Quality is key to marketability in an environment filled with home-building horror stories. While workmanship goes a long way toward customer satisfaction, there are additional ways for builders to go above and beyond for their customers.
Energy efficiency is an emerging focus among builders looking to attract new customers, stay competitive, and scale profits. One of the best ways to market the energy efficiency of a new build, while also qualifying for builder tax credits, is by boosting your ENERGY STAR building score.
More than just a label, the ENERGY STAR score can play a central role in benchmarking, energy audits, compliance with local laws, and achieving green certifications. But how is this score calculated, and what does it really say about your property?
Let’s break down the fundamentals of the ENERGY STAR score, what it means for your building’s performance, and why it matters in today’s increasingly energy-conscious real estate market.
What Is an ENERGY STAR Score?
An ENERGY STAR score is an aggregate measurement of how your building’s energy performance compares to similar buildings across the United States. Scores range from 1-100, with 50 representing the median energy-efficiency performance of buildings across the country.
Generally, a score of 75 or higher qualifies a building for ENERGY STAR certification, applicable in both the public and private sectors.
ENERGY STAR scores are administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and calculated using data entered into Portfolio Manager, a free online tool that benchmarks building energy usage.
How Is the ENERGY STAR Score Calculated?
The ENERGY STAR score isn’t a simple sum of your utility bills—it’s a performance-based rating that uses a statistical model built from national energy use data provided by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS).
The model adjusts for various factors so that buildings are compared fairly. These factors include:
- Climate zone
- Operating hours
- Building type
- Number of workers or occupants
- Use of computers and plug load equipment
- Size and layout
- Weather-normalized energy consumption
The result is a score that tells you how your building is really performing and provides key insights into how it can perform even better.
Why the ENERGY STAR Score Matters
While an ENERGY STAR score may look good on a report card, what does it mean for builders or their customers?
1. Benchmarking Performance
Energy benchmarking has been adopted by several major cities across the country as an incentive to boost energy efficiency, especially within the commercial sector.
The ENERGY STAR score contributes to these benchmarks by showing how your building stacks up against your peers. It also reveals performance trends over time and identifies whether your energy efficiency projects deliver the expected results.
Many organizations use their ENERGY STAR scores to track year-over-year improvement or set targets for their sustainability goals.
2. Supporting Regulatory Compliance
Cities and states nationwide are introducing energy benchmarking and disclosure laws that require large buildings to report annual energy usage and ENERGY STAR scores.
For example, New York City’s Local Law 84 and Washington, D.C.’s Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) leverage ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager for compliance. A low score could signal a need for retrofits to meet legal requirements or even avoid costly penalties.
3. Enhancing Marketability
According to the EPA, ENERGY STAR-labeled office buildings command higher rental rates and sell for more per square foot than similar, uncertified properties.
Achieving a high score communicates to prospective tenants, investors, and buyers that your building utilizes the most efficient materials and building practices to provide quality results for relevant stakeholders.
4. Identifying Efficiency Opportunities
In many cases, a low score can be a blessing in disguise, as it highlights untapped potential.
Pairing your ENERGY STAR score with an energy audit or energy modeling analysis can help pinpoint exactly where efficiency upgrades will make the biggest difference.
What Types of Buildings Can Get an ENERGY STAR Score?
ENERGY STAR scores are currently available for over 20 building types, including:
- Offices
- K–12 schools
- Retail stores
- Warehouses
- Hotels
- Multifamily housing (for buildings with 20+ units)
- Medical offices
- Houses of worship
- Senior care communities
If your building type isn’t eligible for a score, you can still use Portfolio Manager to track energy usage, greenhouse gas emissions, and performance trends over time.
How to Improve Your ENERGY STAR Score
Improving your ENERGY STAR score often comes down to making smarter, data-informed decisions about your building systems and operations. Some common strategies include:
- Lighting retrofits (LED upgrades, motion sensors, daylighting)
- HVAC optimization (smart thermostats, tune-ups, system upgrades)
- Building envelope improvements (insulation, window upgrades, sealing leaks)
- Behavioral changes (adjusting temperature setpoints, reducing plug loads)
- Energy modeling to simulate how design or operational changes can improve performance
Each building is different, so combining your ENERGY STAR insights with a professional energy audit or modeling session is best.
When Should You Check Your ENERGY STAR Score?
We recommend checking and updating your score at least once a year, ideally after entering your full 12 months of utility data. However, quarterly updates can help ensure better tracking and faster detection of anomalies for larger portfolios or buildings subject to local regulations.
At Path Light Pro, transparency in energy performance is the first step to smarter, more sustainable buildings. Our consultants are well-versed in benchmarking tools like ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. They can help you interpret your score, identify opportunities, and even integrate energy modeling to take performance to the next level.
Data-driven efficiency isn’t just good for your bottom line. It’s good for the planet.
FAQs
Can I get an ENERGY STAR score for a small building?
Yes, as long as your building type is eligible and you have at least 12 months of reliable utility data. However, some very small buildings may fall outside the scoring model’s minimum size requirements.
What if my building doesn’t qualify for a score?
You can still use ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to track your building’s energy use and carbon footprint, even if it’s not eligible for a 1–100 score.
Is ENERGY STAR certification worth it?
Yes. ENERGY STAR certification can increase your property’s marketability, attract environmentally conscious tenants, and even lead to tax incentives in some jurisdictions.