To celebrate the 30th Anniversary of ENERGY STAR, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has offered special, one-time recognition to any organization that earned EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification for five or more buildings in 2022. Eligible organizations gain “membership” to ENERGY STAR Certification Nation at four different tiers—Member, Premier Member, Executive Member, and Elite Member—depending on how many buildings they certify in 2022.
To earn the ENERGY STAR, a commercial building or industrial plant must be independently verified to operate more efficiently than 75% of similar properties nationwide. ENERGY STAR-certified buildings use an average of 35% less energy and are responsible for 35% less carbon dioxide emissions than typical buildings. That’s important, since commercial buildings and industrial plants are responsible for nearly half of the nation’s energy use and nearly half of its greenhouse gas emissions.
Launched in 1992, ENERGY STAR is a voluntary EPA program that delivers environmental benefits and financial value through superior energy efficiency. Today, thousands of organizations use ENERGY STAR tools and resources to help them assess their energy performance, improve their efficiency, and earn recognition. In 2019, the ENERGY STAR program for commercial buildings helped businesses and organizations save 230 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity, avoid $14 billion in energy costs, and achieve 170 million metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions.
Learn more about Certification Nation here.
Learn more about ENERGY STAR certification for buildings here.