United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Air and Radiation
6202J
EPA430-F-93-051
December 1993
SERA Energy Star Buildings
Introducing.,,
The Energy Star Buildings Program
The energy to run
buildings in the United
States costs about $70
billion a year. Besides
being costly, producing
the electricity to run
these buildings con-
tributes to a host of
environmental prob-
lems: acid rain, smog,
and global warming.
EPAs Energy Star
programs promote the
use of profitable,
energy-efficient tech-
nologies as a way to
increase profits and
competitiveness, while
at the same time pre-
venting pollution.
What Is the Energy Star Buildings
EPA's new Energy Star
Buildings program is a volun-
tary energy-efficiency pro-
gram for U.S. commercial
buildings. Building on the
successful Green Lights pro-
gram, the program focuses
on profitable investment
opportunities available in
most buildings, using proven
technologies. A central com-
ponent of the program is a
step-by-step implementation
process that takes advantage
of the system interactions,
enabling building owners to
achieve additional energy
savings while lowering capi-
tal expenditures.
The five-stage Energy Star
Buildings upgrade strategy is
shown below. One key advan-
tage of this approach is that it
reduces equipment cost. By
implementing Green Lights
(Stage 1), tuning up the build-
ing's systems (Stage 2), and
investing in upgrades that
reduce heating and cooling
loads (Stage 3), building own-
ers can significantly reduce
the size and cost of equip-
ment associated with Stages
4 and 5. Moreover, uncertain-
Program?
ties about the proper sizing of
upgraded cooling equipment
(chillers and direct-expansion
units) are reduced, leading to
potential equipment downsiz-
ing and cost savings.
Partners are expected to
follow this staged implemen-
tation strategy in upgrades
of buildings they own. The
Energy Star Buildings pro-
gram will also seek to
expand markets for emerging
energy-efficient technologies,
with the goal of reducing
prices to make investments
even more profitable.
TJiis staged approach provides a broad strategic framework for making comprehen-
sive efficiency upgrades in a range of commercial building types.
Stage 1
Stage2
Stages
Stage 4
Stages
Green
Lights
Building
Tune-Up
HVACLoad
Reductions
Improved Fans
and Air-Han-
dling Systems
Improved
Heating and
Cooling Want
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Savings Example:
Variable Speed Drives
Variable speed drives (VSDs) con-
trol fan and pump motor speeds
precisely, greatly improving the
efficiency of HVAC systems. EPA
recently completed a Variable
Speed Drive Demonstration
Study, in which EPA and a group
of nine Green Lights Partners con-
ducted a series of tests on exist-
ing installations of variable-
speed-drive controls on HVAC fan
systems. The purpose of these
tests, which were held in several
U.S. locations, was to monitor the
energy savings relative to
mechanical inlet-vane airflow
controls. In most cases, the
3*. 9
§; c observed savings were signifi-
general, VSDs are expected to
& ~"5°/
save from 30 to 60 percent in
retrofit applications on existing
variable-air-volume systems.
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Energy Star Showcase Buildings
Over the next 2 years, EPA will work
closely with a group of 20 to 30 Green
Lights Partners to complete comprehen-
sive and accelerated single-building effi-
ciency upgrades. These Showcase
Buildings will demonstrate that the com-
How Does EPA Help?
In addition to publicly recognizing an
organization for its participation in the
program and the energy savings it
achieves, EPA provides a number of
technical resources to help plan and
implement building upgrades. These
resources include:
M The Building Retrofit Manual, a
step-by-step guide to a comprehen-
sive commercial building upgrade.
• Software to calculate savings from
upgraded fan systems.
• A data base of financing programs
for building-efficiency upgrades.
How Do I Join?
To participate in the Energy Star
Buildings program, organizations must
first agree to join EPA's Green Lights pro-
gram, committing to identify and imple-
ment 90 percent of profitable lighting
upgrades in their commercial and indus-
trial space within 5 years. EPA offers its
Partners extensive technical, organiza-
tional, and publicity support for lighting
upgrades.
Green Lights Partners may become
full Partners in the Energy Star Buildings
program by signing an addendum to
their existing Green Lights Memoran-
dum of Understanding (MOD). As Energy
Star Buildings Partners, they are
expected to survey all owned U.S. com-
mercial building space to identify prof-
prehensive Energy Star Buildings strat-
egy works to maximize energy savings
at a profit. Furthermore, the Energy Star
Showcase Building projects will offer an
opportunity to field-test and refine EPA's
technical support materials.
• Case studies documenting moni-
tored savings for specific technolo-
gies (such as variable speed drives
or fan motors).
• Generic specifications for specific
energy-efficient technologies.
• Information and guidance on indoor
air quality issues.
• Guidance on how to use the CFC
phaseout as an opportunity to
increase building efficiency and
reduce the cost of the transition to
acceptable alternative refrigerants.
itable efficiency upgrades (rate of return
greater than prime rate plus 6 percent),
and to complete 90 percent of all prof-
itable upgrades within 7 years.
For more informa-
tion about the
_ Energy Star Build-
ings program and the Green Lights
program, please contact:
Manager
Energy Star/Green Lights
U.S.EPA(6202J)
Washington, DC 20460
fax: 202 775-6680
Or call: 202 775-6650
For more information by fax
(available 24 hours a day), call:
202 233-9659.
EPA SEEKS ONLY TO PROMOTE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND DOES NOT ENDORSE ANY PARTICULAR COMPANY OR ITS PRODUCTS.
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