ENERGY STAR for State Government

Government agencies spend more than $10 billion a year on energy to provide public services and meet constituent needs — while grappling with tightening budgets. Energy use in commercial buildings and industrial facilities is responsible for more than 50 percent of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions. Therefore, it is imperative that any state government looking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions pay special attention to its own buildings and the buildings across the state.

The good news is that the opportunity to reduce these emissions is significant because as much as 30 percent of the energy consumed in commercial buildings is often used unnecessarily or inefficiently. Through ENERGY STAR, EPA provides your state a proven energy management strategy and no-cost tools to save energy and money, as well as demonstrate your environmental leadership.

State governments play a vital dual role in helping meet the goals of the ENERGY STAR Challenge to improve the energy efficiency of America's buildings by 10 percent or more — they lead by example by improving their own buildings, and they leverage relationships with building owners in the state to motivate them to do the same.

What State Governments Can Do

• Join the ENERGY STAR Challenge
  • Become an ENERGY STAR Partner and demonstrate your commitment to improving your own facilities' energy performance.
  • Promote energy efficiency throughout your state with the ENERGY STAR Challenge Toolkit.
• Establish a comprehensive energy management program using ENERGY STAR’s Guidelines for Energy Management.
• Measure and track energy and water use in ALL existing buildings with Portfolio Manager.
• Use Target Finder to set energy use targets and rate energy design intent for new buildings.
• Improve energy performance of wastewater plants and drinking water systems.
• Learn about financing your energy projects.
• Calculate the pay-back period of energy efficiency investments with the Cash Flow Opportunity Calculator (download to your computer for best performance).
• Take advantage of resources like our Service and Product Provider Directory.
• Become a pledge driver in the ENERGY STAR Change a Light, Change the World Campaign.
• Purchase ENERGY STAR qualified products to save energy throughout the state.
• Get started with the ENERGY STAR Menu of Offerings. (566KB)
• Register for and learn more through online training sessions.
• Learn about governments leveraging ENERGY STAR in legislation.

What Other State Governments Are Doing

• See ENERGY STAR State Government Partners and read Profiles of Labeled Government Buildings.

ENERGY STAR Success Stories

The Ohio Department of Administrative Services (DAS) has adopted EPA's Portfolio Manager to measure and track the energy use and performance improvements of all its state-funded buildings. An executive order issued by Ohio Governor Ted Strickland calls for a 15 percent energy reduction goal by 2011. The executive order directs the DAS to track energy consumption in state buildings and calculate each organization's carbon footprint.

"We chose Portfolio Manager because of its simplicity, flexibility and support," said Jeff Westhoven, deputy director of the DAS. "The State of Ohio has many different agencies and building types, and this software accommodates our diversity and complexity." More than 30 state agencies have uploaded information for more than 5,000 facilities into the tool. By benchmarking its entire portfolio of buildings, Ohio improves its approach to controlling energy costs and identifying top-performing buildings that exemplify best practices.

Read the EPA Press Release regarding this announcement.

Earn Recognition for Your Achievements

• Apply for ENERGY STAR Awards
• Earn the ENERGY STAR for Buildings