Tenant Power

Awards for Smart Energy Use

By Joel Nelson on Sep 4, 2018 in Energy

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program has helped business owners and individuals save money and protect the environment through energy efficiency since 1992. Now there’s a new dimension to the program. In the fall of 2017, EPA launched the ENERGY STAR Tenant Space pilot program to promote energy efficiency in commercial tenant spaces.

EPA recently recognized 48 office tenants that demonstrated commitment to energy efficiency and environmental stewardship. The award recipients met five energy efficiency criteria during the 10-month Tenant Space pilot program: estimate energy use, meter energy use, light efficiently, use efficient equipment and share data.

Recipients of 2018 ENERGY STAR Charter Tenant Space Awards include Forest City Realty Trust Inc., Kilroy Realty Corp., LinkedIn and Shorenstein Realty Services LP. Some organizations, such as Cushman & Wakefield, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, JLL and JPMorgan Chase, earned recognition for multiple locations.

“Adhering to sustainable best practices not only enhances our bottom line, but it also highlights our broader efforts to consistently act as a responsible corporate citizen,” Jason Kern, CEO for LaSalle Americas, said in a statement in June following the designation of LaSalle’s corporate headquarters in Chicago as a Charter Tenant Space Award recipient.

Along with verifying its electricity meters, LaSalle estimated the office’s energy consumption using an online tool developed by EPA with analytical support from the U.S. Department of Energy. The company documented its nearly 100% LED lighting fixtures, daylighting/occupancy sensors and nearly 100% ENERGY STAR certified equipment and appliances. LaSalle also established an ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager account to measure energy and water consumption.

The voluntary Tenant Space program was created by the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015, which encourages owners and tenants to implement high-performance energy efficiency measures in commercial buildings.

EPA continues to analyze the charter tenants’ data and the pilot program’s results. In conjunction with the Energy Information Administration, the agency will collect additional data for tenant spaces in the coming years. It will also work to develop performance-based recognition for occupied tenant space as called for in the 2015 legislation. “Designing a tenant recognition based on an objective and reliable measure of energy performance will take several years, but it’s a worthy endeavor that can help reduce U.S. emissions and recognize environmental leadership among tenants,” the EPA says.

Read more about the ENERGY STAR for tenants program. Reference material from the pilot program is available here. Learn about smart energy products from Yardi that help commercial property operators manage costs, consumption and efficiency.