LEARN MORE AT
energystar.gov
ENERGY STAR®, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
program, helps us all save money and protect our environment
through energy efficient products and practices. For more
information, visit www.energystar.gov.
ENERGY STAR Congregations
Energy Performance Rating
for Your Worship Facility
Improved Stewardship of Energy, Money and
the Environment with ENERGY STAR
Did you know that a building can earn the ENERGY STAR label
just like your office equipment can? An ENERGY STAR labeled
facility meets strict energy performance standards set by EPA
and uses less energy, is less expensive to operate, and causes
fewer greenhouse gas emissions than a non-qualified facility.
The nation's estimated 370,000 houses of worship spend more
than $3 billion on energy each year—to help counter these
costs, ENERGY STAR Congregations helps worship facilities
improve their facility performance while reducing energy costs.
If America's houses of worship cut energy use by 10 percent:
• About $315 million would be saved for congregations'
missions and other priorities.
• Nearly 2 billion kWh of electricity would be available
without additional cost and pollution.
• About 1 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions would
be prevented.
Actual savings of about 30% are typically possible. More than
2,500 users have benchmarked over 90,000 buildings over a
decade to save energy, money and reduce greenhouse gas
emissions. To qualify for the ENERGY STAR, a building must
score in the top 25 percent based on EPA's National Energy
Performance Rating System. To determine the performance of a
facility, EPA's Portfolio Manager tool compares energy use
among other, similar types of facilities on a scale of 1-100;
buildings that achieve a score of 75 or higher are eligible for the
ENERGY STAR. An ENERGY STAR labeled worship facility
typically uses 30% less energy than an average house of
worship. The EPA rating system accounts for differences in
operating conditions, regional weather data, and other important
considerations.
All data must be verified by a licensed Professional Engineer,
and the rating also verifies compliance with the standards for
indoor air quality and thermal comfort of the American Society of
Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers
(ASHRAE). The rating also means that facility lighting standards
meet the recommendations of the Illuminating Engineering
Society of North America (IESNA).
Developing a
National Energy
Performance Rating For Religious
Worship Facilities
The Environmental Protection Agency has expanded
the National Energy Performance Rating system to
worship facilities based on the Department of Energy's
Energy most 2003 Commercial Buildings Energy
Consumption Survey (CBECS). EPA's detailed analysis
of the 2003 CBECS data identified significant drivers of
energy use in worship facilities. These variables were
evaluated and incorporated into a free, online rating
model that standardizes energy use in worship facilities
allowing objective, "weather-normalized" comparisons
across different building types and locations nationwide,
or by state, city or organization.
More importantly, the rating helps individual managers
to accurately assess the energy performance of their
buildings; make more informed budgetary, investment
and management decisions. Ultimately enabling them
to calculate and communicate their environmental
stewardship achievements to congregational clergy and
members, as well as the larger community.
Free Information Webinars
Benchmarking your House of Worship
WHEN: Monthly; large groups upon request.
WHERE: Online registration at:
httpsV/energvstar.webex.com/training
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Persons responsible for facility energy decisions.
OBJECTIVE:
To learn how Portfolio Manager functions and can be
used by worship facility managers to track energy
performance, costs and savings from improvements in
operation, maintenance and equipment.
DESCRIPTION:
This training is to provide users a step-by-step guide to
using Portfolio Manager to benchmark current energy
use; track savings; share their data with master
accounts; enter upgrades; and understand the outputs
shown on the Statement of Energy Performance.
Visit www.enerpystar.pov/conprepations for more information on ENERGY STAR
resources and recognition.
-------
Frequently Asked Questions
1. To what types of facilities does the new worship facility
model apply?
This model applies to buildings that are used as places of
worship. This includes churches, temples, mosques,
synagogues, meeting houses, or any other buildings that
primarily functions as a house of worship. The rating applies to
buildings that function as the primary place of worship and not
to other buildings that may be associated with a religious
organization, such as living quarters, schools, or buildings
used primarily for other community activities. The rating
applies to facilities that have 4,000 seats or fewer.
