The US Department of Energy (DOE) has released the "2024 Better Buildings Initiative Progress Report," highlighting the achievements of its Better Buildings public and private sector partners in decarbonising and increasing energy efficiency in the nation's buildings, manufacturing plants, and homes.

The report shows that program partners, including 28 Fortune 100 companies and more than 90 state and local governments, have collectively saved nearly $22 billion through efficiency improvements and cut harmful greenhouse gas emissions by more than 220 million metric tons since 2011.

The Better Buildings Initiative supports the Biden-Harris Administration's whole-of-government approach to lowering energy costs for American families and businesses while tackling the climate crisis.

"DOE’s Better Buildings Initiative is helping organisations of all sizes from every corner of the country and every sector of the economy lower energy costs and save money to the tune of $22 billion," said Jennifer Granholm, US Secretary of Energy. "Under President Biden and Vice President Harris’ leadership, DOE will continue building the strong public-private sector partnerships we need to tackle the climate crisis and secure our clean energy future."

DOE partners with public and private sector stakeholders to pursue ambitious portfolio-wide energy, waste, water, and/or emissions reduction goals. Program partners publicly share their solutions, enabling other organisations to replicate their success.

Highlights from the 2024 report include over 25 organisations reaching their Better Buildings, Better Plants, or Better Climate Challenge goals in the past year, sharing their successful pathways for others to follow.

More than 180 new successful solutions and examples have been shared in the past year, and DOE is also finding new ways to showcase partner pathways, such as those of Goal Achievers like Cleveland-Cliffs and RXR Realty.

The DOE launched the Framework for GHG Emissions Reduction Planning to help organisations develop actionable plans for portfolio-wide decarbonisation, and financial allies have extended more than $37 billion for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects since the start of the programme.