GRESB recently communicated its full support for ENERGY STAR as an integral resource for the US building sector. This includes our belief that a strong, independent, government-supported ENERGY STAR platform is in the best interest of the industry and our competitiveness in a global economy.
We are engaged in on-going conversations to raise awareness about ENERGY STAR’s central role in the industry, as well as its critical contributions to competitiveness and large-scale energy cost savings.
These conversations underscore that ENERGY STAR is a bit like the old fable of the elephant. It’s very big, and some stakeholders only see parts – an ear here, a massive foot there. I have been in the building industry for 20 years, ENERGY STAR – and the community of practice around it – has been an essential part of my journey.
I wanted to step back and consider the elephant. In other words, what exactly, is ENERGY STAR?
ENERGY STAR is:
- A brand – a nationally known symbol that conveys credible information to decision makers. Learn more.
- A yardstick – a tool to answer practical questions with credible, well-documented 0-100 scores and a growing array of analytics (e.g., electric use, design targets). Learn more.
- A platform – an integrated system of databases and connections linking energy consumers, utilities, and government benchmarks. Learn more.
- An educator – a unique collection of resources to help front-line market participants gain skills and fundamental understanding of energy use in buildings. Learn more.
- A certification system – a mechanism to review and recognize highly efficient buildings, helping markets reduce risk and allocate capital effectively. Learn more.
The functions are carried out by mission-oriented, science-based Federal agencies – the US Environmental Protection Agency, in partnership with the US Department of Energy. This joint effort is rooted in statutory authority, including the Clean Air Act (Section 103) and the 2005 Energy Policy Act (Section 131, amended in the Energy Policy and Conservation Act, Section 324). This has made ENERGY STAR a reliable partner for thousands of private organizations, and an impartial and critical resource for both government and industry.
The bottom line is that ENERGY STAR combines a clear, governmental mandate and a mature technology platform powered by credible scientific data. These factors underscore the challenge associated with anything other than government-sponsored operations: ENERGY STAR is not just a technology, score, or database. In theory, each of these elements can be operated or replaced. However, ENERGY STAR is effective because it is all of these things and more, working together toward a clear public goal.
Let’s continue to celebrate ENERGY STAR and build support for this critical community resource.