Learn More & FAQs

What if my building type is not listed in Target Finder?

A space type not listed may not be evaluated by Target Finder. However, EPA provides a downloadable table (2003 CBECS National Average Source Energy Use and Performance Comparisons (CBECS) PDF document (46KB)) showing national average source and site energy for many space types not listed in Target Finder, including libraries, and fire and police stations. Users may select a percent less than the national average as their target for a specific space type.

How does the Target Finder rating compare with ASHRAE 90.1?

There is not a direct correlation between the EPA rating and ASHRAE 90.1 Exit ENERGY STAR. Target Finder uses the EPA rating, which is a performance measure based on actual operating building data taken from DOE's Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) Exit ENERGY STAR. ASHRAE 90.1 compares the regulated energy of a proposed design with the regulated energy of a baseline model, both meeting all of the prescriptive requirements of ASHRAE 90.1.

ASHRAE 90.1 requires evaluating the energy demands and costs of the heating, cooling, lighting, and other systems of the proposed design, and compares them to the figures for a base building design that meets ASHRAE 90.1 prescriptive requirements. This means that two designs that meet the same programmatic requirements could have different ASHRAE 90.1 ratings: one could be 20 percent better than 90.1, and the second could be 30 percent better. This could arise because the design strategies and technologies proposed by two firms could differ. In contrast, Target Finder provides a unique value for a facility in a specific location with specific programmatic requirements.

The EPA energy performance rating is derived from actual building data taken from CBECS. A 75 rating at a specific location for a building with certain operating characteristics (square footage, occupancy, etc.) will have a set value. The EPA percentile rating is relative to a large population of operating buildings, rather than a measure of one design vs. a base design.

How is the energy use intensity calculated for a Target Finder rating of "percent better than average"?

If a user selects 50 as the Target Finder rating, the result is the average for the specified building in the given location. To determine the energy values for a user-specified "percent better than average," Target Finder first calculates the results for a design rating of 50, and then adjusts the source energy target to the user's specified "percent better than average" selection.

How do I obtain the final energy numbers for Section 4 in Target Finder?

Target Finder requires final estimates of annual whole-building energy use to provide a design rating. This energy use includes the energy for heating, cooling, lighting, pumps, fans, domestic hot water (DHW), plug loads, and elevators. Any calculation process that yields these contributions is acceptable. Users often conduct building energy simulations using programs such as Trace, HAP, DOE-2, and eQuest to determine the building's energy use, and then add calculated energy requirements of other systems, such as DHW, to obtain the final values.

Can I use Target Finder for major renovations?

Yes. EPA developed Target Finder as a resource to assist building designers in setting targets and rating the estimated energy use of design projects. It is also used by EPA to recognize architecture and engineering firms that design buildings intended to operate at superior energy efficiency. If a renovation project offers designers the opportunity to make significant changes to the design and the building's energy systems, then EPA may provide recognition for the project. EPA reserves the right to review the scope of renovation projects and decide on their eligibility for recognition. Designers may use Target Finder for all renovation projects, although not all may be eligible for recognition.

How does my project's fuel mix impact my design's Target Finder rating and energy target?

Target Finder uses an algorithm that relates source energy use to a percentile of performance. Target Finder's internal calculations use source energy, not site energy. For electricity, the ratio of source energy to site energy is about 3:1. For comparison, the ratio of source to site energy for natural gas is about 1.1:1. Therefore, the fuel mix has a strong impact on a project's design rating and its corresponding site energy use intensity.

Are Target Finder's emissions factors national, regional, or state-based?

Target Finder uses the ZIP code to establish a project's location and then assigns an emissions factor based on eGRID sub-regions. This details the source of electricity production in each region. Depending on the amount and type of fossil fuels that are used, an appropriate emissions rate is assigned. Target Finder then uses the project's estimated source energy to calculate the total expected CO2 emissions.

Does Target Finder guarantee performance?

No. The EPA rating documented on the Statement of Energy Design Intent (SEDI) from Target Finder is not a guarantee of performance; it is an assessment of the energy design intent specified in the architectural design and contract documents. The assessment is based strictly on the building's proposed design and intended operating characteristics. If the building systems and operational needs change significantly from the original intent, then the expected energy use of the design should also be recalculated to reflect the changes. The design rating can also provide a target for the energy intent for building commissioning.

Can I copy and distribute materials from the ENERGY STAR Web site?

