Save Energy If you haven’t already, set up an account in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to start benchmarking your building. Benchmarking will help you identify underperforming buildings to target for cost-effective measures and help you verify reductions from energy-saving efforts. Conduct a Treasure Hunt The first step to saving energy in your building is to start by looking. During an Energy Treasure Hunt, teams walk around a facility looking for quick ways to save energy. Those quick fixes can add up to big savings. Hundreds of organizations have used Energy Treasure Hunts to reduce their facilities’ energy use by 15 percent or more. Ways to Save Start saving with no- and low-cost approaches, and then use savings to pay for more extensive upgrades: Upgrade your lighting. If your building relies on inefficient lighting, such as incandescent, halogen, HID, or T12 fluorescent, you’re missing out on significant savings. Updating your lighting can be a great first step when it comes to making your building an efficient one. Operations & maintenance best practices. Efficient building operation reduces operating costs, maintains comfort, and extends equipment lifetime, all without significant capital investment. Checklists of energy-saving measures. These checklists include energy-saving measures that can be implemented at no or low cost, or with rapid payback. Energy-efficient products. Purchasing efficient products reduces energy costs without compromising quality. Learn more about ENERGY STAR certified products, estimate potential savings, and specify them in your purchasing policies and contracts. Energy-saving competitions. Competitions can be a great way to motivate your team to find new efficiencies, engage occupants in your efforts, and multiply savings across your portfolio – all while helping the environment. Building upgrades. Maximize your financial and energy savings by taking a staged approached to building upgrades that accounts for energy flows among systems. Water, waste, and renewable energy. Check out EPA resources to expand your sustainability work to reduce water use, manage waste and materials, or purchase or install renewable energy. Find Expert Help EPA’s network of service and product providers (SPPs) have partnered with ENERGY STAR to offer you expert help with energy management when you need it. Many also offer innovative financing options and can help you identify, prioritize, and implement energy projects that not only cut costs and offset emissions, but can make your building more comfortable, too. Evaluate the Economics of Energy Efficiency Projects Making the business case for energy efficiency-related capital expense requires economic analysis. EPA provides several tools to help evaluate the economics of an energy efficiency project.

1. Introduction to Commercial Building
Energy Efficiency through EPA’s
ENERGY STAR program
Week 4: Benchmarking Buildings and
Prioritizing Improvements within a
Portfolio of Buildings

2. Outline
• Class Objectives
• ENERGY STAR for Commercial Buildings—
Benchmarking Buildings and Prioritizing
Improvements within a Portfolio of Buildings
– ENERGY STAR Energy Management Tools
– Benchmarking with Portfolio Manager
– Live Demonstration
– Benchmarking a Portfolio of Buildings
– Building Upgrade Manual
– Getting Started on Your Commercial Project Building

3. Class Objectives
After today’s lecture, you will be able to:
• Benchmark the energy use of a building using
monthly energy bills and other required building data
• Analyze and explain the benchmarking results to
others in the class (and possibly the building
owner/manager) using data from Portfolio Manager
• Generate a Statement of Energy Performance and a
Data Checklist from Portfolio Manager for a building
and review the data to confirm its accuracy
• Explain how to identify priority projects with a portfolio
of buildings

4. ENERGY STAR
Energy Management Tools

5. ENERGY STAR Resources
http://www.energystar.gov/buildings
Guidelines for Energy Management
• STEP 1: Commit to Continuous Improvement
• STEP 2: Assess Performance
• STEP 3: Set Goals
• STEP 4: Create Action Plan
• STEP 5: Implement Action Plan
• STEP 6: Evaluate Progress
• STEP 7: Recognize Achievements

6. ENERGY STAR Resources
• Building Upgrade Manual
Plan and implement profitable energy saving building upgrades
utilizing five stages:
– Retrocommissioning
– Lighting upgrade
– Load reductions
– Air distribution systems upgrade
– HVAC upgrade
• Cash Flow Opportunity (CFO) Calculator
Helps answer three critical questions about efficiency projects:
– How much new energy efficiency equipment can be purchased
from the anticipated savings?
– Should this equipment purchase be financed now or is it better to
wait and use cash from a future budget?
– Is money being lost by waiting for a lower interest rate?

