EnergyStar program gains use for energy reductions - Charlotte Business Journal:

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The energy-efficiency label is gaining popularity among building ownera intent on lowering their monthlypower bills. The U.S. Greenm Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Desigj program has gained widespread applicatiomin construction. But with the large numbef of buildings that were built beforer the LEED standards were the EnvironmentalProtection Agency’es EnergyStar program has room to grow. Insteadd of tracking measurements such asair quality, sustainable materiales and commitment to recycling in the LEED program, EnergyStar focusesz on power use. EnergyStar buildings typicallyuse 35% less energuy and emit 35% less greenhouse gases than average buildings.
To gain the rating, properties must scorde 75 points or higherd ona 100-point scale in the EPA’se National Energy Performance Rating system. Buildingy types that can earn the ratingv includebank branches, hospitals, hotels, offices, stores, supermarketss and some manufacturing plants. Until recently, LEED has been a measurew of sustainability primarily fornew construction. But the Energy­Stat rating shows that going green isn’t limited to new buildings or even major The energy-efficient retrofit marketf is set for growth. Federal buildings will likelyt see such renovations under thestimulus act.
But the largest potential for growtgin energy-efficient retrofits lies in commercial buildings, accordinhg to a June report by Pike Research. The trendd is evident in Charlotte, which ranks No. 18 on a list of American citiews with themost EnergyStar-qualified In 2008, Charlotte had 45 of the buildingsz totaling 5.8 million square feet. More than 3,300o commercials buildings and manufacturing plantds around the country earned the ratintglast year. Supermarket giangt partnered with the EPA in 1998 and has receivecd multiple awards for pursuing EnergyStar rating on allits stores. So far, 880 of the chain’sd 1,300 stores are certified.
“Of supermarkets use a lot of Refrigeration isthe single-largesty driver,” says Kyle Mitchell, vice president of storse development for the Salisbury-based grocery chain. Sincs its first store qualifiecdin 2001, Mitchell says Food Lion has cut energt consumption by 25% on a per stores basis. This has helped blunt price hikewfor energy. “The energy billas are not nearly as high as they wouldhave been,” Mitchello says. Nationally, companies have three avenues to pursue financial incentives for reducinenergy consumption, says Katherine Hammack, a leader in ’s climat e change and sustainability services group in Phoenix. She was on the boarsd of the U.S.
Green Building Council in 1993 when the LEED prograwas developed. Hammack says some companies can receive incentives fromtheie utility. Many states sponsor energy programsx that offer tax credits or exemptions for cuts inenergty use. And the federal government offerd tax deductionsfor energy-efficiency improvements. Increasing adding energy-efficient windows and converting to amore energy-efficient roof system can qualify for one or more incentivese from those sources, Hammack says. How much a companyg saves tends to be aregionak issue.
West Coast and Northeast states and utilitty providers offer more incentive programs than those in the Companies interested in pursuing EnergyStar can use a free onlins tool called Portfolio Manager to calculatse a score fortheir buildings. That scorde must be verified by a professionaol engineer before an application for the designation can be There is no charge to apply for the Owners must reapply every year by submittingh data on thepast year’s energy use to maintain the designation. Brad Rabinowitz, an engineed with , has conducted EnergyStar verification for clients such as real estatew developersand Hines.
“As LEED has EnergyStar has seemed to grow along with Rabinowitz says. The two programs don’t compete. Instead, the EnergyStadr rating is a prerequisite for attainingLEED