ENERGY STAR for Local Government

ENERGY STAR Tools and Best Practices Supporting the Recovery Act

• Use Sample Text (169KB) to incorporate ENERGY STAR into Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant activity worksheets.

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)
• ENERGY STAR and Revolving Loan Funds (1 hr)
• ENERGY STAR and State Energy Programs for Commercial Buildings (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.

Incorporate ENERGY STAR qualified products into ARRA funded projects for single and multi family homes, public buildings, and K-12 schools.

What Local Governments Can Do

• Learn about governments leveraging ENERGY STAR in legislation and voluntary campaigns (181KB)
• Host an ENERGY STAR Benchmarking Competition (99KB) to save money and fight climate change in your community.
• Join the Change a World, Start with ENERGY STAR campaign. Become a Pledge Driver. Take the Pledge.
• Join the ENERGY STAR Challenge
  • Become an ENERGY STAR Partner and demonstrate your commitment to improving your own facilities' energy performance.
  • Promote energy efficiency to your community 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 .
• Take advantage of resources like our Service and Product Provider Directory.
• Register for and learn more through online training sessions.
• Purchase ENERGY STAR qualified products to save energy throughout the building.
• Learn more about ENERGY STAR for Affordable Housing.
• Learn about Clean Energy Financing Programs for local governments
• Learn about the benefits of Submetering Building Energy and Water Usage (3.18KB) from the White House's National Science and Technology Council.

What Other Local Governments Are Doing

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

ENERGY STAR Success Stories

Arlington County, Virginia has been actively participating in the ENERGY STAR program since 1998 and became one of the first local governments in the nation to take the ENERGY STAR Challenge. In January 2007, Arlington County launched Fresh AIRE (Arlington Initiative to Reduce Emissions) — a collaboration between county government, businesses, organizations, and individuals to reduce the county's greenhouse gas emissions by 10 percent from 2000 to 2012.

Arlington County leverages ENERGY STAR tools and resources to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in their own buildings while informing all community members about the environmental and economic benefits of saving energy. The county has distributed more than 1,500 ENERGY STAR qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs and has been successful in reaching residents through public lectures, workshops, and other events such as the Fresh AIRE Business Summit.

Learn more about Fresh AIRE at www.arlingtonva.us/climate .

See other ENERGY STAR Success Stories.

Earn Recognition for Your Achievements

Join the growing group of organizations honored and recognized by EPA for their outstanding contributions to protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency.

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