As part of our expanding focus on sustainability and responsible energy consumption, NSPE has partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency to support and promote the Energy Star program’s energy efficiency certification for commercial buildings.
The EPA estimates that the energy used by commercial and industrial buildings in the U.S. accounts for nearly 50% of our greenhouse gas emissions. This energy efficiency certification program promotes energy conservation and performance to reduce energy consumption one building at a time.
To obtain an Energy Star rating, a PE must verify performance and PE verification is a program requirement. (Read the 2009 Professional Engineer's Guide to the Energy Star Label for Commericial Buildings.)
NSPE entered into this partnership to help promote the program and enables us to play an integral role in establishing, promoting, and documenting building energy performance.
This partnership is a great opportunity for each of us to have a direct impact on our energy future, by reviewing and improving energy performance where we work and getting involved in the certification of other commercial and industrial facilities to help us reduce energy consumption. For more information about Energy Star, visit www.energystar.gov or call 1-888-STAR-YES.
