ENERGY STAR for State Government

ENERGY STAR Tools and Best Practices Supporting the Recovery Act

View pre-recorded training:

• Make the Most of Your Energy Efficiency Stimulus Funding — Plan, Monitor, and Report Results with ENERGY STAR Tools (1hr)
• Maximize Stimulus Funding with Performance Contracting and ENERGY STAR (1.20 hr)

Learn more about leveraging EPA's Portfolio Manager (900KB) and the benchmarking starter kit to quickly and easily prioritize energy efficiency projects in buildings, measure progress, and verify/report results.

What State Governments Can Do

• Learn about governments leveraging ENERGY STAR in legislation and voluntary campaigns (96KB)
• 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.
• Join the Change a World, Start with ENERGY STAR campaign. Become a Pledge Driver. Take the Pledge.
• 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.

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