2. Can my worship facility earn the ENERGY STAR Label?
Yes. This model of Portfolio Manager now allows worship
facilities to earn EPA energy performance ratings. Owners and
operators of such facilities are encouraged to enter the as-
billed energy consumption for a 12-month period along with
data for key operating characteristics into Portfolio Manager in
order to receive the initial 1-100 rating. To qualify for the
ENERGY STAR label, a facility must achieve a rating of 75 or
higher. Please see the Criteria for Rating Building Energy
Performance to see additional requirements to apply for the
ENERGY STAR.
3. My worship area has high, vaulted ceilings. How does the
model account for this?
The model for worship facilities is based on an analysis of the
Department of Energy's Commercial Building Energy
Consumption Survey (CBECS) which includes a national
sample of worship facilities. Most such facilities have some
areas with high or vaulted ceilings. Therefore, by using a
nationally representative dataset, the tool is able to account for
a variety of common operating and physical characteristics at
these facilities and incorporate these considerations into the
development of the model. Worship facilities are compared
with other worship facilities, so the population of comparison
also has high or vaulted ceilings and no adjustment is needed.
4. My worship facility has equipment has very energy
intensive audio visual equipment. How does the model
account for the energy consumption of this equipment?
The worship facility model includes a national sample of similar
facilities. The model accounts for a variety of common
operating and physical characteristics. Worship facilities
typically have some type of audiovisual equipment and this is
accounted for in the model. For those facilities with extensive
audio visual capabilities (e.g. for internet/television
broadcasting) their energy use per square foot will be higher
than those without these types of systems.
5. I have been using Portfolio Manager to benchmark energy
and water consumption at my facility prior to the release
of the worship facility model. How can I transfer my data
into the new model without losing all of my information?
When the new worship facility model "went live" online, all
users who had previously benchmarked energy and water
consumption for their facilities in Portfolio Manager for a 12-
month period were automatically converted into the new
ratable category. The new automatic rating will be based on
information that users have already entered (e.g. square foot
and hours of operation), in addition to standard default values
for new inputs that are required for a worship rating (e.g.
seating capacity). You will have to enter your Portfolio
Manager account and replace the default values with accurate
numbers for your facility to receive the most accurate rating.
6. How do I determine what the seating capacity is for my
worship?
The seating capacity should reflect the maximum total seating
allowed by the fire/building code in the main worship area(s). If
there are multiple seating configurations, add them up. This
number should reflect permanent seating capacity as the
facility is typically used. Note that if there is no fixed seating at
this type of worship facility, this number should reflect the
number of worshipers than can be accommodated in the main
worship area(s). A pew generally provides "one seat" per 18-
24 inches in length.
7. Why doesn't the tool ask about my heating and air
conditioning system?
The tool accounts for your heating and cooling demand based
on the actual heating and cooling degree days related to your
zip code. There is no question about this type of equipment
since it is assumed that all house of worship have heating and
cooling systems.
8. What does the rating tool do?
The rating does:
• Evaluate billed energy use relative to building
operations
• Normalize for operational characteristics (e.g., size,
seating capacity, hours of operation, climate)
• Depend on a statistically representative sample of the
US commercial building population
The rating does not:
• Attempt to sum the energy use of each piece of
equipment
• Normalize for technology choices or market
conditions (e.g., type of lighting, energy price)
• Explain why a building operates as it does (i.e.
operation and maintenance, occupant behavior and/or
equipment efficiency)
9. Why should I use Portfolio Manager for my house of
worship?
The tool produces a simple easy to interpret 1 tolOO rating for
your building. It is an analytical tool based on unbiased
statistical analysis of a national peer sample. It also produces
emissions estimates based on your utility. The tool is updated
periodically and draws on the extensive research of several
government agencies such as; EPA, DOE, and NOAA.
The Portfolio Manager tool is quickly becoming the "National
standard" or evaluating building energy efficiency with over
90,000 buildings and 2,500 users using the tool to date. Over
19% of all US commercial facilities have been benchmarked
using Portfolio Manager
10. Where can I find out more about the tool?
There is a benchmarking starter kit and additional information
on the estimation process at www.enerqvstar.gov/benchmark.
For additional information on the ENERGY STAR for
Congregations program please visit:
www.enerqvstar.gov/conqreqations.
------- |