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ENERGYSTAR
EPA Presents
THE NATIONAL
BUILDING
COMPETITION
Working off the Waste with ENERGY STAR®
2010 COMPETITION SUMMARY
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
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EPA Presents
THE NATIONAL
BUILDING
COMPETITION
Working off the Waste with ENERGY STAR1
On April 27, 2010, EPA launched the first-ever Na-
tional Building Competition. Teams from fourteen
buildings of all shapes and sizes located around the
country went head to head to see who could work off
the waste with help from EPA's ENERGY STAR pro-
gram and reduce their energy use the most.
The teams faced numerous challenges, including
equipment malfunctions, staff departures, extreme
temperatures, and tight budgets. In the face of these
challenges, the competitors demonstrated that a
strategic approach to energy efficiency can help orga-
nizations overcome obstacles and achieve sustained,
lasting improvement.
Together, the contestants reduced their energy con-
sumption by more than 44 million KBtu a year, saved
more than $950,000, and reduced greenhouse gas
emissions equal to the annual electricity use of nearly
600 homes.
These fourteen organizations are changing the land-
scape of energy efficiency in the buildings where
Americans work, play, and learn.
Contents
Buildings and Climate Change 3
Why a "Waste Loss" Competition? 3
Rules of the Game 4
Meet the Competitors 5
Spreading the Word 6
Spotlight on Successful Strategies 8
Impressive Results 12
And the Winners Are.... 13
Results and Impacts 14
Top 10 Tips from the Competitors 15
A Look Ahead 15
Victory was hard fought. One competitor came out
ahead. All fourteen are winners.
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Buildings and Climate Change
Every building, from the smallest school to the tallest skyscraper, uses
energy most often generated by the burning of fossil fuels. The burn-
ing of fossil fuels releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere and
contributes to climate change. In fact, the nearly 5 million buildings in
the U.S. where we work, play and learn are responsible for nearly 20
percent of both the nation's energy use and greenhouse gas emissions
at a cost of over $100 billion per year.
For nearly two decades, EPA's ENERGY STAR program has offered
powerful tools that have revolutionized energy efficiency in the
commercial marketplace. At the heart of this transformation is the
importance of measuring energy use in order to manage it. The energy
performance of hundreds of thousands of buildings representing
billions of square feet has been measured through ENERGY STAR, and
tens of thousands of buildings across all 50 states and the District of
Columbia have earned the ENERGY STAR label for superior energy
efficiency. The results speak for themselves—in 2008 alone, ENERGY
STAR partners in the commercial marketplace helped prevent green-
house gas emissions equal to the annually electricity use of more than
60 million American homes.
Despite this tremendous progress, a great deal of work remains to
be done. Innovative solutions are needed to drive greater consumer
awareness and demand for energy efficiency as well as to create a na-
tional dialogue about the role everyone plays in improving the energy
efficiency of the places where we work, play, and learn.
30%
of the energy that buildings use
every day is wasted. Rooting out
inefficiencies and other sources
of energy waste can save billions
of dollars each year.
Why a "Waste Loss" Competition?
For years, many organizations have been dedicating substantial
time and effort to improving the energy efficiency of the build-
ings they own or manage, with impressive results. However, the
energy efficiency of commercial buildings was a topic of con-
versation among a pretty narrow audience. It
wasn't something you'd see on the evening
news or discuss at the dinner table.
The concept of going on a diet and work-
ing off the pounds is one many Americans
can relate to—and the steps involved with
healthy weight-loss are the same steps as
those to strategically work off energy waste.
These steps include: set a goal; regularly weigh-in; make
improvements following a strategic approach (not a crash
diet); share tips and ideas with others on a similar journey; and
celebrate success. Here was the analogy that would bring the
energy efficiency conversation to the dinner table. America
could follow along and cheer as teams from buildings across
the country worked to reduce energy use in much the same
way many of us have tried to shed those extra pounds.
A quick look at a few popular national pastimes
shows that America also has a competitive
streak. From March Madness and Monday
Night Football to American Idol and Survivor -
we love a good game. This facet of American
culture added the final dimension to EPA's
strategy—a head to head competition. Put a
diverse group of buildings on a diet, add a dash
of spirited rivalry and a little national media
attention, and you've got an idea that could help raise aware-
ness and spur greater energy efficiency in the buildings where
Americans work, play, and learn.
And thus EPA's National Building Competition was born.
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selecting the hnal
Fourteen
EPA selected fourteen contestants out
of a pool of nearly 200 applications from
ENERGY STAR partners. The final group
represented a variety of commercial
buildings of different types, sizes, ages,
and locations—including a building
constructed in 1896 and another in 2006
as well as one representing 60,000 square
feet and another covering nearly one mil-
lion square feet. The starting "weight" of
the final fourteen contestants also varied.
