ENERGY STAR for Buildings Program
ENERGY STAR was originally developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a voluntary labeling program to promote energy-efficient products and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
ENERGY STAR was originally developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a voluntary labeling program to promote energy-efficient products and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
In the late 1990s, EPA partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to increase the scope of the ENERGY STAR program by launching a whole building program, ENERGY STAR for Buildings.
ENERGY STAR Tools
The program includes three tools for assisting and encouraging organizations in their efforts to reduce energy use and limit resulting greenhouse gas emissions:
ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager
This software tool allows organizations to measure, track, and compare their energy use to other buildings. It is the backbone of the ENERGY STAR for Buildings program and a key verification component of the LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance rating system.
ENERGY STAR Task Manager
This no-cost online tool allows architects and building owners to set energy targets and receive an ENERGY STAR energy performance score for projects during the design process.
ENERGY STAR Energy Performance Scale
An energy performance scale score between 1 and 100 indicates building performance relative to similar buildings nationwide.
ENERGY STAR Buildings Certification
Buildings with an energy performance scale score of 75 or higher achieve the ENERGY STAR label, indicating that they perform in the top 25% of their building type.
To find out more about this certification, visit the ENERGY STAR website, which includes:
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Details for homeowners on how to make their homes more efficient
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Information for consumers and product manufacturers on ENERGY STAR products
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An introduction to Portfolio Manager and how to use it
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Resources for facility owners and managers, service providers, and energy efficiency program administrators