Designed to earn the ENERGY STAR: eligibility rules and requirements

Project requirements

The design project must meet the eligibility criteria to receive a 1 – 100 ENERGY STAR score.
The design project must earn an ENERGY STAR score of 75 or higher.
The completed project must’ve been intended to be metered in such a way that the energy data for the operating building can receive a 1 – 100 ENERGY STAR score.
The project must be either a new construction project or the result of major renovations, not of a retrofit/upgrade to an existing building.
The project must not be consuming any energy nor generating utility bills. Applications may be submitted during the construction phase but not once the building is built and operating.
The project must be an entire property and not a portion thereof (e.g., individual tenant space or an addition that is less than 50 percent of the existing floor space).
The project is not a hospital addition.

The architect of record (AOR) must already be an ENERGY STAR partner. If the firm isn’t already a partner, it must join when it applies for Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR recognition.
All online application questions must be answered.
A Statement of Energy Design Intent (SEDI) must be stamped and signed by a registered architect or professional engineer.
An AOR’s letter of intent must be signed by the AOR and printed on the AOR’s letterhead.
A separate owner’s letter of intent must be signed by a C-level executive at the owner/developer’s organization and printed on their letterhead.
- NOTE: Each of these letters of intent must be signed and dated within 15 days after the SEDI was signed and stamped.