For investors interested in energy efficiency in either conventional or green construction, meaningful answers to a few questions will go a long way towards ensuring a sustainable investment.
To determine how a building's energy use compares to other similar buildings in the country, the U.S. EPA's ENERGY STAR program developed an energy performance rating system that rates a building's energy efficiency on a scale of 1–100. A building that scores in a 75 or above on this scale (placing its energy performance among the top 25 percent among similar buildings) can earn an ENERGY STAR label. Receiving a rating for a building is easy and can be done at the energystar.gov Web site using Portfolio Manager, a free, online tracking and benchmarking tool.
More than 62,000 have been rated, and more than 4,000 of them have earned the ENERGY STAR label to date.
New Construction Project Energy Efficiency
Has an energy target been established?
New construction project teams often promote building designs that are energy efficient, but do not always provide an estimate of the completed and commissioned building's expected energy to owners and investors. Many green building rating systems and programs targeting energy efficiency in building design rely on computer modeling primarily concerned with estimating if a design exceeds the building code, which is not an indicator of how much energy the building will use.
Establishing energy targets can help drive energy-efficient design choices; energy efficiency goals should be set based on comparisons to actual building energy use. EPA's Target Finder tool provides an easy way to develop an energy use target tailored to a specific design project.
Investors should ask about a new building design's estimated energy use and if it is Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR.
Green Certified Buildings
What method or system was used to certify the building? Did it earn points for energy efficiency?
If a building has been operating for at least one year, it should be benchmarked for energy efficiency using the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool and against its energy target.
The building envelope, mechanical systems, lighting, and controls systems
Energy-efficient buildings have efficient components and systems that are properly designed and sized and are actively managed once occupied. It is important to make sure that these investments are not subverted in the name of green design or value engineering.
The Commissioning Strategy
Specifying and installing the latest energy saving technologies may
make little impact unless these technologies are properly commissioned
along with other building systems. New technologies often require more
attention during commissioning. Be sure that the project budget
includes proper funding for commissioning.
“Green Buildings and Energy Efficiency: Diligence Pays”
(162KB), from Off the Charts, the EPA ENERGY STAR newsletter covering energy management for the financial markets, Summer 2006.
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Explore Ways to Use Renewable Energy 
EERE also works with stakeholders to develop programs and policies to facilitate the deployment of advanced clean energy technologies and practices.
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Energy for America's future The National Energy Policy promotes the development and deployment of energy systems and practices that will provide current and future generations with clean, efficient, affordable, and reliable energy. |
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Protecting the environment through energy efficiency By working closely with private industry, governments and consumers the ENERGY STAR® program was established in 1992 to identify energy efficient products and reduce carbon emissions. |
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Making homes more energy efficient |
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Maintaining energy for the future Department initiatives help industry maintain the infrastructure to deliver energy to the consumer now, and for the future. |
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Learn How You Can Make Every Day Earth Day |
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Energy Savers
Federal Energy Management Program
Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Emission Reductions Registry
National Energy Policy
Weatherization Assistance Program
The U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Housing and
Urban Development recently awarded an Irvine, Calif. non-profit
developer an Energy Star award for its contribution to reducing
greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency.
Jamboree Housing Corporation received the Energy
Star’s Excellence in Affordable Housing award for its efforts from 2003
to present to incorporate energy-efficient appliances or practices at
its developments for workforce families and lower-income seniors that
began with 348 apartment units, to 154 currently under construction,
and 746 under renovation.
“The EPA applauds Jamboree Housing for its
leadership in energy efficiency by bringing EnergyStar products to the
population it serves,” said Deborah Jordan, the EPA’s Air Division
director for the Pacific Southwest. “EnergyStar products save energy,
which reduce greenhouse gas emissions, prevent pollution and lower
energy bills.”
Jamboree serves families and seniors with a
household income between 30-80 percent of the area median income, with
an emphasis in the 50-60 percent range. The median household income for
residents living in Jamboree communities is $19,000.
The EPA awarded 12 Excellence in Affordable Housing
awards nationwide that include two national winners. The award
recognizes governments, non-profits, non-governmental organizations or
utilities that have made exceptional or market-leading contributions
toward advancing energy efficiency in affordable housing through the
use of Energy Star-qualified products and appliances or Energy Star’s
residential construction guidelines.
