About Certification

About Certification: Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR

Achieving this designation does not guarantee performance of the operating building nor does it require that an Architect of Record (AOR) certify that the building will perform to any specified level. Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR is the first part of a two-step process to achieve the energy goal through energy-efficient design. The second step is to measure and verify building performance—through energy bills—so that design can translate to operating the building to earn the ENERGY STAR label.

Architecture firms and projects that achieve Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR are showcased on the Architects + Projects page. Projects that receive Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR and are constructed, but do not receive the ENERGY STAR label, will remain on the Web site no more than 24 months after the certificate of occupancy is issued. Projects that receive Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR, but are not constructed, will remain on the Web site no more than 24 months after the date listed on the Statement of Energy Design Intent (SEDI). All projects that receive ENERGY STAR designations for both their design and the completed building will be listed in the ENERGY STAR Labeled Buildings and Plants Directory.

How to Access the Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR Certification Graphic

The AOR will be able to access the Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR certification graphic after EPA approves the Application Package for the project. The contact listed on the AOR letter will be notified by e-mail with a user name and password for the “ENERGY STAR Marks (Logos)” page to access the graphic. EPA will also mail (by USPS) a certificate to the AOR recognizing each project that achieved Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR.

Using the Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR Certification Graphic:
Commercial Building Design Projects

EPA awards the Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR certification graphic to the AOR, who may forward it to the building owner to use on promotional materials for the specified project. Both parties are required to adhere to the ENERGY STAR Identity Guidelines, which describe the proper use of the graphic.

In addition to the ENERGY STAR Mark Guidance found on pages 4.0 - 4.1 of the ENERGY STAR Identity Guidelines, please abide by the following guidelines when using the Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR Graphic PDF (485KB).

Uses for the Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR Certification Graphic include:

  • Advertisements, case studies and other promotional materials, in print and electronic, specific to the certified design. Fig. 1
  • Placing the graphic directly on building plans for the certified project (adjacent to the building name in the title block). Fig. 2

       Note: The graphic should be located adjacent to the project description or building name that achieved certification. Fig. 1 & 2

Figure 1: Example Project Board with Graphic

>Figure 1 Example Project Board with Graphic

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Figure 2: Using the Graphic on Sample Design Plans

Figure 2 Using the Graphic on Sample Design Plans

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Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR Certification Graphic

The certification graphic has a horizontal (Figure 3) and vertical (Figure 4) format for layout flexibility. The preferred color is ENERGY STAR blue—100 percent cyan. Alternate versions in black and white are allowed. The reverse—white on black background—version is for use on a black background. The graphic should not be altered in any way; for example, the text accompanying the ENERGY STAR mark may not be cropped out or separated from the mark.

Figure 3: Horizontal Graphic

Figure 3 Horizontal Graphic

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Figure 4: Vertical Graphic

Figure 4 Vertical Graphic

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