Energy Star Expands to Include Commercial Building Design

June 2, 2004

Buildings have been able to earn an Energy Star label since 1999, but building professionals will tell you that for new buildings, the most important time to consider energy efficiency is at the early design stage. In recognition of that fact, the Energy Star program—a combined effort of DOE and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)—is now allowing new commercial building designs to earn an Energy Star label. If an architecture firm designs a commercial building that is expected to earn the Energy Star label once it is built, that firm can apply for permission to use the new "Designed to Earn the Energy Star" label. See the EPA press release and the Energy Star New Building Design Web page.