Some were using a great deal of energy
and were significantly "overweight" at
the start of the competition while others
were already making progress and per-
forming better than the average building.
The final group of contestants reflected
the philosophy of the competition—that
everyone could set a goal and improve
energy efficiency.
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Rules of the Game
The game was straightforward: the building that demonstrated the greatest percent-based
reduction in weather-normalized energy use intensity during the 24-month performance
period was recognized as the winner.
The competition was designed to be transparent, rooted in objective analysis, and to work
within the existing infrastructure and tools available through the ENERGY STAR program:
• Any ENERGY STAR commercial or industrial partner could apply for the
National Building Competition by nominating one or more of the com-
mercial facilities they own or manage.
• Participants were required to benchmark and share their building's
monthly energy use data with Portfolio Manager, EPA's ENERGY STAR
online energy measurement tool. The competition was based on 24
months of energy use data (September 1, 2008-August 31, 2010).
• Participants were required submit monthly energy use data for each
fuel source from their utility or third party provider for the entire 24
months of the competition in order to provide independent verification
of the performance of each contestant. Participants were also required
to submit a signed statement certifying the accuracy of all data
entered into Portfolio Manager for the competition.
Contestants also agreed to participate in a mid-point "weigh-in" that identified the
weather-normalized energy use intensity and percent-based energy reduction of each
competitor as of the halfway mark; educate and incorporate the building's occupants into
its energy savings plan, if not already doing so; share information with the media and the
general public about steps taken to reduce energy use; and, in the case of the winner,
host a media event at the building.
Tools for an Energy Efficient Lifestyle
The National Building Competition encour-
aged an energy efficient lifestyle—not a fad
diet—where improvements and behaviors
were sustainable and replicable. EPA offered
II II:
EPA's ENERGY STAR Guidelines for Energy Management provide a roadmap
for organizations to use as they get started on the road to efficiency.
support and guidance to help contestants
along the way. The "How To" guidance for
improving energy efficiency was outlined
in EPA's Guidelines for Energy Efficiency as
well as the ENERGY STAR Building Upgrade
Manual and other technical resources avail-
able from EPA. The measurement, tracking
and verification elements of the competition
were accessed through
Portfolio Manager. The
ENERGY STAR partner
network offered a pool
of mentors and trainers
committed to energy
efficiency and superior
energy management.
Monthly calls with
the competitors and EPA as well as regular
email communications provided valuable
assistance and advice.
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Meet the Competitors
1525 Wilson Boulevard, Arlington, VA
Sitting on top of a hill across the Potomac River
from Washington, D.C., this 12-story office
building covers more than 316,000 square feet
and was built in 1987.
Morrison Residence Hall, Chapel Hill, NC
Morrison Dormitory is a 10 story, 200,000
square foot residence hall constructed in
1965. Housing 800 students, it is home to
the campus' Sustainability Living Learning
Community.
522 Fifth Avenue, New York City, NY
Originally constructed in 1896, this Class A
Midtown office building has recently un-
dergone a facelift and the building's new
management team has made energy efficiency
a priority for this 595,000 square foot facility.
Sears Glen Burnie, Glen Burnie, MD
This Sears store, built outside Baltimore in
1996, covers 195,000 square feet and is step-
ping up its energy efficiency by replacing light-
ing and training employees on effective ways to
manage energy use in the store.
Courtyard by Marriott San Diego
Downtown, San Diego, CA
Occupying an old 1920s bank building in San
Diego's historic Gaslamp District, the Courtyard
by Marriott encompasses 182,000 square feet
and offers guests eco-friendly options.
Crystal River Elementary School
Carbondale, CO
Don't let the backpacks and sneakers throw
you off; twelve middle school math students
make up the all-star Energy Team that is help-
ing this 80,000 square foot elementary school
built in 2006 become more energy efficient.
JCPenney Store #1778, Los Angeles, CA
At this 100,000 square foot JCPenney store
built in 1977, daily energy use reports are
posted for all associates to see, including com-
parisons to the company's other stores, to help
raise awareness and motivate action.
Maplewood Mall, Saint Paul, MN
Built in 1976 and covering 945,000 square
feet, all managers at the Maplewood Mall are
trained in reducing energy costs, and energy
savings are part of the operations director's
annual goal.
Memorial Arts Building at
Woodruff Arts Center, Atlanta, GA
The team from the Memorial Arts Building has
set their sights on "greening the arts" with this
295,000 square foot building constructed in
1968.
Sheraton Austin Hotel at the Capitol,
Austin, TX
Covering 330,000 square feet, the Sheraton
Austin Hotel at the Capitol, built in 1986, goes
green year-round through monthly energy
audits and retrofits.
