The ENERGY STAR Challenge

The ENERGY STAR Challenge

Build a Better World 10% at a Time

Participating States

These states and state-based organizations are joining with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to improve the energy efficiency of their own facilities and are also encouraging businesses and institutions within their jurisdictions to capture energy waste by reducing their building energy use by 10 percent or more.

California State Teachers Retirement System (CalSTRS)

CalSTRS is calling on all of its real estate investment managers to improve the energy efficiency of their properties and to use EPAs energy performance rating system to demonstrate that improvement. Recent guidance adopted by CalSTRS requires investment managers to:

Measure the energy efficiency of all properties using the ENERGY STAR rating system,

Record all scores of 75 or higher and seek approval to apply for the ENERGY STAR label,

Monitor energy performance ratings on an ongoing basis,

Review building systems and components in all properties with ratings below 75,

Review all options for low cost/no cost strategies to improve performance of properties that rate below 75, and

Identify and implement cost-effective investments to improve ratings.

In addition, CalSTRS is requiring property managers to contact tenants, building security staffs and janitorial service providers to emphasize the importance of energy management and curtailing after-hours energy use.

CalSTRS is the largest teachers retirement fund in the United States. As of June 2004, CalSTRS had $5.5 billion invested in 43 million square feet of investment property. The pension funds primary responsibility is to provide retirement related benefits and services to teachers in public schools from kindergarten through community college throughout California. Through investments in real estate, as well as other financial instruments, CalSTRS generates revenues to provide benefits to its annuitants.

For more information, please contact Kirsten Macintyre, Public Information Officer, at KMacintyre@CalSTRS.com, or (916) 229-0930.

Delaware

The State of Delaware is committed to improving the energy efficiency of state facilities and K-12 school districts and encouraging commercial building owners to adopt smart energy practices. To support the ENERGY STAR Challenge, Delaware is launching or expanding activities such as the following:

Establishing the capability with utilities, state agencies, and schools districts to rate the energy performance of buildings using EPAs energy performance rating system,

Providing training for state agencies and school districts to help them identify the best opportunities for improvements,

Participating in EPAs ENERGY STAR Million Monitor Drive to power down computers in state buildings, and

Incorporating ENERGY STAR products in state agency procurements, where possible, as required by recent Delaware legislation.

For more information, please contact Jenefer Russum, Planner-Delaware Energy Office, at Jenefer.Russum@state.de.us, or (302) 739-1530.

Efficiency Vermont

Efficiency Vermont is Vermont’s statewide energy efficiency utility – the first of its kind in the United States. Efficiency Vermont helps all Vermonters reduce energy costs by making their homes and businesses energy-efficient. The agency provides technical assistance and financial incentives to help Vermonters identify and pay for cost-effective approaches to energy-efficient building design, construction, renovation, equipment, lighting and appliances.

To support the ENERGY STAR Challenge, Efficiency Vermont will continue and expand activities, such as the following:

Measure the energy performance of businesses, schools, and state agencies in Vermont,

Help identify and implement the best opportunities for improvement, and

Recognize, in partnership with EPA, organizations in Vermont for achieving energy efficiency improvements of 10, 20, 30 percent or more.

For more information please contact Dan Gaherty, Market Manager-VEIC, at dgaherty@veic.org, or (888) 921-5990.

Institute for Sustainable Energy, Eastern Connecticut State University

Institute for Sustainable Energy (ISE) will be instrumental in bringing the ENERGY STAR Challenge to public organizations and businesses in the State of Connecticut and across New England states. Some of ISEs current and expanded activities include:

Helping Connecticuts communities to develop energy plans and implement cost-saving energy efficiency improvements in their buildings,

Assisting the state and its school districts to measure their energy efficiency and identify cost-saving efficiency improvements,

Working with Connecticut’s universities to encourage sustainable operations in all aspects of campus life, and

Developing an energy efficient protocol for state funded construction, including local schools.

ISE is a Connecticut-wide institution whose mission is to identify, develop and become an objective energy and educational resource for achieving a sustainable energy future. In 2004, ISE was awarded an ENERGY STAR Award for Excellence in Energy Efficiency and Environmental Education.

For more information about the Institute for Sustainable Energy, please contact William Leahy, Associate Executive Director for Operations, at LeahyW@easternct.edu, or (860) 465-0252.

Maine

The State of Maine is committing to promote the goals of the ENERGY STAR challenge. Building on Maines existing efforts, the State will:

Promote these goals to building owners and operators throughout the State,

Measure and track energy use and greenhouse gas emissions from state government buildings,

Identify the best opportunities for improving the efficiency of State buildings, and

Use performance contracting and other mechanisms to make improvements.

In addition, Maine is designing all new state buildings and publicly funded schools to be as energy efficient as possible.

For more information, please contact Beth Nagusky, Director of Energy Independence-Office of the Governor, at Beth.Nagusky@maine.gov, or (207) 287-4315.

