Posted by Apolline Andrieu-Delille — October 21, 2024 — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently announced the launch of a Spanish-language version of ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, its popular online energy measurement and tracking tool for commercial and multifamily buildings. Spanish-speaking building owners, managers, and tenants can now create a free, secure account in Portfolio Manager to manage their property’s energy use, water use, waste generation, and greenhouse gas emissions — all in their native language.
EPA expands access to industry-standard energy management tool for commercial and multifamily buildings. Source: EPA.
EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan remarked:
ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager is the industry-standard tool — already used to measure more than 22% of all commercial floor space in the United States. Increasing accessibility to the tool for Spanish-speaking facility owners, managers, and occupants will provide their businesses with the data and insights to drive energy efficiency improvements, cost savings, and meaningful reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
The launch of Portfolio Manager in Spanish supports Executive Order 13166, which encourages federal agencies to provide meaningful access to information to persons with limited English proficiency. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 13% of the U.S. population spoke Spanish at home in 2019, with 5% saying they speak English less than “very well.” Offering Portfolio Manager in Spanish increases access for facility owners and managers in Puerto Rico, those in disadvantaged communities, as well as those in dozens of cities and states that require use of Portfolio Manager to measure, track and report energy use.
The interactive tool, previously only available in English and French, includes features such as:
- 1 – 100 ENERGY STAR score: This simple number evaluates a building’s energy efficiency relative to similar buildings across the country. Fifty represents the median. The score accounts for the building’s physical assets, operations, and occupant behavior, as well as weather and operating characteristics.
- ENERGY STAR certification: Buildings that earn an ENERGY STAR score of 75 or higher can apply for the EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification — identifying the nation’s most energy-efficient buildings.
- GHG emissions tracking: Calculate a building’s greenhouse gas emissions from energy use.
- Water and waste tracking: Measure and track a building’s water use and waste.
The EPA will also provide live training, printed training materials, and user support in Spanish to further assist Spanish-speaking users.
Energy use in commercial and residential buildings accounts for one-third of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. A recent EPA report estimates that under the Inflation Reduction Act, these same buildings have the potential to cut their CO2 emissions by up to 63% by 2030 through a combination of energy efficiency, efficient electrification, and clean energy.
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