Solon Family Health Center, Cleveland, OH
Built in 1978, the Cleveland Clinic's Solon Fam-
ily Health Center covers 60,000 square feet and
improved maintenance procedures and made
upgrades, and they even help employees fund
their own energy-saving project ideas.
Tucker Residence Hall, Raleigh, NC
Tucker Residence Hall is a 63-year-old dorm
that covers more than 67,000 square feet,
houses NC State's first-year college program,
and includes smart technology in the common
areas.
Van Holten Primary School,
Bridgewater, NJ
At Van Holten, a group of students monitors
energy use and reminds staff and students of
good energy behaviors at this older school built
in 1963 covering 52,000 square feet.
Virginia Beach Convention Center,
Virginia Beach, VA
The over 500,000 square foot Virginia Beach
Convention Center was designed with innova-
tion and energy efficiency in mind when it fully
opened in January 2007.
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Spreading the Word
EPA developed a multi-pronged strategy to tell the story of the
competition, understanding that a combination of tactics would
most effectively drive national interest in the competition. It
was important to make it fun, interactive, and compelling so
that the competition would inspire and motivate individuals and
organizations across the country.
At the heart of the strategy was the weight-loss analogy. That
helped drive the development of the competition identifier with
a measuring tape around the "waist" of a building. This visual
Meet the Competition's Celebrity
Trainer: Bob Harper
Bob Harper of NBC's hit show The Biggest Loser encouraged the
fourteen teams and followers nationwide to improve their energy
fitness and flight climate change. (energystar.gov/BuildingCon-
helped explain the concept in a simple, visually appealing man-
ner. The tag line "Working off the Waste with ENERGY STAR"
also helped draw the connection between the purpose of the
competition and the EPA as sponsor.
A new partnership between EPA and television personality Bob
Harper from NBC's hit show. The Biggest Loser, also reinforced
the weight-loss analogy and helped tell the energy efficiency
story. As the competition's celebrity trainer. Bob Harper provided
a series of four short videos that offered encouragement and
tips for the buildings participating in the competition. Bob's
videos drew heavily on the energy fitness analogy and attracted
thousands of viewers on YouTube and the competition's web-
site. While Bob's training tips were directed at the competitors,
they were relevant for any individual or organization interested
in improving energy efficiency and fighting climate change. The
addition of a celebrity fitness trainer helped the competition
reach and connect with mainstream America.
The social portal of the competition was its website, energystar.
gov/BuildingContest. Loaded with pictures and videos as well
A Social Group
A live Twitter feed on the National
Building Competition website provided
a virtual library of energy management
project ideas, tips, and suggestions. EPA
also offered countdown clues on Twitter
hinting at the competition's mid-point
and final rankings. To the right and below
is a small sampling of tweets, photos,
and videos that competitors posted.
twitter.com/EnergyStarBldgs/contestants
VFD's, new lighting fixtures (some current
fixtures are as old as the mall - 36 years!), re-
circuiting. Do I hear, "Workin' off the Waste"!
The heat wave has really given the HVAC
units a workout. Monitoring EMS, we found
a few units that needed a check-up. Repairs
in process.
Today we worked with our banquets team on
a program to ensure lights are off in unused
banquet spaces. Pacing $3,000 below
budget for June!
Cleveland Clinic pulled out all the
stops for their energy-saving pep rally.
Installing newMERV 14
HVAC filters at Virginia
Beach Convention Center
Accenture, a 2-floortenant, has set their
monitors to go into "sleep mode" after 20
min of inactivity. Est. savings: 10,000 kWh
per month!
If you forget to turn something off at Van
Molten, the SEE Squad students will leave
you an "Oops" sticker as a reminder!
Lighting retro-commissioning...from two-
bulb, 64-watt fixture to a single bulb, 28-watt
fixture with same light output. Amazing!
Bob Harper gives Crystal River Elementary
School students tips for their energy diet.
Residents of Tucker Hall discuss the merits (and
creepiness) of occupancy sensors in the halls.
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as interesting content that was updated regularly, the
competition website served as a powerful ambassador of
the National Building Competition.
A unique feature of the website was a live Twitter feed
with regular tweets from each contestant that kept
viewers up-to-date on their activities. Tweets ranged
from spirited proclamations of victory to technical project
updates. The Twitter feed allowed viewers to follow along
and learn about the ins and outs of energy management.
It also offered the competitors a voice and gave a sense
of real-time action rather than limiting the flow of infor-
mation solely to after-the-fact reports and case studies.
The Twitter feed created a virtual library of tips and sug-
gestions that the competitors could draw upon for ideas
and solutions that they may not otherwise have been
aware of. With hundreds of tweets by the competitors
and countless retweets by followers, the social media
component of Twitter added a unique viral element to the
competition.
The website also provided profiles of each contestant, the
mid-point and final rankings of all competitors, and ideas
for how everyone can save energy at home and at work.
