Home > Buildings & Plants > ENERGY STAR Labeled Buildings and Plants > The ENERGY STAR for Buildings & Manufacturing Plants

The ENERGY STAR for Buildings & Manufacturing Plants

Save More, Use Less, and Earn the ENERGY STAR

The ENERGY STAR is the national symbol for energy efficiency in America. More than 50 different kinds of products as well as thousands of new homes and commercial and industrial facilities have earned the ENERGY STAR for superior energy performance.

Commercial and industrial facilities account for half of all energy consumption in the U.S. at a cost of over $200 billion per year, more than any other sector of the economy. These facilities are also responsible for nearly half of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions which contribute to climate change.

Since the ENERGY STAR for commercial buildings was first introduced in 1999, thousands of buildings across the country have earned the ENERGY STAR and are saving billions in energy costs. The first class of manufacturing plants to earn the ENERGY STAR was announced in 2006 and added another valuable tool for sustaining momentum in a corporate energy program.

The energy performance of commercial and industrial facilities is scored on a 1-100 scale and those facilities that achieve a score of 75 or higher are eligible for the ENERGY STAR, indicating that they are among the top 25% of facilities in the country for energy performance. Commercial buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR use on average 35% less energy than typical similar buildings and generate one-third less carbon dioxide. Increasing concern about the financial and environmental risks associated with climate change is driving more organizations to strive for the ENERGY STAR for their buildings, as it is seen as a symbol of an organization that is working to reduce global warming and its impacts.

Using the array of free tools and guidelines offered by ENERGY STAR, more and more buildings and manufacturing plants are earning the ENERGY STAR. Learn more and get started today!

Retail buildings can now earn the ENERGY STAR.

Review the information below to learn how your building or manufacturing plant can earn the ENERGY STAR!

What buildings and manufacturing plants are eligible to earn the ENERGY STAR?

Buildings and plants that rate in the top 25 percent of facilities in the nation for energy performance may qualify for the ENERGY STAR. Many types of commercial and industrial buildings can be rated based on a comparison of energy use with other, similar types of buildings. Currently, buildings that can earn the ENERGY STAR include offices, bank branches, financial centers, retailers, courthouses, hospitals, hotels, K-12 schools, medical offices, supermarkets, dormitories, and warehouses. Industrial buildings that can earn the ENERGY STAR include auto assembly plants, petroleum refineries, cement plants, and wet corn mills. Architecture firms can also display the Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR graphic to distinguish their projects as among the nation's best in energy performance.

How will earning the ENERGY STAR distinguish my organization?

Earning the ENERGY STAR is evidence of your organization's commitment to reducing its impact on the environment. By displaying the ENERGY STAR, you show that your building meets strict energy efficiency guidelines and is low in carbon emissions.

EPA helps highlight your achievements to the public. Each year, EPA releases information to the press about buildings and manufacturing plants that have earned the prestigious ENERGY STAR. The Agency also partners with groups whose buildings earn the ENERGY STAR in its media activities. Within the ENERGY STAR program, it is also possible to receive public recognition as an ENERGY STAR Partner or Leader, or to earn the coveted Partner of the Year Award.

How do I find out how much energy my building or plant is really using?

Commercial Buildings:

Understanding the energy use of a building is important just as it's useful to know the estimated miles per gallon (mpg) for your automobile. ENERGY STAR provides free tools and resources to help you measure the energy use of your building and to compare your buildings with other, similar buildings. For many types of non-industrial buildings, you can enter energy information into EPA's energy performance tool, called Portfolio Manager, and it will help you understand how efficient your building is by calculating a rating for your building on a scale of 1-100 relative to similar buildings. Buildings rating 75 or greater may qualify for the ENERGY STAR.

Manufacturing Plants:

In the industrial sector, four types of manufacturing plants are eligible to earn the ENERGY STAR: auto assembly facilities; cement plants; petroleum refineries; and wet corn mills. Plants awarded the ENERGY STAR must score within the top 25 percent of energy efficiency within their industry, nationally, using a plant energy performance indicator (EPI).

How do I get started making my building or plant more energy efficient?

ENERGY STAR provides free Web-based tools, calculators, resources, and training to measure, track, and improve energy performance. These assessment and guidance tools help organizations make improvements to their buildings that can dramatically reduce both energy consumption and costs.

EPA offers a proven strategy for superior energy management based on the successful practices of ENERGY STAR partners. The Guidelines for Energy Management can assist you with step-by-step improvements to energy and financial performance by helping your organization make a commitment, assess your building or plant's energy performance, set goals, create and implement an action plan, evaluate your progress, and recognize your achievements.

How do I apply to earn the ENERGY STAR?

Commercial buildings achieving a rating of 75 or higher using Portfolio Manager and professionally verified to meet current indoor environmental standards are eligible to apply for the ENERGY STAR. To get started, enter the required data into Portfolio Manager, and based on your rating the tool will tell you if your building may qualify for the ENERGY STAR. If it does, your next step is to complete the verification process and submit your application. Find out how to qualify your building as ENERGY STAR.

For manufacturing plants, energy managers input key plant operating data into a plant energy performance indicator (EPI) to receive an energy efficiency rating on a scale of 1 to 100. Plants achieving a rating of 75 or higher may be eligible for the ENERGY STAR. For those plants that are eligible, download the application forms from the ENERGY STAR website and submit them to EPA along with the necessary verifications. Find out more on how to qualify your manufacturing plant as ENERGY STAR.