Yes. All the information on the ENERGY STAR Web site is considered public information and may be freely distributed or copied. We only ask for a reference to the ENERGY STAR Web site as the source. The U.S. Government retains a nonexclusive, royalty-free license to publish or reproduce these documents, or allow others to do so, for U.S. Government purposes. These documents may be freely distributed and used for non-commercial, scientific, and educational purposes. Commercial use of the documents available from ENERGY STAR may be protected under the U.S. and Foreign Copyright Laws. Individual documents may have different copyright conditions, and that will be noted in those documents.

Proper use of the ENERGY STAR logo is strictly enforced. Use of the ENERGY STAR logos should be in compliance with the ENERGY STAR Identity Guidelines. Anyone educating consumers about ENERGY STAR (such as the media, environmental organizations, or writers) may get permission to use the ENERGY STAR logo as long as it is in the context of "Look for this label, it means the product/home/building is energy efficient." E-mail to request permission.

What constitutes a single structure? What if multiple buildings are connected via hallways, common spaces, etc.?

EPA's energy performance rating system is based on a statistical analysis of individual buildings, not campuses of buildings. A series of buildings situated closely together as a plaza or campus, even if sharing a common heating or cooling source, is NOT considered a single structure, it is considered a campus of buildings. In this type of arrangement, it is necessary to separately meter the energy consumption for each building and pursue separate energy performance ratings and ENERGY STAR recognition. This type of sub-metering is a more effective management strategy, as it will help isolate problems and target the most efficient upgrade opportunities. Moreover, sub-metering will also provide a much more accurate energy performance rating, given that the rating system is based on data from single structure buildings.

Buildings that have multiple towers connected by common concourse levels and/or hallways may present a different situation. In these types of buildings, if there are common areas that cannot truly be divided or separated among the towers, then EPA will consider this to be a single structure. The following are several examples:

  • An office building has three stories of common space including an atrium, a cafeteria, and seamless connections between two towers. This IS considered a complete and indivisible connection, and the building may be treated as a single structure for the purposes of the EPA Energy Performance Rating, even though it may appear as two above-ground towers.
  • An office complex consists of two buildings connected by an outdoor (covered) walkway. This IS NOT considered a complete and indivisible connection, and energy use in these buildings should be separately metered. An energy performance rating and ENERGY STAR recognition should be pursued separately for each structure.
  • An office complex consists of three buildings connected by underground walkways—or tunnels—that enable workers to move between the buildings without being exposed to the outside weather. This IS NOT considered a complete and indivisible connection, and energy use in these buildings should be separately metered. An energy performance rating and ENERGY STAR recognition should be pursued separately for each structure.

What is the difference between LEED and ENERGY STAR?

ENERGY STAR is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program that focuses on improving energy performance in buildings as a method of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Green Building Rating System™ is a green building certification offered by the non-profit U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

ENERGY STAR is a technical assistance and recognition program that offers owners and managers of all buildings access to tools and resources at no cost to help them evaluate their energy performance and reduce energy use and GHG emissions. Organizations are encouraged to begin by benchmarking the performance of their buildings using EPA's Energy Performance Rating System's two online energy tracking tools: Target Finder, to set targets for intended energy performance during the design phase, and Portfolio Manager, to measure and rate the energy performance of occupied and operating commercial structures. For certain types of buildings that perform in the top 25 percent compared to their peers nationwide, ENERGY STAR recognition is available as an indicator of superior energy performance. Projects can achieve Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR to recognize architects' intent that they operate at superior energy efficiency when built, and once the buildings are occupied and operating, they can earn the ENERGY STAR label. These buildings consume on average about 35 percent less energy than typical buildings.

LEED is a building certification process that looks at various aspects of green building and awards recognition to structures that meet certain standards. Users of the LEED process earn credits in several categories associated with green buildings. These differ by the type of LEED certification, but generally include: sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy & atmosphere, materials & resources, indoor environmental quality, and innovation. While each category may have required prerequisites that should be met, users can often choose the categories on which they wish to focus based on their own priorities. Energy efficiency may or may not be one of those priorities.

EPA believes that energy efficiency is the first step to green building, and that all green buildings should be energy efficient. Using ENERGY STAR tools and resources, and earning ENERGY STAR recognition, will ensure that green buildings (whether certified by LEED or another system) are truly energy efficient.

More ENERGY STAR commercial buildings resources and tools