Contestants and viewers also received energy-saving tips
and encouragement from an EPA blog and an "Advice
from the Experts" blog authored by ENERGY STAR Partner
of the Year award winners.
In the News
National and regional broadcast and print outlets as well
as online and social media networking sites chronicled the
launch and progress of the National Building Competition.
Over 200 stories at the launch alone helped spread the
word, drive awareness, and spur greater activity.
Advice from the Experts
To assist the competitors as well as compi
in the quest to lower energy use, EPA assembled the best
and brightest energy managers, efficiency experts, service
providers, and sustainability professionals to blog about
advice and best-practices. Topics included the business
case for energy efficiency, how to get employees onboard,
saving energy
without leaving
lur desk, and
lore. In the spirit
of the competi-
tion, a blog
Servidyne coaches an under-performing build- walkthrouahs
ing into shape.
from ENERGY
STAR Sustained Excellence award winner Servidyne, Inc.
comes to life in a video and features an honorary National
Building Competition mascot!
Watch at energystar.gov/BuildingContest
A College Rivalry Heats Up
Separated by only twenty miles
in the Research Triangle area
of North Carolina, the rivalry
between the University of North
Carolina (UNC) Tar Heels and the
North Carolina State (NC State)
Wolfpack is heated on both sides.
The Tar Heels added the National
Building Competition to their list
of victories, but NC State gets
a prize for team spirit! Check
out their Tucker Hall Victory
Trailer and other student videos
NC State developed during the
competition on the ENERGY STAR
YouTube Channel.
Watch all videos at:
youtube.com/EPAEnergyStar
•
NC State created a spoof boxing video to play
up their rivalry against UNC Chapel Hill.
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Spotlight on Successful Strategies
The National Building Competition offers a rich inventory of best
practices and successful strategies for improving the energy
efficiency of commercial buildings. Many of the approaches
employed by the fourteen teams serve as shining examples of
how organizations can work off their own energy waste, and
provide models for others to follow. Outlined below are five
examples of successful strategies that help tell the story of how
these fourteen buildings saved money and helped fight climate
change.
1) Pursuing Energy Efficiency through a
Whole Building Approach
While no two energy efficiency strategies are alike, the most
successful competitors shared a common characteristic—rather
than focusing on individual components, they addressed and
balanced opportunities across building systems. Through the
ENERGY STAR program, EPA recommends a five-stage approach
to planning and implementing profitable, energy-saving building
upgrades. Each stage includes changes that will affect the
upgrades performed in subsequent stages, so when they are
performed sequentially, they maximize opportunities for saving
energy and money.
EPA's Building Upgrade Manual outlines the recommended
stages, including retrocommissioning (ensuring systems are
performing as intended), lighting, supplemental load reduc-
tions (reducing the energy used by people, computers, etc.), air
distribution systems, and heating and cooling systems. While
each facility has different needs and characteristics that influ-
ence just how the stages are implemented, UNO's Morrison
Hall exemplifies the effectiveness of this approach through their
best practices. Morrison identified and repaired underperform-
ing equipment, such as repairing and tuning their solar hot
water system to provide maximum benefit. They also completed
extensive lighting retrofits, including replacing 200 64-watt CFLs
on balconies with 13-watt CFLs and changing out 50 20-watt
halogen lamps with cooler and more efficient 4-watt LED lamps.
Morrison also made numerous adjustments to air distribu-
tion systems and HVAC systems to improve efficiency and has
established procedures to ensure continuous improvement. The
variable air volume (VAV) system settings were fine-tuned to re-
duce fan power requirements and eliminate wasteful simultane-
ous heating and cooling in overlapping zones. Economizers cool
buildings by bringing in outside air when it's sufficiently cool
JCPenney's store manager, Nancy Gutzmer, is programming her lights to come
on at store opening and to shut off at store close. The unit has the ability to
program general lighting and accent lighting
v'n: i .UIV,
EPA'S NATIONALS 'niNCf"
Watch us work
A group of Colorado middle school students (pictured at left) entered
nearby Crystal River Elementary School in the competition. With help
from teachers, administration officials, and others, these young students
have toured boiler rooms, spoken at school board meetings, and educat-
1 other students on ways to save energy in the school. See how they
on page 13.
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and dry, and Morrison enabled these energy-
saving controls below 65 degrees, thereby
reducing the load on the compressor.
In a similar manner, at 522 5th Avenue Mines
focused on tune ups and retrocommissioning
systems; controlling lighting; heating and
cooling only when necessary; and replac-
ing chillers, pumps and variable speed drives
(VSDs).
2) Improving Lighting
When tasked with cutting energy use, most competitors im-
mediately set their sights on lighting. And with good reason-
lighting generally makes up the largest portion of a commercial
building's electricity bill, accounting for more than a third of the
electricity used. Inefficient lighting also produces large amounts
of waste heat, or "heat gain." By reducing heat gain, efficient
lighting also reduces a building's cooling requirements.