7. Benchmarking with
Portfolio Manager

8. Benchmarking
• Benchmarking through ENERGY STAR
allows you to:
– Compare one building against a national
sample of similar buildings
– Compare all of your buildings of a similar type
to each other
– Set priorities for use of limited staff time
and/or investment capital

9. Portfolio Manager
• Benchmark the energy use of all buildings –receive an
energy use intensity (EUI). Many buildings, including
office buildings can receive energy performance ratings
on a 1-100 scale.
• Track changes in energy and water use over time in
single buildings, groups of buildings, or entire portfolios.
• Track and report cost savings and CO2 emissions.
• Apply for the ENERGY STAR.
• www.energystar.gov/benchmark
Benchmarking

10. Medical Offices Office Buildings
Hospitals
Warehouses
Dormitories
Supermarkets
Courthouses
K-12 Schools
Bank/Financial
Institutions
Hotels
Wastewater
Treatment Plants
Retail Stores
ENERGY STAR Score
Eligible Building Types
Houses of
Worship
Data Centers

11. Examples of Non-Ratable Space Types
• Police Stations
• Fire Stations
• Assisted Living Facilities
• Convention Centers
• Laboratories
• Libraries
• Malls
• Movie Theatres
• Restaurants
• Stadiums and Arenas

12. Portfolio Manager
Four Simple Steps
1. Create/edit a Portfolio Manager account
2. Add/edit a property
3. Add/edit a space
4. Add/edit energy meters

13. Required Information for
Benchmarking in Portfolio Manager
• Building Identifiers
– Name, street address, zip code for weather
normalization
• Space Type Data (office example)
– Square footage, hours of operation, Number of workers on
main shift , # of PC’s, Percent of gross floor area that is air
conditioned, heated
• Energy Use
– Bldg specific invoice information from all purchased energy.
Begin with at least 11 consecutive months for each source
and update with monthly usage data.

14. Energy Use:
How to Read a Utility Bill

15. Assess Performance for Smart
Energy Management
• Verify gains from upgrade efforts
• Require specific rating gains from service providers in
select building types such as office or warehouse
Establish
Baseline
Set Goals
Track & Measure
Overtime

16. Identify Best Opportunities for Energy
Efficiency Improvements
• Identify under-performing buildings to target for
energy efficiency improvements
• Establish baselines to set goals and measure
progress

17. Track Progress Over Time
• Set a custom baseline and monitor energy efficiency
improvements before, during, and after an upgrade
project
• View percent improvement in weather-normalized
energy use intensity
• Track reductions in greenhouse gas emissions
• Monitor energy and water costs

18. Document Savings Results
• Provide transparency and accountability to help demonstrate
strategic use of capital improvement funding
• Quickly and accurately demonstrate savings for an individual
building or entire portfolio:
– Energy use
– GHG emissions
– Water use
– Energy costs
• Download performance metrics from Portfolio Manager into Excel
• Generate a Statement of Energy Performance (SEP) for each
building, summarizing important performance indicators, including
energy intensity and CO2 emissions
• Generate an Energy Performance Report showing reductions in key
indicators over a user-specified time period
Visit www.energystar.gov/benchmark to get started

19. Live Demonstration

20. Benchmarking a Sample
Commercial Building using
Portfolio Manager
https://www.energystar.gov/benchmark/
Live Demo

21. Access Portfolio Manager Web
Page
(1) Click
BUILDINGS &
PLANTS on the
ENERGY STAR
home page.
(2) Click the
Portfolio
Manager link to
login or create a
new account
(3) Click Portfolio
Manager to read
more about the
rating system.
(2)
(3)
(1)

