ENERGY STAR Certification

ENERGY STAR Certification proves that a building performs better than at least 75% of similar buildings nationwide. If the certificate application gets approved by the EPA, the building receives an ENERGY STAR Certified decal, displayed on the front entrance of the building. ENERGY STAR certified buildings are also publicly listed on the ENERGY STAR website.

Buildings become eligible for ENERGY STAR certification if they’ve been benchmarked through the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and received a score of 75 or higher, on a scale of 1 – 100. The ENERGY STAR score accounts for differences in operating conditions, regional weather data, and other important considerations. Many types of buildings are eligible for an ENERGY STAR score.

A Licensed Architect or a Professional Engineer must do a site visit and conduct four tests in various areas of the building. These tests include:

1. Ventilation for indoor air quality: ensuring good air quality & proper ventilation
2. Acceptable Thermal Environmental Conditions: comfortable conditions in various spaces of the building
3. Adequate Illumination: verifying that lighting meets foot candle standards
4. Audit of all Benchmarking information.

Energy Star Certification is valid for one year. The ENERGY STAR Certified decal contains the year in which the award was received. Similarly, properties included on the ENERGY STAR Registry are listed with the year they receive the award. Certification decals may be displayed indefinitely on qualified properties. However, recipients of ENERGY STAR certification are encouraged to continue benchmarking their properties’ energy use and re-apply annually to keep their certification current.

1. EBEWE Phase II Exemption

If you are required to comply with LA’s EBEWE Ordinance,

• You will be exempt from Phase II if the building is Energy Star Certified the year of the building’s compliance due date.
• You will be exempt from Phase II if the building is Energy Star Certified for two of the three years preceding the building’s compliance due date.

2. Higher Sales Prices, Lease Rates and Lower Vacancy Rates

Reference: 263 ENERGY STAR certified buildings data sourced from EPA ENERGY STAR Registry, and 526 LEED certified buildings data sourced from USGBC Project Directory. Data sourced from CoStar Group survey report generated March 15, 2018. Analysis by LA Better Buildings Challenge.

3. Lower Operating Costs

ENERGY STAR certified buildings use, on average, 35% less energy than similar buildings nationwide. Certified office buildings cost $0.50 less per sq. ft. to operate compared to their peers. In 2015, certified buildings saved an average of >$250,000 per building.

4. Recognition of Environmental Responsibility

More than 85% of Americans recognize the decal when they see it, and 68% of adults prefer to do business with environmentally responsible companies. Further, more than 80% of workers are attracted to employers with environmentally-conscious reputations. About half of workers say they’d forgo higher pay or a promotion to work for an organization with a good environmental reputation.

Reference: 2007 National Technology Readiness Survey and 2009 Kelly Global Workforce Index.

Check out this Client Spotlight Blog where we ENERGY STAR Certified a 101 Year-Old Building Owner’s Office Building.