With good design, the energy consumed by lighting in most
buildings can be cut at least in half while maintaining or improv-
ing lighting quality. What is good design? The competitors
effectively demonstrated three lighting strategies:
• Increased passive daylighting
• Reduced unnecessary lighting
• Upgraded to more efficient lighting systems
A good start is to use daylight whenever possible. Marriott
modified their lobby lighting scheme to take advantage of pas-
sive daylighting, while students at Van Molten and tenants at
1525 Wilson both worked by natural light whenever possible.
Sheraton took it a step further by launching an internal contest
to see which office could make the most out of natural light.
Competitors also worked to reduce or eliminate lighting where
appropriate, by installing and using automatic controls to dim or
turn off lights, and looking for opportunities to de-lamp (or re-
duce the number of lamps required per fixture). Occupancy sen-
sors were a go-to technology, and competitors installed them in
offices, restrooms, hallways, utility closets, and storage rooms to
automatically turn off lights when no one is present. JCPenney
High-efficiency pumps, variable frequency drives, and a new chiller fill the new plant inside the
Mines-managed 522 Fifth Avenue building.
also installed a lighting control panel that provides five different
lighting—and energy-saving —levels for various store activities,
while Virginia Beach Convention Center disabled unnecessary
architectural lights outside meeting suites. Mines, the manage-
ment company at 522 5th Avenue, set the building automation
system to automatically turn off lights at 10:00 p.m., which has
the added benefit of helping to prevent light pollution. And both
Mines and Sears found opportunities for delamping, with fewer
energy-efficient bulbs doing the same or better job as the lights
they replaced.
Next up for competitors? Choosing lighting systems that are
efficient and also deliver the right amount of light for the tasks
being performed. Compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) were a
popular choice for obvious reasons—on average, they use
about 75 percent
less energy, produce
about 75 percent less
heat, and last up to
10 times longerthan
standard incandes-
cent bulbs. Among
the numerous CFL
projects completed
by competitors,
Virginia Beach
Convention Center changed 240 incandescent bulbs to energy-
efficient CFLs in their meeting suites—saving an estimated
$6,920 annually.
Competitors also embraced light-emitting diode (LED) technol-
ogy for its high efficiency, low heat loss, and durability. 1525
Wilson Boulevard, managed by Glenborough LLC, replaced 175
30-watt incandescent exit signs with 3-watt LED exit signs and
Replacing old lighting with light emitting diodes (LED) at
JCPenney.
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realized savings of about 3,400 kWh/month. Mines and Sheraton
Austin Hotel at the Capitol also installed LED exit signs, which
are at least 80 percent more efficient than their incandescent
counterparts. JCPenney outfitted their store with 300 high ef-
ficiency LED light bulbs, which are expected to yield 4-6 percent
energy savings, not including any additional savings from the
heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) load reduction. Solon
Family Health Center, Morrison Residence Hall, and Tucker
Residence Hall had the same bright idea and installed new LED
lighting in lobbies, halls, and other common areas.
3) Raising Awareness and Engaging
Occupants
In addition to making technological changes to improve lighting
and other building systems, all of the competitors recognized
the critical role people play in driving down energy use. From
educating occupants to turn off lights and enable power man-
agement features to engaging and rewarding staff for finding
new opportunities to save energy, small changes can make a big
impact.
Effective communication is the keystone for engaging occu-
pants, and competitors spread the word in a variety of ways.
Morrison hung laminated fliers with energy-saving tips and
information in high traffic and captive audience areas. JCPen-
ney posted notes and signs near light switches in every office
area, hallway, and restroom as a reminder to turn off lights in
unoccupied rooms. Hines used elevator cab energy dashboards
to show energy use and motivate change. 1525 Wilson held an
educational brownbag lunch that was attended by more than
70 people. Afterward, one of their primary tenants activated the
"sleep mode" settings on monitors, saving an estimated 10,000
Kwh/month. The Schools for Energy Efficiency (SEE) program at
Van Holton Primary School employed an eye-catching aware-
ness campaign including posters, light switch stickers, tip
sheets, regular communication pieces, and educational class-
room activities and assemblies. They also engaged students in
a SEE squad, in which student volunteers monitored different
areas of the building and left "Wow!" stickers for remembering
to turn off lights and other electronics and "Oops" stickers as a
reminder when equipment was left running.
