Diagram decorative image

Is Your Office Space Energy Efficient? Ready for Some Recognition?

Beginning Oct. 13, 2020, leased office spaces that have been designed with energy efficiency in mind will be  able to apply for ENERGY STAR Tenant Space certification.

Eligible tenants for this new certification include general administrative, financial and non-diagnostic medical office companies located in the United States that meter the energy for their occupied space.

To receive recognition, tenants must meet a lighting efficiency target, use efficient equipment and share data with the owner or landlord, if requested, for whole-building benchmarking. Similarly to the whole-building ENERGY STAR certification, tenants must engage a licensed professional (LP) to verify their submission.

Benchmarking and recognition are achieved through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager’s new Tenant Tool – a module added to gather specific information on the floors and suites comprising the tenant space. The Tenant Tool is populated by the following information:

  • Metered energy loads controlled by the tenant
  • Number of equipment/appliances in the space (including number of those that are ENERGY STAR certified)
  • Lighting fixture counts and specifications

Portfolio Manager will calculate estimated energy use and a target lighting energy use intensity that must be met to achieve ENERGY STAR recognition. After metrics are calculated and eligibility is confirmed in Portfolio Manager, tenants may complete the online application. Additionally, an LP must conduct a site visit to verify application information (options for adapting the site visit to meet tenant visitor restrictions are available). Once the application is approved by the EPA, tenants will receive ENERGY STAR Tenant Space certification, recognition on the ENERGY STAR website and a decal to proudly display in their space.

ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager remains a free tool for buildings, and now tenant spaces, to monitor and track their energy consumption and compare with similar spaces. ESD is proficient in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager and has assisted with ENERGY STAR certification for multiple buildings across the Chicagoland area. To learn more about the ENERGY STAR Tenant Space program, contact us.

Related News

Interested in learning more? Check out these related news items.

Aligning Technology with Tenant Needs

New technologies are transforming the traditional workspace allowing building owners, operators, and developers to attract and retain tenants in a competitive market. (Learn more about the smart building technology.)

Fahim on Verdict of Real Estate vs. Tech Spending

Two of the largest expenses for law firms are real estate and technology. ESD, now Stantec Practice Leader for Technology Mo Fahim says higher-end spaces may have an advantage because they support new technologies better. (Read Mo’s interview at Law.com.)

Tech-tonic Shifts in Meeting Room Design: What Should You Focus On?

Close your eyes and picture the traditional office setting. Listen to the gentle hum of conversations punctuated by intermittent phones ringing and the steady cadence of clacking keyboards. Now wake up! Those days are long gone for most modern office settings. While early adopters were already integrating new technologies to transform the traditional workplace, the evolution of the modern office was put into hyperdrive by the unexpected catalyst of a worldwide pandemic. It’s time to embrace a new reality. (Learn more about the best solutions for your space.)