22. Creating an Account

23. Creating an Account

24. Adding a Property

25. Adding a Property

26. Add/Edit a Space
Adding a Space

27. Adding a Space

28. Adding a Space

29. Adding Energy Meters

30. Entering Energy Use

31. Example

32. Statement of Energy
Performance
• Objective: The SEP can be generated for purposes
other than applying for the ENERGY STAR
• LEED-EB certification process
• Real estate transactions
• Maintaining a Facility Summary Report
• Process:
• User selects time period of performance
• Tool generates summary with energy use, cost, and
emissions figures

33. Generating an SEP

34. Generating an SEP

35. Generating an SEP

36. Generating an SEP
Building Information
Energy Performance
Verification of Indoor Air
Quality

37. Benchmarking a
Portfolio of Buildings

38. (1) Click the Import Facility Data link, and on the next screen, right click on the desired template
link. Select “Save Target As,” and follow the instructions.
Downloading Import Templates
(1)

39. Be sure to populate the User, Facilities, Primary Space, and Energy Use tabs with the required data. Additional tabs are
included for instructions and secondary space types (if any).
NOTE: The following is an example of how to use the import template. While this example shows you how to import
data for an office space (general or courthouse) into the Portfolio Manager, the process is similar for other space types.
Use the Facilities,
Space, Energy Use,
and Water Use tabs
to fill in the required
data.
For additional
space types, fill in
fields for Parking
Space, Data Center
Space, and
Swimming Pool (if
available).
In the User tab,
enter your login
name, indicate user
contact information,
and respond to
optional questions
for EPA tracking
purposes.
Read the Instructions and Import Tips tabs
for information on the import process and
data requirements.
Import Template Overview
To import the data into Portfolio Manager, e-mail the completed template to buildings@energystar.gov

40. Populate data fields with basic facility information (Facilities tab)
Space Use information (Office Space tab)
Populating and Importing Data
from Import Template

41. Energy Use data needed in Portfolio Manager (Energy Use tab)
Populating and Importing Data
from Import Template

42. How to Access Portfolio Manager
• Single Building Manual Entry
• Enter building and energy consumption information into
Portfolio Manager.
• Bulk Data Upload
• Upload large sets of building data in Portfolio Manager
using an Excel template.
• Automated Benchmarking Services
• Use Service and Product Provider to have the rating
automatically integrated into your energy information and
bill handling system
• Utility-based Automated Benchmarking
• Option 1: Provide utility data
• Option 2: Provide automated benchmarking services

43. ENERGY PERFORMANCE RATING
Facilities in this range may
reap significant savings
from concentration on
simple, low-cost measures,
such as improved
operations and
maintenance practices.
Equipment upgrades could
yield additional savings.
MAINTAIN
INVEST
These top performing
facilities offer examples of
best practices as well as
opportunities to gain
recognition. Continue to
improve and maintain
superior performance by
focusing on operations
and maintenance.
Facilities in this range offer the greatest
opportunity for financial and
environmental improvement. Investing
in new equipment and enhancing
operational practices may have the
greatest impact on your bottom line.
100
75
50
1
ADJUST
Once an energy performance baseline rating is established, the next
steps are to set improvement goals and create an action plan. The
guide below can help you interpret the ratings and determine
appropriate next steps.
Rating Interpretation

44. Building Upgrade Manual

45. Building Upgrade Manual
• Assists organizations in planning and
implementing profitable upgrades
– Outlines process for developing
comprehensive energy-management strategy
and integrated approach to upgrading
existing buildings

46. Contents
• Managing and Planning Upgrade Projects
– Chapter 1: Introduction
– Chapter 2: Benchmarking
– Chapter 3: Investment Analysis
– Chapter 4: Financing
• 5-Staged Approach to Upgrade Projects
– Chapter 5: Retrocommissioning
– Chapter 6: Lighting
– Chapter 7: Supplemental Loads
– Chapter 8: Air Distribution Systems
– Chapter 9: Heating and Cooling
• Unique Facility Types
– Chapter 10: K-12 Schools
– Chapter 11: Supermarkets and Grocery Stores
– Chapter 12: Hotels and Motels
– Chapter 13: Retail Stores