Many of the
competitors also
built momentum by
sharing results and
rewarding improve-
ment. Courtyard by
Marriott San Diego
Downtown created
a Green Committee
to identify sustain-
ability opportunities
and gave bonuses
to associates based
on reductions. They
also created guest room door hangers with information about
the contest, hung a bulletin board, and handed out informa-
tion to guests upon check-in to motivate them to save energy
during their stay. Sheraton offered a $5 incentive to guests for
participating in their Make a Green Choice program, which they
also advertised online and explained at check-in. Solon offered
incentives to each floor that actively participated in the competi-
tion, such as new cabinets in the break room or new water
filters in the kitchen, and launched a parallel contest, "Walking
off the Waste," to encourage healthy living. Though many of
these changes in behavior save only small amounts of energy
at one time, taken continuously over a longer period, they can
The Solon Family Health Center tied in the building's waste-loss
goals in with the staff's personal health goals. Employees began
taking the stairs instead of the elevator—burning calories and
saving energy at the same time!
As they pored over Tucker Hall's steam bills for
the purposes of this competition, the energy
team at NC State University noticed something
odd. Upon further examination, they discov-
ered a leaky check valve near the steam meter.
Up to that point, the meter had been measur-
ing—and the utility had been billing for—not
only steam, but also a near-constant flow
of leaking condensate. A few months after
spending about $1,000 to replace the leaky
valve, NC State University Housing has already
saved nearly $20,000.
As a result. Tucker Hall's percent reduction
is an accurate reflection of their utility bill
savings, but the exact change in energy use
cannot be measured.
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yield impressive results and provide big wins in the fight against
climate change.
4) Using Innovative Diagnostic Tools
While many of the competitors turned to proven tools to find op-
portunities for savings, several competitors dug deeper into their
toolboxes to find innovative and interesting technologies that
might give them the edge. Two of these technologies include
thermal imaging cameras and interval smart meters.
Thermal imaging cameras work by detecting infrared heat radia-
tion and displaying colder objects as blue and warmer objects
as red. They can be used to find areas of heat loss or gain that
are otherwise invisible to the naked eye. Sears put their thermal
imaging camera to work looking for hot equipment that could
cause energy loss through inefficiencies. And the students at
Van Molten were surprised to learn how much heat a computer
monitor puts off when seen through the camera's viewfinder. It
inspired them to keep monitors turned off
when not in use to save energy and reduce
heat gain.
JCPenneyand Crystal River Elementary
School also "see" energy efficiency oppor-
tunities with the help of an interval smart
meter. Rather than waiting fora monthly
energy bill—and potentially finding out
about problems weeks late—both the store
and the school are equipped with interval
smart meters that record energy usage in 15-minute intervals.
These data are then used to estimate the daily energy use,
which is reviewed so problems can be identified and addressed
the next day.
Students at Van Molten learned
how much heat a computer
monitor puts off with help from
a thermal imaging camera.
5) Tracking & Reporting
As noted earlier, at the heart of
the movement to make commercial
buildings more energy-efficient is the
importance of measuring energy use
in order to manage it. Tracking and
reporting played key roles in the suc-
cess of these competitors, providing
actionable data to inform decision
makers and demonstrating the results
of energy efficiency efforts.
Interval Data for Crystal River Elementary School
day performance
While all competitors were required to measure and track en-
ergy performance in EPA's Portfolio Manager, many competitors
also supplemented this software with their own energy tracking
technologies. Morrison and Mines both displayed energy use
information on an intuitive dashboard, and Mines also put this
information in front of occupants in elevator cabs to get them
thinking about energy savings. JCPenney's Energy Center is a
Web-based application that provides daily energy use updates
to keep savings efforts on track, while Van Molten relies on util-
ity tracking software to generate monthly and quarterly energy
performance summaries and comparisons.
In addition to keeping track of energy use, reporting is crucial to
maintaining momentum, showing progress, and demonstrating
the value of efficiency efforts. To ensure continuous improve-
ment, Morrison monitors energy consumption on a monthly
basis for each commodity and investigates deviations in energy
use of more than 5 percent. They also look for red flags in their
building automation system, such as when a system is put
into manual mode, indicating an occupant has overridden the
controls.
Among the many different ways competitors show results.
Van Molten shares quarterly reports of each building's energy
use with key district personnel, reviews energy use with the
district coordinator on a regular basis, and shares information
about building progress and successes with staff, parents, and
students. This builds further support among community mem-
bers for energy efficiency efforts. Marriott holds monthly Green
Meetings, posts their ENERGY STAR scores on their website,
and reports their ENERGY STAR score quarterly to management
and ownership. Likewise, Sheraton monitors energy consump-
tion with daily reports and reviews information with staff
everyday. And Mines has created a
monthly retro-commissioning track-
ing report to educate and inform
employees and clients and holds
a monthly meeting to review their
energy performance report.
C07 Emissions Reduction: 2,639 Ibs.
1,381 kWh saved at 10* per kWh
$138 saved
Crystal River Elementary School's interval smart meter takes
readings every 15 minutes, showing opportunities for energy
savings throughout the day.
