Energy Asset Rating Program Takes Flight

Want to receive energy efficiency recommendations tailored to your building and become one of the first to receive an energy asset rating?

The DOE is currently recruiting for its Commercial Building Energy Asset Rating pilot program. The purpose of the Energy Asset Rating is to focus specifically on a building’s infrastructure components, which allows as-built efficiency and operational practices to be considered separately.

Rating building assets independently from operation and maintenance, plug loads, and occupant behavior enables building stakeholders to determine whether a facility is performing well because it has a high-efficiency shell and equipment or because it is well managed.

The tool focuses on the building envelope, mechanical and electrical systems, and other major energy-using equipment that is physically built into the building. Installed features such as daylighting controls, occupancy sensors, variable-frequency drives, and variable air volume terminal units will also be included.

Phase I of the pilot program focuses on owner-occupied and leased properties (no age or location restrictions). Buildings include office, education, retail, and unrefrigerated warehouses.

To become an energy asset rating partner, in addition to entering your building information into the Energy Asset Rating Tool, you will need to provide your ENERGY STAR rating and 12 months of utility information or an existing energy audit report and energy model.

The test will compare the Energy Asset Rating Tool outputs, which include predicted energy use and recommended energy efficiency measures (EEMs), with the results of a conventional audit and modeling method.

It will also compare the energy asset rating with your ENERGY STAR rating to provide insight into the as-built efficiency vs. in-operation performance.

For more information on joining the pilot phase, visit eere.energy.gov/buildings/commercial/assetscore_pilot.