New Hampshire

The State of New Hampshire is committing to a 10 percent improvement in energy efficiency across the over 1200 buildings it occupies. As the largest energy user in New Hampshire, with heating, cooling, and electricity costs greater than $18 million, New Hampshire demonstrated their commitment to energy efficiency when the Governor signed an Executive in October 2004 aimed at improving the energy efficiency of state buildings and operations.

The Executive Order, a blueprint for the ENERGY STAR Challenge, includes requirements that the State will:

Conduct an inventory of its facilities and track energy usage and costs in a centralized database,

Benchmark all applicable facilities using EPAs energy performance rating,

Develop a plan and energy reduction goal for implementing improvements with a reasonable payback period

Develop a plan for conducting energy audits of facilities scoring between 40 percent and 60 percent on EPAs energy performance rating,

Develop purchasing policies requiring ENERGY STAR office equipment, appliances and other equipment, and

Develop energy efficiency standards for new construction designs and procedures for review and commissioning to ensure design specification were met.

For more information, please contact Joanne Morin, Department of Environmental Services, at jmorin@des.state.nh.us, or (603) 271-5552.

New York

The State of New York has made improving energy efficiency a priority. The States energy policy for its own facilities is clear in the Governors Executive Order No 111, Green Buildings and State Vehicles. The order states, among other requirements, that State agencies and other affected entities shall strive to meet the ENERGY STAR building criteria for energy performance. New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is the agency that helps to carry out this executive order and brings the environmental and financial benefits of energy efficiency to New Yorks school districts, universities, healthcare organizations, and companies.

In partnership with EPA, NYSERDA is expanding its commercial building energy efficiency services to help its customers meet the ENERGY STAR Challenge and gain the environmental and financial benefits from improved energy efficiency. This includes:

Measuring the energy efficiency of more schools,

Providing training and other support to state agencies to help them meet Executive Order No 111, as well as conduct training for school districts and commercial building owners and energy service firms throughout the state,

Offering technical and financial assistance through NYSERDAs commercial programs,

Recognizing organizations that demonstrate leadership by achieving 10, 20, or 30 percent improvement in energy efficiency, and

Partnering with the New York State Superintendents of Buildings and Grounds, New York State Education Department, New York State Hospitality and Tourism Association, Real-Estate Board of New York, Building Owners and Managers Association, New York State Health Facilities Association, and the Hospital Engineering Society of Greater New York to bring energy efficiency to their members.

NYSERDA is a public benefit corporation created in 1965 by the New York State Legislature to help solve New Yorks most difficult energy and environmental issues. In 2004, NYSERDA rated the energy performance of more than 260 schools representing about 29 million square feet. Furthermore, NYSERDA identified energy efficiency and air quality improvements that helped enhance the classroom environment for 167,600 students.

For more information please contact Brian Henderson, Director, Energy Efficiency Services, at bmh@nyserda.org, or (518) 862-1090, ext. 3305.

Ohio

The Ohio Department of Development Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) is encouraging schools districts and consumers to reduce energy use. The Ohio School Facilities Commission (OSFC) will be instrumental in bringing the ENERGY STAR Challenge to school districts in the State of Ohio. Some of OEE and OSFCs current and expanded activities include:

Funding $25 million annually for energy efficiency investments in schools through the OSFC managed Energy Conservation and Financing Authority House Bill 254, which allows school districts to borrow money for energy efficiency improvements (Since 1986, OSFC has invested $1 billion in school energy efficiency improvements.),

Training for senior OSFC staff on EPAs energy performance rating system for new and existing schools, and

Pursuing comprehensive utility data tracking, in coordination with OH utilities, to rate over 3,500 schools.

Currently, OEE works with utility companies, product manufacturers and retailers to display and distribute information about ENERGY STAR products at annual meetings and conferences.

For more information, please contact Manny Anunike, Program Manager-OEE at eanunike@odod.state.oh.us, or (614) 466-4092 or Franklin Brown, Planning Director-OSFC, at Franklin.Brown@osfc.state.oh.us, or (614) 466-4168.

Pennsylvania

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) is committed to bringing the benefits of energy efficiency to its colleges, universities, K-12 schools, local governments, state agencies, and more. To support the ENERGY STAR Challenge, the PA DEP will:

Promote the energy performance rating system as one of the preferred ways state entities can meet a number of the requirements specified in Executive Order 2004-12, which include creating energy profiles, identifying the best energy efficiency investments, and tracking energy performance over time,

Train DEP staff to use ENERGY STAR tools to help schools and governments measure their energy use and identify buildings that offer the greatest opportunity for improvement, and

Recognize, in partnership with EPA, organizations that demonstrate leadership by achieving a 10, 20, 30 percent improvement in energy efficiency using EPAs energy performance rating system.

For more information, please contact Mark Hand, DEP ENERGY STAR Coordinator, at mhand@state.pa.us, or (717) 787-9377.