In February, President Obama announced the Better Buildings Initiative, a multi-pronged effort to make commercial buildings 20 percent more energy efficient over the next decade by encouraging private sector investment through incentives to upgrade schools, universities and municipal facilities, as well as offices, stores and other commercial buildings.

For the first time in over 18 years, ASHRAE has proposed increases to the minimum required roof and wall insulation levels in Standard 90.1, the national model energy code for commercial buildings. If the increases are adopted, the above-deck roof insulation requirements currently at R-15 would go to R-20 - a 33 percent increase in roof insulation levels.

Consumers and business owners remain concerned about high energy costs and are in search of innovative and cost-effective tools and methods for improving energy performance.