ENERGY STAR NextGen Certification for Commercial Buildings

NextGen decal on a glass door

ENERGY STAR® NextGen™ is an optional level of certification for U.S. commercial and multifamily buildings. It builds on the ENERGY STAR certification, available since 1999. ENERGY STAR NextGen-certified buildings are independently verified to be among the nation's most energy-efficient, low-emissions buildings. 

Performance Criteria 

To earn ENERGY STAR NextGen Certification, U.S. commercial and multifamily buildings must be independently verified to: 

  1. Demonstrate Superior Energy Performance: The building must achieve an ENERGY STAR score of 75 or higher and meet all criteria associated with ENERGY STAR certification.
  2. Meet a Direct Emissions Target: The building’s direct (i.e., onsite) greenhouse gas emissions intensity (GHGi) must be at or below a specified level.
  3. Use Renewable Energy: The building must obtain at least 30% of the total energy it consumes—or 100% of the total electricity it consumes, if lower—from eligible renewable sources.

Find Out If You Qualify

Your property must be located in the United States (or a U.S. territory) and be eligible to earn ENERGY STAR certification. (List of eligible property types.) Convenience stores and vehicle dealerships are not currently eligible.

Log In to Portfolio Manager

On the top of each property page in Portfolio Manager, look in the gray "Apply for Recognition" box to see your property’s eligibility for ENERGY STAR NextGen certification. 

Meet the Requirements

ENERGY STAR certification mark

Achieve an ENERGY STAR score of 75 or higher.

Visit the save energy section of our website for tips on how to reduce your energy use and improve your score. And consider hiring an ENERGY STAR Service Provider Partner to assist you in developing and implementing an energy efficiency improvement plan. (See: Directory of Service and Product Providers)

Electric plug

Meet a Direct Emissions Target

Direct GHG Intensity is related to how much onsite fuel your building uses (as opposed to electricity or district fuels). Onsite fuels, such as natural gas, are typically used for space heating, hot water heating, and cooking. Your Direct GHGi target is unique to your property. It is calculated based on your building type and the amount of heating needed in the period being evaluated. If you are above the target, your property would need to reduce its onsite fuel use.

Windmill

Use Renewable Resources

Your property must either get at least 30% of its total energy from renewable sources or 100% of its electricity from renewable sources (if electricity represents less than 30% of the property’s total energy use).

Step 1: Determine if Your Green Power is Eligible

All green power entered into Portfolio Manager—regardless of whether it’s intended to contribute to NextGen eligibility—must follow the World Resources Institute’s (WRI’s) GHG Protocol requirements.

To contribute to NextGen eligibility, however, green power must also satisfy these additional conditions:

  1. The green power amount cannot be marked as "estimated."
  2. You must specify the green power product type (it can't be "unknown").
  3. These types of green power MUST be Green-e® certified:
    • Community Choice Aggregation (CCA)
    • Utility Green Power Products
    • Utility Green Tariffs
    • Community Solar

Learn more about the Green-e requirement: “What is NextGen eligible green power?”

Step 2: Update Your Old Green Power Data in Portfolio Manager

If you already had green power entered in your account, but you haven’t updated it since August 2024, you may want to delete it and recreate it in the new, simplified format that recently became available. Doing so will ensure that it is properly considered in evaluating your property’s NextGen eligibility. (See details and contact us if you need help.)

Step 3: Add New/Additional Green Power Data

We have six helpful resources to guide you in adding your green power:

Offsite green power (e.g., RECs):
  1. FAQ: “How do I enter offsite green power?”
  2. Step-by-Step Guide: How to Benchmark Offsite Renewables
Onsite green power (e.g. solar panels):
  1. FAQ: “How do I enter onsite green power?”
  2. Step-by-Step Guide: How to Benchmark Onsite Green Power
  3. Webinar: “Benchmarking Properties with Onsite Renewable Energy Generation” (Watch 1-hour recording) 

Apply for ENERGY STAR NextGen Certification!

If you meet all the criteria, you’ll see “Apply for NextGen Certification.” Click there to start the application process. Just like with ENERGY STAR certification, you’ll need a Professional Engineer or Registered Architect to verify your application. 

Learn more: 

NextGen is a higher level of ENERGY STAR certification 

To earn NextGen certification, a building must meet all the energy performance criteria for ENERGY STAR certification, plus additional emissions-related criteria. Because NextGen criteria exceed the criteria of traditional ENERGY STAR certification, NextGen certified buildings are considered ENERGY STAR certified and receive all the inherent benefits of ENERGY STAR certification. 

ENERGY STAR certification remains available to commercial buildings that meet EPA's energy performance criteria but do not meet the additional emissions-related criteria. 

FAQs

Can I apply for both traditional ENERGY STAR and NextGen?

Not at the same time. If your building is eligible for both, Portfolio Manager will ask you to choose one.

What if I’m already ENERGY STAR certified? Can I still apply for NextGen certification? 

As a general rule, a building can apply for only one of these certifications in any given year. However, we are allowing an exception to this rule in 2025. Specifically:

  • Through December 2025: A building that has a current ENERGY STAR certification can also apply for NextGen certification, even if it is within the same year.
  • After January 2026: A building that receives ENERGY STAR certification will have to wait 11 months before applying for its next certification (of either type). 

Put another way, if a building earns ENERGY STAR certification any time in 2025, it can apply for NextGen certification any time in 2025, regardless of how much time has elapsed. But if that building earns ENERGY STAR certification in 2026 and beyond, it will have to wait 11 months before becoming eligible for NextGen certification.

Learn more: