Defective and energy inefficient windows, such as single-pane windows, can be responsible for up to 70% of a home's heating and cooling load. An innovative internal storm window system designed to reduce energy loss through single-pane windows was field tested in three occupied homes in the southeastern part of the United States to demonstrate its energy savings impact. The test results indicated that this system, called the "Winsulator" system, reduced window-related energy consumption for heating and cooling by 29%.

The Manchester Project involved the energy efficient rehabilitation and retrofitting of existing housing units plus the construction on vacant lots of new dwellings incorporating energy conservation measures. This project, in the Manchester neighbourhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, began inthe late 19 70s and was completed in 1983. Energy use and air quality monitoring were carried out for one year after the completion of the project. It was found that in comparison to detached single-family houses using standard construction, energy savings of 75 to 80% were being realized.

Ekoporten, a block of flats converted into an experimental sustainable building, is now 2+1/2 years old. The building is one of the most visited and debated projects carried out in Sweden in recent years. With the support of the Swedish Council for Building Research, researchers from the Faculty of Architecture, Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm (KTH) have followed up and documented the experiment.