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Navigating the ENERGY STAR Web site: Your Gateway to Energy Performance Improvement

The first step toward improving energy performance is asking yourself the right questions. Which of your facilities is worth a closer look? What is the value of energy efficiency projects to your CFO? What energy management strategies are used by the most efficient hospitals? Which of your buildings deserve the ENERGY STAR, the mark of excellence?

For answers to these questions and more, look to the ENERGY STAR Web site at www.energystar.gov. Sponsored by the U.S. EPA, the free site is organized into the five main program areas: Products, Home Improvement, New Homes, Buildings & Plants, and Partner Resources. This article highlights key elements of Buildings & Plants, a section customized to the healthcare industry and other sectors.

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In Business Improvement, ENERGY STAR provides the strategies to set your hospital apart and build a lasting and strategic energy management plan. Here you will find the tools and resources for each step of the path to achieve superior energy management. A few of the resources you will find on this page include:

• Guidelines for Energy Management can assist your hospital in improving its energy and financial performance.
• Tools and Resources includes organizational resources, technical references with operational recommendations, and recognition information.
• Assess Financial Value provides access to the Financial Value Calculator, which presents energy investment opportunities in terms of key financial metrics, including cash flows.
• Service and Product Provider Directory can help you locate ENERGY STAR Service and Product Providers that help identify, prioritize and implement quality projects that will improve your total energy management.
• Directory of Energy Efficiency Programs can help you identify organizations in your state that sponsor financial and technical assistance programs.
• Find a Professional Engineer (PE) is a directory to search for Professional Engineers, which have performed verifications for buildings that have qualified for the ENERGY STAR.

ENERGY STAR > Business Improvement > Tools & Resources

ENERGY STAR connects you with the tools and resources you need to implement a successful energy management strategy. Technical guidance, procurement policies, demonstrated best practices, communications resources, and awards will help distinguish your hospital as an environmental champion and responsible corporate citizen.

This page serves as an index to the many tools and resources available in the Business Improvement site, including:

• Creating an Action Plan
• Building Manual
• Internet Training
• ENERGY STAR Award
• Communications resources

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From the Business Improvement page, sector specific information is accessed through the index on the right hand side of the screen. You can also visit www.energystar.gov/healthcare to go directly to the healthcare page. Here are just a few of the resources available at ENERGY STAR For Healthcare.

Healthcare Benchmarking Starter Kit contains documents that are intended to help you get started benchmarking, take the next steps, and assist Medical Office owners in data collection.

The ENERGY STAR Healthcare Workshop Series enables healthcare professionals to expand their skill sets and learn best practices. All you need to participate is an Internet and telephone connection. As many people as you like can participate from one office to take part in the training. Topics include Benchmarking Energy Performance, Purchasing and Procurement, PC Power Management, and Monthly Web networking conferences, among others.

ENERGY STAR in Healthcare Publications includes articles written by the ENERGY STAR Healthcare Team. Many of these articles have been published in Inside ASHE and other healthcare trade publications. Topics include ENERGY STAR qualified products, clean energy, low-cost O&M improvements, recognition, and the business case for energy performance upgrades.

Did You Know…

The ENERGY STAR Web site provides resources for designing energy-efficient buildings. Find out more at www.energystar.gov/newbuildingdesign.

The ENERGY STAR Web site provides a listing of ENERGY STAR qualified products. Many of these products can be used in hospitals and at home. For a list of products, visit www.energystar.gov/products or click Products on the ENERGY STAR home page.

ENERGY STAR has a Communications Kit, with downloadable examples and templates of how to promote your efforts and communicate to staff. You can access the Communications Kit by visiting the Tools and Resources page, or the ENERGY STAR For Healthcare page.

The ENERGY STAR Web site provides resources to assist procurement officials in purchasing energy-efficient products. You can also take advantage of on-line training to understand the full range of purchasing opportunities. Savings information is also provided. Learn more at www.energystar.gov/purchasing.

You'll find the ENERGY STAR site is vast and extremely content rich. All the tools and resources are made available to you for free. Bookmark the site and visit us often because we update it frequently.

Clark Reed is the National Healthcare Manager for ENERGY STAR at the U.S. EPA. Last year, ENERGY STAR helped Americans save enough energy to power 24 million homes, reducing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that of 20 million cars — all while saving consumers $10 billion. To join, visit ENERGY STAR's website or contact the author at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency — MC 6202J, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave NW, Washington, D.C. 20460. Email: reed.clark@epa.gov. Phone: 202-343-9146.