by Jbs050510 j3 — May 10, 2010—In partnership with several states and utilities, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on May 5 a new pilot program designed to further improve commercial building energy efficiency. Building Performance with Energy Star will help utilities and state energy efficiency programs achieve increased energy savings and fight climate change by strategically pursuing whole building energy improvements with their business customers.
Modeled after the successful Home Performance with Energy Star program, Building Performance with Energy Star will provide a framework for regional energy efficiency programs to align their financial incentives and technical assistance with a comprehensive approach to building upgrades.
The program includes several key elements to help states and utilities promote a holistic strategy for improving energy efficiency, including: measuring energy use with EPA’s online energy measurement and tracking tool, Portfolio Manager, to score building performance; approaching energy efficiency opportunities in light of findings from whole building assessments; and creating a robust delivery network for whole building efficiency services.
Utilities and states that partner with EPA will use Building Performance with Energy Star to help business customers strategically plan and implement energy efficiency improvements over time—e.g., starting with low-payback measures that can create revenue to fund capital upgrades in the future. The program can also be used to help customers identify buildings with the most opportunities for improvement and prioritize technical assistance and incentives for projects that will deliver the largest energy savings.
For more information visit EPA’s Utility and Regional Energy Efficiency Program Sponsors (EEPS) Resources Web page.
