S. EPA): Federal voluntary program for energy efficiency across buildings, homes, and industrial plants, with partner recognition and benchmarking tools. Closest direct comparable to Better Buildings as a government-led energy efficiency partnership program with overlapping partner base.
• U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC / LEED): Operates LEED green building rating system and partners network focused on sustainable building design and operation. Directly comparable as a non-governmental peer-to-peer recognition and certification platform for energy-efficient buildings.

Broad incumbents

• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL): DOE national laboratory that conducts research and provides technical assistance on renewable energy and energy efficiency. Provides core technical expertise to Better Buildings partners and shares the federal mandate for energy efficiency knowledge dissemination.
• ASHRAE: Professional society that sets building energy standards (e.g., 90.1, 189.1) and provides technical guidance for HVAC and building systems. Comparable as a sector-wide authority whose standards and resources influence the same energy efficiency outcomes Better Buildings promotes.

Others

• World Resources Institute (WRI): Global research nonprofit working on climate and sustainability, including building decarbonization and corporate ESG. Operates in adjacent spaces with corporate commitments platforms that overlap with Better Buildings' partner engagement approach.
• Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES): Independent voice for climate and energy policy that convenes business and government leaders. Comparable as a convening and policy-influence organization working on similar corporate and governmental decarbonization commitments.
• Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI): Independent nonprofit focused on energy transition with programs covering buildings, industry, and mobility. Comparable as a non-governmental thought leader and convening body that influences the same corporate and policy stakeholders as Better Buildings.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/BetterBldgsDOE
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@BetterBuildingsDOE
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/better-buildings

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Better Buildings