If you anticipate pursuing an ENERGY STAR label for your building in 2014, it is not too early to start planning your strategy. Competition to achieve the ENERGY STAR in Washington, DC and the surrounding metro areas grows every year. If your building had a marginal score in 2013, now is the time to consider capital improvements and work to get utility bills down in order to be a strong contender in 2014. Talk to an engineer about efficiency upgrades that will help your score. The key is to gather data in the beginning of the year so you have time to implement changes and realize energy savings.
Quick Fixes You Can Implement Immediately
- Make sure that your data centers are being metered properly so that they can be scored by ENERGY STAR. This may require installing supplemental equipment downstream of any data center UPS modules or developing a program for obtaining monthly readings from existing UPS equipment
- For buildings with scores hovering around 75, plan for efficiency upgrades to keep up with the pack. Scores are trending downward for existing buildings as more efficient buildings are coming online
- Update your occupancy and computer surveys. Make sure that the people counts in the buildings reflect reality
- Stay on top of occupancy changes as they occur. ENERGY STAR now allows for “on-the fly” upgrades of building occupancy, usage, and vacancy throughout the year
For more information on how to start the planning process, contact us. GHT has performed more than 700 ENERGY STAR benchmarks and has provided mechanical, electrical, and plumbing (MEP) engineering design services in the Washington, DC metro area for nearly 50 years. We have the experience to assist with your efficiency upgrades and to help you navigate the ENERGY STAR process successfully.
As Section Head of Building Energy Services in GHT’s Operations & Energy Services (OES) studio, Jeffrey Salay, PE, CEM, LEED AP leads the firm’s efforts to provide ENERGY STAR benchmarking services, conduct ASHRAE energy audits and other energy studies, and design energy efficiency upgrades.