Get Started

Follow these four easy steps to get started 

with ENERGY STAR:

Become an ENERGY STAR partner. 

energystar.gov/joinbuildings

Assess your energy performance. 

energystar.gov/benchmark and energystar.gov/targetfinder

Develop and implement a plan to reduce energy use. 

energystar.gov/guidelines

Engage employees and tenants with fun, interactive tools. 

energystar.gov/work

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3

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Fight climate change 

and improve the energy 

efficiency of the places 

where we work, play, and 

learn with help from EPA.

A Better 

Building.

A Better 

Bottom Line.

A Better 

World.

Cambridge Savings Bank, built in 1820, 

improved its energy performance and 

proves that buildings don’t have to be new 

to earn EPA’s ENERGY STAR.

Council Rock School District reduced energy 

use by 40 percent in just three years, saving 

nearly $5 million in energy costs.

Ford Motor Company saved more than 

$15 million in one year through innovative 

energy management strategies.

USAA Real Estate Company increased its 

average ENERGY STAR score from 48 to 82 

(on a 1-100 scale).

Success Stories

Learn more at energystar.gov/buildings

Buildings and the Fight 

Against Climate Change

Every building, from the smallest school to the tallest skyscraper, uses energy 

most often generated by the burning of fossil fuels. The burning of fossil fuels 

releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to the challenge 

of climate change. In fact, the nearly 5 million buildings in the U.S. where we 

work, play, and learn are responsible for nearly 20 percent of both the nation’s 

energy use and greenhouse gas emissions at a cost of over $100 billion per year.

The Difference a Building 

Can Make

On average, 30 percent of the energy consumed in commercial buildings is 

wasted. Energy efficiency is the single largest way to eliminate this waste, 

reduce emissions, and save money. 

The thousands of businesses and organizations that work with the 

Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR program are saving 

billions of dollars and preventing millions of tons of greenhouse gas emissions 

from entering our atmosphere each year, all without tradeoffs in 

performance or comfort. 

Isn’t it time to make your building part of the solution?

 The Average Building 

Wastes 30% of the 

Energy It Consumes Because of Inefficiencies

For more information 

call 1.888.STAR.YES

(1.888.782.7937)

Office of Air and Radiation

(6202J) EPA 430-F-09-077

May 2010

Recycled/Recyclable-Printed with Vegetable Oil Based Inks 

on Recyclable Paper (Minimum 50% Post-consumer Content)
Ready-Made Energy Management Strategy

EPA’s Guidelines for Energy Management are built on the 

best practices of leading organizations. Use these 

guidelines to map out your own strategy. 

energystar.gov/guidelines

Objective Energy Measurement and Tracking Tools

Assess your energy performance with EPA’s objective, 

standardized measurement and tracking tools. You can 

measure and track the energy use of all your facilities and 

benchmark them against similar facilities nationwide. Or 

calculate the energy performance of new building designs 

and compare them to your goal. 

energystar.gov/benchmark 

energystar.gov/targetfinder

energystar.gov/epis

Technical Guidance

Once you know how much energy your facility uses and how 

it stacks up to its peers, you can develop a plan to improve 

efficiency. A building upgrade manual, industrial energy 

guides, and other tools will help you hit the ground running.

energystar.gov/bldgmanual

energystar.gov/epis

10 20 30 40 50 60

Leading the Way: ENERGY STAR Partnership

With help from EPA, thousands of well-known organizations are saving energy 

and reducing their carbon footprint. Current ENERGY STAR partners include 

30 percent of the Fortune 500, eight of the 10 largest U.S. healthcare systems, 

major league baseball teams, colleges and universities, congregations, and 

small businesses. 

Come join the ranks of these environmental leaders:

Ford Motor Company | CB Richard Ellis | Food Lion | Hines

3M | New York City Public Schools | JCPenney | Merck & Co

Kohls | TIAA-CREF | Marriott | USAA Real Estate Company

PepsiCo | Toyota | City of Louisville | CalPortland Company

Providence Health & Services | TRANSWESTERN | Raytheon

Beyond Appliances: Buildings Earn EPA Label

Through ENERGY STAR, EPA works with owners and 

managers of our nation’s commercial buildings to 

help them strategically manage their facilities’ energy 

performance, cut energy use, lower utility bills, and 

reduce greenhouse gas emissions. An important part of 

this effort is EPA’s recognition of top performance.

Like your dishwasher, buildings can earn EPA’s mark of superior energy 

efficiency–the ENERGY STAR. To achieve this, buildings must be independently 

verified to perform among the top 25 percent of similar buildings nationwide. 

On average, ENERGY STAR labeled buildings use 35 percent less energy and 

generate 35 percent fewer greenhouse gas emissions than their peers, 

making them an important part of the fight against climate change.

Your Path to Energy Savings

Make Your Building Part 

of the Solution with EPA 

and ENERGY STAR.®

Extensive Training and User Support

Not sure how it all works? EPA offers free online training 

and user support. We’ll even help you find energy efficiency 

service and product providers in your area who can help 

you achieve your goals.

energystar.gov/training

energystar.gov/spp

energystar.gov/networkmeetings

Off-the-Shelf Promotional Tools

As you reduce your energy use, share your 

accomplishments with others and challenge them to 

join you. EPA offers no-cost, ready-made communication 

materials you can use to promote your energy 

achievements to customers, employees, and your 

community.

energystar.gov/work

Enhanced Credibility

More than 75 percent of American consumers recognize 

the ENERGY STAR. Align your organization with a proven 

brand by partnering with EPA and earning the 

ENERGY STAR for your facility. 

energystar.gov/eslabel

TRAINING

MANUAL

101

Your Building: Your Benefit

Focusing on your building’s energy efficiency will pay dividends throughout 

your business. You’ll reduce energy bills without sacrificing performance 

or comfort. Lower bills mean more money to spend on your organization’s 

goals and mission, while helping customers and clients recognize your 

environmental leadership. Partnering with ENERGY STAR is more than a 

good environmental decision, it’s a good business decision.

U.S. Manufacturing: Part of the Solution

The U.S. manufacturing industry is responsible 

for nearly 30 percent of all U.S. greenhouse gas 

emissions. Whether making steel, refining oil, 

or canning vegetables, energy efficiency is the 

most cost-effective climate strategy. 

Hundreds of companies across nearly a dozen 

manufacturing industries are using the same 

successful ENERGY STAR strategy to develop 

strong energy management programs, earn 

the ENERGY STAR for their facilities, and 

achieve breakthrough improvements in 

energy efficiency.

Learn more at energystar.gov/industrial 

and energystar.gov/epis

U.S. MANUF

30

OTHER COUNTRIES

70%

U.S. MANUFACTURING

TRANSPORTATION

RESIDENTIAL

COMMERCIAL

OTHER (1%)

30%

Industrial plants are 

responsible for nearly 

30% of our greenhouse 

gas emissions.

ENERGY STAR Labeled Buildings

 Use 35% less energy

 Generate 35% fewer

greenhouse gas emissions

 Compared to Average Buildings

ENERGY STAR Labeled Office Buildings

 Cost 50¢ less

 (per square foot to operate)

Compared to Average Office Buildings