THIS BOOK IS ABOUT BUILDINGS, HOW ENERGY IS USED IN THEM, AND HOW STATE AND LOCAL LAWS CAN EFFECT BUILDING AND OPERATING PRACTICES THAT CONSERVE ENERGY. THE PRIMARY PURPOSE IS TO INCREASE AWARENESS OF BIG OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE ENERGY PERFORMANCE AND WAYS TO CAPTURE THOSE OPPORTUNITIES. IN ADDITION, THE BOOK IS A HISTORY OF AMERICAN ENERGY REGULATION, THE PRESENT STATUS OF THIS EFFORT, AND ITS FUTURE TRENDS. THE TEXTS OF NOVEL REGULATIONS AND STATUTES ARE INCLUDED, ALONG WITH GUIDELINES FOR FINDING ADDITIONAL LEGISLATIVE INNOVATIONS. FURTHER, NEW APPROACHES THAT STATES AND LOCALITIES CAN EXPLORE FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN ENERGY REGULATION ARE PUT FORTH. FINALLY, MORE SYSTEMATIC IMPROVEMENTS IN THE METHODS OF CONTROLLING BUILDING DESIGN ARE URGED, AS ARE PRICING ENERGY AND SHAPING PUBLIC OPINION ABOUT RESOURCE CONSUMPTION. THE DOMINANT VIEWPOINT IS PRO CONSERVATION, PRO ENVIRONMENT, AND PRO CONSUMER. INTRODUCTORY CHAPTERS OF THE BOOK DEAL WITH THE TRADITIONALLY WASTEFUL ENERGY USE OF AMERICAN BUILDINGS AND IDENTIFY THE CURRENT PRESSURES UNDER WHICH THE NEED FOR CONSERVATION HAS EMERGED. SPECIFIC BUILDING FEATURES WITH ENERGY CONSERVATION POTENTIAL ARE THEN ADDRESSED, INCLUDING THERMAL EFFICIENCY OF THE BUILDING ENVELOPE, LIGHTING CONTROLS, VENTILATION AND AIR INFILTRATION, AND BUILDING EQUIPMENT IMPROVEMENTS. THE CONCLUDING CHAPTER IS DEVOTED TO DESIGN FEATURES, SHADING, AND THE GENERAL ORIENTATION TO ENERGY CONSERVATION. TABULAR DATA AND AN INDEX ARE PROVIDED. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS A CALIFORNIA BUILDING ORDINANCE. (MRK)