It's hardly a surprise that making energy efficiency improvements to buildings saves money and can benefit the environment in terms of reduced fossil fuel burning and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.

Study after study tells us that, and now here's another one.

Environment America recently released a report, "Building a Better America," showing that if the lessons of high-efficiency homes and buildings were applied to all buildings, the nation could reduce energy 24 percent by 2030.

It matters because 40 percent of the nation's energy is used by buildings, the organization said in a press release. "And because much of this energy comes from dirty and dangerous sources like coal, oil, natural gas and , this accounts for nearly half of global warming pollution in the country."

Read the full report at www.environmentamerica.org/rep … lding-better-america