About the 2012 ENERGY STAR National Building Competition: Battle of the Buildings

Based on the success of the past three battles, EPA is once again hosting a national competition among commercial and public-sector buildings to save energy and fight climate change.

New opportunities to compete

This year, for the first time ever, commercial tenants leasing part of a building can also compete, provided they have energy data for the full 2012 calendar year. That means that stores in an enclosed mall, offices leasing a floor or portion of a commercial building, or any other tenant leasing part of a commercial building can join in the fun!

How it works

Competitors work off the waste through improvements in energy efficiency with help from EPA's ENERGY STAR program. To apply, buildings and tenants must submit complete energy use data for calendar year 2012 (January 1, 2012 – December 31, 2012) using the easy-to-use custom report in Portfolio Manager, EPA’s no-cost energy management tool. Whole buildings must submit energy use data for all fuel sources for the entire building; tenant spaces must submit energy data for all fuel sources for which they’re metered.

During the competition, participants will measure, track, and report their monthly energy consumption using Portfolio Manager; make improvements to their building's energy performance; and share their progress. The building or occupant that demonstrates the greatest percentage-based reduction in energy use intensity over the contest energy performance period will be recognized as the biggest energy loser.

New ways to win

Whether you’re a tenant or a communications superstar, EPA has new ways for you to win. This year, EPA will recognize:

• Biggest Energy Loser: Or, the overall winner. This is the building or space that reduces its energy use the most over the course of the competition.
• MVP – Most Valuable Participant: Teams competing for MVP fill out a short communications scorecard (104KB) during midpoint and final weigh-ins. The score in the MVP category is equal to the energy savings percentage + communications score card total. The building with the highest combined score of energy use reductions and communications activities wins MVP! To win, you must show energy use reductions of at least 5%.
• Top Tenant: The tenant that reduces its energy use the most over the course of the competition. Participants competing for top tenant recognition must sign up as a tenant during the registration period. See the step-by-step registration instructions for more information.
• 20% Reduction: And lastly, back by popular demand, any building or space that reduces its energy use by at least a 20% will have the opportunity to verify their energy use data and receive a personalized PDF certificate from EPA.

Key Dates

• Registration opens: May 1
• Registration closes: May 31
• Competition officially launches: August 20, 2013
• Midpoint weigh-in: December 10, 2013
• Final results announced: April 2014

Rules of the Game

• Any organization may register one or more commercial or public-sector building(s) of any type to compete. This year, commercial tenants leasing a portion of a building can also compete, provided they have access to meter data for energy used solely in the leased space for 2012 and 2013. The data must include all fuels for which the tenant has meter data. This may include electricity only and/or other sources of energy used in the space.
• The registered building or tenant space must have complete energy usage data for calendar year 2012 (1/1/2012–12/31/2012) entered into Portfolio Manager and submit the completed custom report according to the step-by-step instructions to compete. All space types that benchmark energy use intensity in Portfolio Manager, including data centers, water/wastewater treatment plants, and some industrial facilities, are invited to compete. Parking garages, tunnels, toll booths, cell phone towers, and similar structures are invited to compete, but will only be eligible to earn 20% recognition from EPA.
• All applicants who submit complete energy use data and the required additional fields through the custom report in Portfolio Manager by May 31, 2013 will be invited to participate and will be included in the launch of the 2013 ENERGY STAR National Building Competition.
• To participate in the midpoint update, competitors must submit a custom report upon direction from EPA to reflect energy use data from January 1, 2013 through June 30, 2013. The report will be available in early September and due in early October 2013. To compete for MVP, competitors must also complete and submit the communications scorecard, which will be distributed by EPA as a link to a short survey, along with the data template report link.
• To participate in the winner announcement, competitors must submit a third and final custom report upon direction from EPA to reflect energy use data from July 1 through December 31, 2013. The report will be available in early January 2014 and due by the end of February, 2014. Again to compete for MVP, competitors must also complete and submit the communications scorecard during the final weigh-in.
• Through Portfolio Manager, EPA will determine which competitor shows the greatest percent reduction in source energy use intensity achieved across these two periods (calendar year 2012 and calendar year 2013). This building or tenant space will be declared the winner.
• Any building or tenant space that qualifies for EPA recognition will be required to have its energy use data for the baseline and comparative periods (calendar years 2012 and 2013) validated by a licensed professional engineer or registered architect to receive recognition. The MVP winner will also be required to submit copies or proof of their communications materials and activities to EPA upon request, and must demonstrate at least a 5% minimum energy use reduction.