ENERGY STAR Certification for Buildings — Requirements, Checklist & Guide

EnergyStackHub Team

Energy Star — Certification Guide

Does Your Building Qualify for ENERGY STAR Certification?

EPA's ENERGY STAR score ranks your building 1–100 against similar buildings nationwide. Score 75 or higher and you're in the top 25% — certified, marketable, and compliant-ready. EnergyStackHub helps you get there.

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75+

score needed to certify

35%

avg energy savings

20+

eligible building types

ENERGY STAR Score Scale

1 – 100

National percentile rank for your building type

Low (1) Median (50) Certified (75+)

Average Certified Building

Energy vs. peers 35% less

Median savings $0.51/sqft/yr

Certified buildings (US) 80K+

PE verification cost $500–$3,000

Why ENERGY STAR Matters

EPA-Backed Rating That Drives Real Returns

ENERGY STAR certification is the most recognized commercial building credential in the US — accepted by tenants, lenders, and compliance frameworks alike.

EPA-Backed Rating System

Your score is calculated using EPA's Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) national database, weather-normalized for your climate zone and adjusted for operating hours, occupancy, and floor area. The result is a true apples-to-apples comparison. Learn more at energystar.gov/buildings.

80K+ certified commercial buildings in the US

35% Average Energy Savings

Certified buildings use 35% less energy than their non-certified peers on average, according to EPA data. That translates directly to lower utility spend, reduced carbon exposure, and stronger NOI for asset owners managing multi-site portfolios.

$0.51/sqft median annual energy savings vs. peers

ESG & Lease Premium

Tenants pay 3–5% higher rents in ENERGY STAR certified buildings. Lenders offer green loan products at lower spreads. And in jurisdictions with building performance standards — NYC LL97, Boston BERDO — a high score reduces compliance risk and capital exposure.

3–5% typical rent premium in certified buildings

Qualification Checklist

Is Your Building Ready to Apply?

Check each item that applies to your building. The eligibility panel updates in real time as you work through the list.

Building type is on EPA's eligible list — offices, retail, hotels, warehouses, schools, hospitals, data centers, banks, courthouses, dormitories, and 10+ more.

Building has been in operation ≥ 12 months — EPA requires a full year of operating data to generate a valid score.

12 months of utility data available — electricity, natural gas, steam, or other fuels. Monthly totals from utility bills or interval data both qualify.

Building floor area ≥ 5,000 sq ft — the minimum threshold for most building types in EPA's Portfolio Manager scoring model.

Willing to have data verified by a licensed PE or RA — EPA requires third-party verification before issuing a certificate. Typical cost: $500–$3,000 per building.

Not Yet Ready

Check each item above that applies to your building. All five are required to pursue ENERGY STAR certification.

Checklist progress — 0/5 items

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Score Improvement Roadmap

How to Raise Your ENERGY STAR Score

If your current score is below 75, these measures consistently move the needle. Prioritize by payback period and starting EUI for maximum impact. The EPA's Commercial Buildings program documents typical savings ranges by measure type.

Improvement Measure	Typical Score Lift	Cost	Payback
LED Retrofit	+5–15 pts	$0.50–$2.00/sqft	2–4 years
HVAC Tune-up	+3–10 pts	$0.10–$0.30/sqft	<1 year
Building Automation System	+4–12 pts	$1.00–$3.00/sqft	3–5 years
Air Sealing & Weatherization	+2–8 pts	$0.05–$0.15/sqft	1–2 years
Retro-Commissioning	+5–15 pts	$0.10–$0.50/sqft	1–2 years
Plug Load Management	+1–5 pts	Minimal	<1 year

Score improvements depend on starting EUI, building type, and operational profile. EnergyStackHub's free audit identifies the highest-impact measures for your specific building.

Common Questions

Everything You Need to Know About ENERGY STAR Certification

You need an ENERGY STAR score of 75 or higher to qualify for certification. A score of 75 means your building is in the top 25% of similar buildings nationally for energy efficiency. The score is calculated by EPA using 12 months of utility data entered in Portfolio Manager, normalized for building type, weather, operating hours, and occupancy.

The full ENERGY STAR certification process typically takes 4–8 weeks from when you begin data entry in Portfolio Manager. Data entry and verification by a licensed PE or Registered Architect usually takes 1–3 weeks. EPA reviews the verified application and awards certification within 2–4 weeks. Buildings must re-certify annually using the prior 12 months of utility data.

EPA charges no application fee for ENERGY STAR certification. The primary cost is the Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered Architect (RA) verification fee, which typically runs $500–$3,000 per building depending on its complexity and your local market. For multi-building portfolios, PE verifiers often offer volume discounts. EnergyStackHub can connect you with verified PE contacts in your region.

EPA has developed scoring models for 20+ commercial building types including: offices, retail stores, hotels/motels, warehouses, K-12 schools, hospitals, medical offices, senior care facilities, data centers, courthouses, bank branches, dormitories, financial centers, food sales, food service, indoor arenas, libraries, multifamily housing, non-refrigerated warehouses, parking garages, and worship facilities. Not all building types have EPA scoring models — single-family homes and manufacturing plants are excluded. See the full current list at energystar.gov.

An ENERGY STAR score is an indirect indicator of compliance readiness but does not directly satisfy NYC Local Law 97, Boston BERDO, or other building performance standard (BPS) requirements. Those laws set hard emission limits (measured in kg CO₂e/sqft). However, buildings achieving ENERGY STAR 75+ typically have much lower emission intensities — making compliance easier and reducing the capital needed to reach targets. EnergyStackHub's free audit shows your building's estimated LL97 exposure alongside its ENERGY STAR score potential.