Tips for low-cost verifications

Typically, hiring a Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered Architect (RA) to verify your application for ENERGY STAR certification costs approximately ½ to 1 cent per square foot. You may be able to lower these costs if you do the following:

Use in-house staff.

Your application can be validated by a PE or RA on your staff, even if they are not at that specific property, provided they hold a current license in any U.S. state or territory, or in Canada.

Hire a PE or RA that offers discounted or no-cost verifications.

Many PEs and RAs offer deeply discounted, or sometimes even no-cost, verifications to organizations with limited resources, particularly K-12 schools and congregations. Browse the list of licensed professional volunteers offering free ENERGY STAR verifications to find one in your area.

Compare quotes from different PEs or RAs.

Use the ENERGY STAR online Directory of Licensed Professionals to help you identify PEs and RAs that have completed ENERGY STAR verifications and compare rates.

Contact your Public Relations department.

Earning the ENERGY STAR is good news, and your PR department will want to help you promote it in your community. Rather than looking for funds for a PE or RA in your operations budget, try your PR department first. They’ll likely see it as a worthwhile investment.

Contact your utility provider.

Your utility provider may have PEs or RAs on staff and may be willing to offer their services free of charge or at a lower cost than you’re quoted by other PEs and RAs. If you’re a major customer for the utility, they may be willing to help you as a customer service offering.

Search for incentive programs.

Some local and state government entities, as well as industry associations, may offer incentives to offset the costs of PE or RA verifications. Take a few minutes to contact your local or state energy office or department of environmental protection, or an industry contact, to learn about any programs and opportunities.