The efforts of these and other com-
petitors to track and report data over
time set the stage for more energy
savings, more money savings, and
a bigger punch in the fight against
climate change.
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Impressive Results
350 H
325
300
275
250
225
200
175
150
125
100 .
75 .
50
Solon Family Health Center
Memorial Arts Building
Virginia Beach Convention Center
1525 Wilson Boulevard
Maplewood Mall
522 Fifth Avenue
Sheraton Austin Hotel
| Crystal River Elementary School
• Tucker Hall
Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown
Morrison Hall
Van Holton Primary School
| JCPenney
Sears Glen Burnie
-r
-r
-r
-r
-r
9/09 10/09 11/09 12/09 1/10 2/10 3/10 4/10 5/10 6/10 7/10 8/10
Twelve-Month Period Ending Date
How were competitors judged?
Buildings were judged on the percent that they reduced their EUI. The
building with the greatest percent reduction was declared to be the
winner. EPA also adjusted each building's percentage to normalize for
weather, thereby ensuring that no building was credited or penalized
due to changes in weather over the course of the competition.
What is Energy Use Intensity?
EUI is calculated by dividing the amount of energy a building con-
sumes in one year (measured in kBtu) by its total floorspace. Generally,
a low EUI signifies good energy performance, although certain building
types will always use more energy than others.
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And the Winners Are...
In a fierce competition where the final top rankings
were separated by just a few percentage points, the
winner of the National Building Competition is Morri-
son Residence Hall at the University of North Carolina
(Chapel Hill). Morrison Residence Hall reduced its en-
ergy use by 35.7 percent in just one year, saving more
than $250,000 on their energy bills and reducing more
than 730 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. It
also earned the EPA ENERGY STAR label for superior
energy efficiency.
The Sears store in Glen Burnie, Maryland, came in
second place with a 31.7% energy reduction, and the
JCPenney store in Orange, California, claimed third
place with energy savings of 28.4%.
Morrison Hall, UNC at Chapel Hill
Reduced Energy Use by:
35.7%
Energy Saved:
11.7 million kBTU
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Prevented:
733 metric tons
Sears Glen Burnie
Reduced by: 31.7%
Energy saved: 2.1 million kBtu
GHGs Prevented: 272 metric tons
JCPenney, Orange, CA
Reduced by: 28.4%
Energy saved: 1.4 million kBtu
GHGs Prevented: 152 metric tons
1525 Wilson Boulevard
Reduced by: 28.0%
Energy saved: 8 million kBtu
GHGs Prevented: 1,218 metric tons
522 Fifth Avenue
Reduced by: 18.1%
Energy saved: 10.6 million kBtu
GHGs Prevented: 1,038 metric tons
Solon Family Health Center, Cleveland Clinic
Reduced by: 13.9%
Energy saved: 760,000 kBtu
GHGs Prevented: 201 metric tons
Crystal River Elementary School
Reduced by: 12.2%
Energy saved: 890,000 kBtu
GHGs Prevented: 133 metric tons
Tucker Hall, NC State University
Reduced by:10.3%*
Energy saved : 1 million kBtu
GHGs Prevented: 104 metric tons
Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown
Reduced by: 8.6%
Energy saved: 1.7 million kBtu
GHGs Prevented: 94 metric tons
Maplewood Mall
Reduced by: 6.7%
Energy saved: 3.2 million kBtu
GHGs Prevented: 671 metric tons
Memorial Arts Building, Woodruff Arts Center
Reduced by: 5.7%
Energy saved: 1.4 million kBtu
GHGs Prevented: 283 metric tons
Van Holten Primary School
Reduced by: 5.3%
Energy saved: 400,000 kBtu
GHGs Prevented: 43 metric tons
Sheraton Austin Hotel
Reduced by: 1.9%
Energy saved: 80,000 kBtu
GHGs Prevented: 106 metric tons
Virginia Beach Convention Center
Reduced by: 1.5%
Energy saved: 730,000 kBtu
GHGs Prevented: -204 metric tons
Full results atwww.energystar.gov/buildingcontest
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Results and Impacts
While one competitor came out on top, all fourteen are
winners. Together, the competitors reduced their energy use
by more than 44 million kBtu, saved more than $950,000 in
utility bills, and reduced carbon dioxide emissions equal to
the electricity use of nearly 600 homes for a year.
Four buildings earned EPA's ENERGY STAR for superior en-
ergy efficiency; at the start of the competition, not a single
building had been awarded the ENERGY STAR.
The competition also showed that the energy performance
of many different types of buildings can improve, and
superior efficiency isn't determined by one factor alone. The
oldest building in the competition, built in the late 1800s,
finished in the Top 5. The "heaviest" building at the start
of the competition did well, but didn't win. The "thinnest"
building at kickoff continued its progress, and earned an
impressive second place finish.
