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What Your Organization Can Do

Bring Your Green to Work with ENERGY STAR!

The buildings where we work, shop, play, and learn account for nearly half of the nation’s energy use. With the average American worker spending almost 8 hours a day at their place of employment, the workplace offers a unique opportunity for people make a significant impact in the fight against global warming. Visit energystar.gov/work and take a tour of our interactive tools that can help employees learn how to save energy and fight global warming by making many of the same green choices at work that they make at home. Energystar.gov/work also provides tips and links to valuable information employees can use on a daily basis-from starting an office Green Team to simply changing a desk lamp bulb. With help from EPA’s ENERGY STAR program, get started saving at work today!

Take the ENERGY STAR Challenge!

The buildings where we work, shop, play and learn use about $200 billion in electricity and natural gas each year and are responsible for nearly 50% of our country’s greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming. As a first step, encourage your organization to Take the ENERGY STAR Challenge and help improve the energy efficiency of America’s commercial and industrial buildings by 10 percent or more.  Share the Guidelines for Energy Management with your company’s energy manager to get started on the path toward saving energy. Encourage your company to become an ENERGY STAR Partner!

Challenge the Business Next-Door!

If your organization is already taking the ENERGY STAR Challenge, team up with another company of about the same size and battle it out to save energy and the environment.

Earn the ENERGY STAR for Your Organization’s Facilities!

Buildings can earn the ENERGY STAR just like many appliances in your home, such as refrigerators and washing machines. ENERGY STAR qualified buildings use at least 25% less energy, cost less to operate and have a smaller carbon footprint! Take a moment to search our on-line database of facilities that have earned the ENERGY STAR and then learn how your organization can get started today to earn the ENERGY STAR!

Calculate Your Carbon Footprint!

EPA’s on-line energy tracking tool, Portfolio Manager, can now help organizations see how their buildings’ carbon emissions compare to others in the same region and across the country as well as measure their progress in reducing emissions. Learn more about carbon emissions from buildings  and open a Portfolio Manager account today to start tracking the energy use of your organization’s buildings and reduce your organization’s carbon footprint!

Become a Change the World Pledge Driver!

Your organization can become an ENERGY STAR Change the World pledge driver and educate your employees, customers or students. Visit our campaign participation pages to register as a pledge driver, find promotional materials, see what other organizations are doing, and more!

Get out in the community!

Help your organization plan educational and promotional activities for your local area. Host an energy awareness fair and use the ENERGY STAR Challenge Toolkit for all your communications needs! You can also order ENERGY STAR brochures, flyers, and posters including consumer tips for saving money and energy, activity books for children, posters, and other items for all who attend. Encourage a local radio station to broadcast on-site to share your energy efficiency message with the community.

Catch a Podcast!

Whether you're using your computer at work, completing a bank transaction, or surfing the web, your computing life is powered by servers and datacenters. Work with your IT professionals in your organization and provide a link on your intranet to the latest ENERGY STAR Podcast on energy efficient servers and datacenters

Write a Letter!

Write a letter celebrating your organization’s energy-saving efforts to your town councilperson, the Chamber of Commerce, Board of Education, or other official body, and to your state congressperson. Have writers block? Take a look at some sample language from ENERGY STAR to get started!

Post It!

Hang posters that illustrate your energy saving efforts in lobbies, employee break rooms, and other places that are visible for employees and customers. Add a personal touch and customize ENERGY STAR posters with your organization’s logo! Send an email to eschallenge@cadmusgroup.com to request co-branded posters and attach your logo in a high-resolution format.

Host an Awards Ceremony!

If your building is one of thousands that have earned the ENERGY STAR for superior energy efficiency, hold an organization-wide employee meeting and present the ENERGY STAR plaque to an official of your organization. Take photos for your newsletter and send a captioned photo to your local newspaper. You can also invite local government officials, important industry leaders, and members of the press to tour your award-winning building. Make sure you display the ENERGY STAR plaque in a prominent place at your building site, such as the entrance of main reception area. If you are hoping for media coverage, don’t forget to issue a press release – take a look at the press release samples provided by ENERGY STAR.

Become an ENERGY STAR Leader!

ENERGY STAR partners who demonstrate continuous improvement organization-wide, not just in individual buildings, qualify for recognition as ENERGY STAR Leaders. Encourage your organization to become an ENERGY STAR Leader and get started today!

Together – we can all help build a better world!