47. Managing Upgrade Project
• Strategies that contribute to the success of
any major business undertaking should be
applied to building upgrades
– Benchmarking (Portfolio Manager)
– Investment Analysis
– Financing

48. Building Upgrade Manual
• Includes a five-stage approach that
increases financial and environmental
benefits realized
1. Retrocommissioning
2. Lighting Upgrade
3. Supplemental Load Reductions
4. Air Distribution Systems Upgrade
5. HVAC Upgrade

49. Building Upgrade Manual

50. Retrocommissioning
• Calibrate building controls
• Adjust operating schedules
• Check steam traps
• Clean heat exchanger tubes in condenser,
evaporator, and boiler
• Check filters, dampers, coils, and balance
of HVAC system

51. Lighting
• Maximizing daylight
• Quantity and quality of
illumination
• T8s and electronic ballasts
• CFLs
• Partial output ballasts
• ENERGY STAR qualified light
emitting diode (LED) exit signs
• Exterior lighting
– High-pressure sodium (HPS)
– Low-pressure sodium (LPS)
– Metal halide (MH)
• Controls
– Occupancy sensors
– Dimming
– Daylight dimming/switching
– High-intensity discharge (HID)
bi-level switching
Courtesy: E SOURCE Lighting
Technology Atlas (2005)

52. Supplemental Load Reductions
Courtesy: E SOURCE; adopted from EPA
• Envelope
improvements
– Wall and roof Insulation
– Window upgrades
– Infiltration control
– Roof upgrades
• Purchase ENERGY
STAR qualified
products

53. Air Distribution Systems
• Right-size fan system
• Use variable-speed
drives
• Consider improved
controls
• Use energy-efficient
motors and belts
• Maintain and clean
filters properly

54. Heating And Cooling (H&C)
Upgrades
• Measure H&C loads
• Right size H&C systems
• Evaluate chiller upgrades
/replacements
• Use high-efficiency
components
• Purchase ENERGY STAR
qualified ACs, ground-source
closed-loop heat pumps
Courtesy: E SOURCE; Adopted from EPA

55. Getting Started on Your
Commercial Project Building

56. Animated
Portfolio Manager
Training
Portfolio
Manager Quick
Reference
Guide
Portfolio
Manager Data
Collection Sheet
Benchmarking Starter Kit

57. Animated Portfolio Manager Training
http://www.energystar.gov/ia/business/benchmarking_training/benchmarking.html

58. Student Project Overview

59. Student Project
• Tour a building with a professional to learn 1st hand how to identify
energy efficiency opportunities;
• Identify and seek permission to benchmark a building in the
community;
• Gather energy bill data and building attributes needed to benchmark;
• Schedule a visit to the building to walk through the building to confirm
building attributes visually and gain a thorough understanding about
how the building is operating;
• Discuss findings in class and brainstorm solutions to cost-effectively
increase energy efficiency;
• Research and refine energy efficiency opportunities;
• Write a brief report using the benchmarking results, information learned
from visiting the building, and researched solutions; and
• Present the reported recommendations to the class using a visual
presentation medium such as a slide or video presentation.

60. Review

61. Review Questions
1. Set up a Portfolio Manager account.
2. Using sample office building data, add an office building
into your Portfolio Manager account. Name your
demonstration building using your own last name (ex.
Smith Building)
3. Share your building with professor's Portfolio Manager
account (Professor's PM acct user name is: [insert user
name])
4. Generate a Statement of Energy Performance and Data
checklist. Hand in to your professor.

62. Up Next: Week 5
• Determining Financial Value and
Funding Methods for Building
Energy Efficiency Improvements
– Making the Financial Case
– Investment Analysis
– Cash Flow Opportunity Calculator
– Building Upgrade Value Calculator