Perhaps most importantly, the competitors provided invalu-
able insight into effective energy management strategies
and practices that will inform and drive energy efficiency in
the commercial marketplace for years to come.
The 14 buildings reduced their total
greenhouse gas emissions by 4,896
metric tons. That about the same as.
Nearly 940 vehicles off the road
The annual electricity use of nearly
600 homes
i iTTTTT i
Carbon sequestered by more than
125,500 tree seedlings grown for
10 years
Second-Generation Competitions
The National Building Competition has
spurred imitation around the country.
Some teams that competed have de-
cided to host their own version of EPA's
National Building Competition among
their own buildings. NC State Univer-
sity, home to Tucker Hall (bottom right),
will pit all campus buildings against
each other in a 2011 match. And the in-
spiration extends beyond the competi-
tors: Garfield County, Colorado, home
to Crystal River Elementary School (top
right), rallied behind the school as it
competed on the national stage. Now,
seeing the excitement and motivation
the contest created, county leaders are
exploring plans to host a county-wide
building competition next year. EPA's
Region VIII office plans to pit Colorado
school districts against each other in a
state competition. The state of Georgia
is working on its own competition
plans, which, together with NC State,
Garfield County, the state of Colorado,
and others, is ensuring that the spirit of
competition and energy-saving lives on.
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Top Ten Energy Efficiency Tips from the Competitors
There are many different ways to improve energy efficiency, but these ideas shared by the con-
testants in the National Building Competition are sure to help you work off the energy waste!
1. Check weather-stripping and replace worn
or missing weather-stripping to stop air-
infiltration.
3. Install occupancy sensors in conference
rooms, store rooms, or any area not continu-
ously occupied
7. Plant trees along west-facing windows to
provide shade from the summer sun.
5. Regularly monitor and report on energy
performance to management, stakeholders,
and others in order to maintain efficiency
and raise awareness.
2. Check night lighting to identify lights that are 6. Recircuit lighting and HVAC to one central
on that shouldn't be. circuit to provide better control and access.
8. Upgrade lighting, including incandescent
to energy efficient compact fluorescent and
light-emitting diode (LED) versions.
4. Control the heating, ventilation and air
conditioning (HVAC) system to use only the
heating and cooling necessary based on
occupancy and temperature.
Looking Ahead
The 2010 National Building Competition may
be over, but that doesn't mean it's time to
stop looking for ways to work off the waste!
It's not just about becoming more energy
efficient for a moment in time—it's about
continuous improvement, and keeping the
waste off for good.
While just fourteen buildings participated in
the first-ever National Building Competition,
the impacts will be felt far and wide. National
organizations are taking the lessons learned
from the individual buildings that participated
in the competition and applying the practices
across entire portfolios of buildings.
In response to the interest expressed by many
organizations, EPA is happy to announce
that the National Building Competition will
return again next year. Details and key dates
9. Install variable frequency drives (VFDs) on
fans to slow them down and match demand.
10. Involve building occupants in efforts to save
energy by posting energy efficiency tips in
key locations around the building.
Find more tips and ideas at
energystar.gov/buildingcontest.
will be publicized in December. Stay tuned to
energystar.gov/BuildingContest for the latest
breaking news on Season Two of the National
Building Competition!
The concept of the National Building
Competition is also ideal for adoption by
others—whether by states, localities or
private organizations. EPA has been notified
that plans are underway for several National
Building Competition spinoffs in 2011, so
keep your eyes open for a potential competi-
tion in your neighborhood next year.
And don't forget, EPA's ENERGY STAR pro-
gram has all the tools you need to maintain
your energy fitness long after the competition
is over. Join ENERGY STAR as a partner and
start saving energy today!
Occupancy sensors in the Courtyard by Marriott
San Diego Downtown keep tabs of lighting needs.
Replacing incandescent floodlights with efficient
compact fluorescent models at the Virginia Beach
Convention Center.
New shade trees line the west side of the Solon
Family Health Center.
Posting signage about the competition proved to
be helpful for Morrison Hall at UNC-Chapel Hill.
At the Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown,
management communicates to guests and employ-
ees through a regularly updated "green board."
15
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"This was a motivating competition that resulted in a
number of national-level organizations elevating
energy reduction strategies to another level
- Glenborough, LLC
"This competition engaged our associates in a way we
didn't expect or think possible
-Sears
"While we didn't have the best percent reduction of the
competitors, the importance of this national competition
brought new meaning to our day-to-day efforts for both our
staff and guests and has helped our team to see our, and
every building's, role as part of the bigger picture
- Sheraton Austin Hotel
energystar.gov/BuildingContest
ENERGY STAR® is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program helping businesses and individuals fight
climate change through superior energy efficiency. Learn more at energystar.gov.
ENERGY STAR
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