Energy Star is a nationally-recognized program that promotes energy efficiency. It’s run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Department of Energy, and it serves as an unbiased source to help businesses and consumers make environmentally-conscious decisions. As part of the program, commercial buildings and plants can get Energy Star certified. Energy Star certification for commercial buildings is a simple way to evaluate and prove energy efficiency.
Getting certified provides significant benefits for commercial building owners, and Building Envelope Allies is an Energy Star partner. Our licensed professionals provide energy consulting and Energy Star application verification to help you get your building certified.
What is Energy Star certification for commercial buildings?
Energy Star certification indicates your commercial building is among the most energy efficient of its kind in the country. Buildings that are Energy Star certified use less energy, emit fewer greenhouse gasses, have lower operating costs, and are more valuable than buildings that aren’t certified.
To get Energy Star certified, your building must have an Energy Star score of 75 or higher. The scores range from 1-100, with 50 being average energy performance.
Getting your Energy Star score
Energy Star scores are calculated within the Energy Star Portfolio Manager using a benchmarking algorithm. You input details about your building, including utility usage information, and the program compares these metrics to other buildings nationwide that have the same primary use.
The algorithm takes into consideration elements like the purpose of the building, its operating hours, occupancy, and more, to determine Energy Star scores. If your building scores 75 or above, you can apply for Energy Star certification.
When you work with the experts at Building Envelope Allies, getting certified and maintaining your certification is simpler. Energy Star awards certification annually, so your building must maintain high energy performance ratings to keep its status.
As an Energy Star partner, our team provides energy audits and Energy Star consulting. We help you identify energy inefficiencies, make improvements, and keep your building operating at its peak.
The benefits of Energy Star certification for commercial buildings
Is Energy Star certification worthwhile? The answer for many building owners is yes.
Energy efficiency is becoming increasingly important — and urgent. Certification ensures your building minimizes energy waste. Plus, it’s one of the most effective ways to meet legislation that requires commercial buildings to benchmark and disclose energy performance, now and in the future.
Here are a few of the benefits of Energy Star certification for commercial buildings.
🠋 Lower greenhouse gas emissions
Energy Star certified buildings generate 35% fewer emissions than similar buildings. Lower greenhouse gas emissions have a positive impact on the environment.
🠋 Lower operating costs
Energy Star certified buildings use 35% less energy than similar buildings. Less energy use equals lower utility bills. In fact, operating an Energy Star certified office building costs about $0.54 less per square foot.
🠉 Higher building valuation
When utility costs are lower, net operating income is higher. Consistently high net operating income can increase building valuation, and correlates to sale price premiums up to 31% higher.
🠉 Higher occupancy rates
Energy Star certified buildings maintain higher occupancy rates overall, and those rates may be to 10% higher than similar buildings that aren’t Energy Star certified.
🠉 Higher rental rates
Along with higher occupancy rates, Energy Star certified buildings can often charge higher rental rates than similar buildings. Rental premiums can range from 3%-16% higher.
Interested in the benefits of being Energy Star certified? Contact us to learn more about the Energy Star certification process for commercial buildings