The
national winners were two of seventy-nine annual Energy Star award
winners. The award categories included Sustained Excellence, Partner of
the Year, Energy Star Award for Excellence and Special Recognition. The
seventy-nine award winners were selected from over 12,000 organizations
that partner with the Energy Star program to improve the energy
efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses.
Energy Star Solutions
In 2007, Americans, with the help of Energy Star,
saved $16 billion on their energy bills and avoided greenhouse gas
emissions equivalent to those of 27 million vehicles. To date, more
than 2.5 billion Energy Star-qualified products have been sold, and
nearly 840,000 new homes and 4,000 office buildings, schools,
hospitals, and public buildings have earned the Energy Star. Energy
Star-qualified products, homes, and buildings provide the quality,
features, and personal comfort today's consumers expect.
Energy Star was introduced by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based
partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy
efficiency. Today, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy,
Energy Star offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions
to save energy, money, and help protect the environment for future
generations.
For more information visit: http://www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937). (San Francisco, Calif. -- 05/08/2008) –
- Expansion of eligible product categories for CFLs,
- New criteria limits, for the first time, the amount of mercury that CFLs can contain to less than 5 milligrams for most bulbs,
- Includes candelabra-based CFLs
- Incorporates a third-party testing program for all bulbs effective in November of 2008,
- Tightens lamp color requirements and
- Adds high-heat testing requirements for reflector products.
Revised ENERGY STAR® criteria for CFLs takes effect December 2, 2008 - 270 days from issuance of criteria. The criteria for CFLs were last updated in 2003.
These CFL products under the ENERGY STAR® label — which include new categories for CFLs that contain less mercury, new candelabra products and more rigorous testing procedures — are expected to save Americans approximately $30 billion in utility costs over the next five years. More stringent criteria, combined with a greater diversity of energy-saving product options, will allow Americans to more efficiently use energy in their homes.
U.S. Department of Energy Implements More Stringent Criteria for ENERGY STAR® Clothes Washers, Expands CFL Program
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced more stringent
criteria for clothes washers under the ENERGY STAR® label in 2008.
Based on
first-year projected sales data, approximately 1.9 million ENERGY
STAR®-qualified clothes washers will be sold, saving American families
up to $92.4 million annually on their water and utility bills.
The more stringent requirements for clothes washers carrying the ENERGY STAR® label will take effect in two phases. In order to qualify, clothes washers must be a minimum of 43 percent more efficient than current federal energy efficiency standards with a maximum Water Factor (WF) of 7.5, as of July 1, 2009. As of January 1, 2011, clothes washers must be a minimum of 59 percent more efficient with a maximum WF of 6.0. WF measures the water efficiency and is calculated as gallons of water used per cubic foot of capacity – the lower the WF, the more efficient the clothes washer.
Following the 2011 criteria
change for clothes washers, consumers are expected to save $120 million
on utility bills annually, 11.2 billion gallons of water and 659
million kilowatt hours of electricity.
Current ENERGY STAR-qualified clothes washers use 75 percent less energy than clothes washer models manufactured in 1980. The ENERGY STAR® criteria for clothes washers, last modified in January 2007, were drafted with input from stakeholders and public review and comment.
The US Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy work together to bring common sense measurements of electrical appliances, equipment and even buildings. Energy efficiency has improved signficantly since the Energy Star program was started in the 1970s, and they continue to add new categories of equipment to their tested and rated product information.
Energy Efficient Appliances & Equipment for Homes
By replacing your old equipment and appliances with Energy Star rated products, you will save money each and every month you use your equipment. And with electricity prices going up every year, your savings will grow and grow.We will help you find good information about Energy Star rated products and othr EPA suggestions to reduce climate change, save our precious natural resources, and improve our air quality. It all fits togehter. In fact, you could say that "green" is at attitude about everything. And we help you find practical energy efficient solutions.
Energy Efficient Appliances & Equipment for Offices
Comptuers can be Energy Star rated. And so can telephones, fax machines, and even heating and air conditioning equipment. In fact, the whole building can save you energy when you follow Energy Star guidelines for energy efficiency. We'll help you find the information you need about types equipment, technology, and installers in your local area.And we'll also help you identify local, state and federal incentives and rebates that save you money on the original purchase of Energy Star rated equipment.
Energy Efficient Appliances & Equipment Product Categories
- Lighting
- Faucets
- Refrigerators
- Heating & Air Conditioning
- Kitchen Appliances
- Energy Star Rated Homes
