Skip to main content

Homepage Header Links

  • About ENERGY STAR
  • Partner Resources

Homepage Header Search box

 
ENERGY STAR
  • Energy Efficient Products

    energy efficient products

    ENERGY STAR products are independently certified to save energy without sacrificing features or functionality. Saving energy helps prevent climate change. Look for the ENERGY STAR label to save money on your energy bills and help protect our environment.

    • Find ENERGY STAR Products
    • Energy Savings at Home
    • Take the Pledge
    • Learn about Climate Change

    • Ways to Save

    • Tax Credits

    • Ask an Expert

    • Heat and Cool Efficiently

    How can we help you?

    • How can I make my home entertainment center more energy efficient?
    • What should I know about LED lights?
    • I'd like to know about power management.
    • How can I reduce hot water use in my home?

    Quick Links

    • Where does my money go?
    • Set and Save with ENERGY STAR
    • Product Finder
    • Rebate Finder
    • Best Value Finder
    • Find ENERGY STAR Products
    • Energy Savings at Home
    • Take the Pledge
    • Learn about Climate Change
  • Energy Savings At Home

    energy savings at home

    Improving your home's energy efficiency with ENERGY STAR can help to lower high energy bills, improve comfort and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Learn about the many ways to save in your home and track your progress with "My ENERGY STAR" - your new dashboard to savings.

    • Start Saving Now
    • Take the Pledge
    • Home Assessment Tools
    • Seal and Insulate Your Home
    • Learn about ENERGY STAR Products
    • Learn about Home Performance with ENERGY STAR

    • Ways to Save
    • Happy couple looking at ENERGY STAR Home Advisor on their laptop
      Home Assessment Tools

    • Heat and Cool Efficiently

    • Tax Credits

    How can we help you?

    • I want help with improving my home's comfort and efficiency
    • How can I heat and cool my home efficiently?
    • How can I stop drafts?
    • I'd like to know about power management for my computer.
    • How do I choose the right lighting for my home?
    • I'm upgrading my kitchen appliances. What should I know?

    Quick Links

    • Home Improvement FAQs
    • HVAC Maintenance Tips
    • For Home Improvement Contractors
    • ENERGY STAR Choose a Light Guide
    • My ENERGY STAR Dashboard
    ​
    • Start Saving Now
    • Take the Pledge
    • Home Assessment Tools
    • Seal and Insulate Your Home
    • Learn about ENERGY STAR Products
    • Learn about Home Performance with ENERGY STAR
  • Energy Efficient New Homes

    new homes & apartments

    A new home or apartment that has earned the ENERGY STAR label has undergone a process of inspections, testing, and verification to meet strict requirements set by the US EPA. ENERGY STAR certified homes and apartments use significantly less energy than typical new homes and apartments while delivering better comfort, quality, and durability.

    • Find Builders and Incentives
    • Home Features and Benefits
    • Homeowner Testimonials
    • Resources for Partners

    • Find ENERGY STAR Home Builders

    • ENERGY STAR
      Home Features
      and Benefits

    • Homeowner Testimonials

    • Find an Energy Efficient Apartment

    How can we help you?

    • Features of an energy efficient new home
    • Benefits of living in an ENERGY STAR certified home
    • I want to buy an ENERGY STAR certified home
    • I want to construct an ENERGY STAR certified home
    • I want to find an ENERGY STAR apartment

    Quick Links

    • Builder and Incentive Locator
    • In the News
    • Green Homes and ENERGY STAR
    • Energy Efficient Mortgage Programs
    • Find Energy Efficient Certified Apartments and Condos
    • Find Builders and Incentives
    • Home Features and Benefits
    • Homeowner Testimonials
    • Resources for Partners
  • Energy Strategies for Buildings & Plants

    buildings & plants

    Improve financial performance and reduce carbon emissions with EPA's strategic energy management approach.

    • Facility Owners & Managers
    • Service Providers
    • Energy Efficiency Program Administrators
    • Tenants
    • Tools & Resources

    • Portfolio Manager
    • Find Certified Buildings

    • National Building Competition

    • Find Expert Help

    How can we help you?

    • Build an energy program
    • Improve buildings & plant performance
    • Earn the ENERGY STAR & other recognition
    • Benchmark energy use
    • ENERGY STAR in action
    • Communicate & educate

    Quick Links

    • Portfolio Manager
    • Target Finder
    • Plant EPIs
    • Commercial Food Service
    • Tools & Resources
    • Facility Owners & Managers
    • Energy Efficiency Program Administrators
The simple choice for energy efficiency.

You are here

Home » Buildings & Plants » Owners and managers » Small business » Technical resources

Buildings & Plants

  • About us
  • Press room
  • help desk
  • Portfolio Manager Login
  • Owners and managers
    • Existing buildings
    • Commercial new construction
    • Industrial energy management
    • Small business
    • Congregations
  • Service providers
    • Service and product providers
    • Verify applications for ENERGY STAR certification
    • Design commercial buildings
  • Program administrators
    • Commercial and industrial program sponsors
    • Associations
    • State and local governments
    • Federal agencies
  • Tenants
    • Find green space
    • Build out for top performance
    • Occupy space efficiently
    • Engage occupants
    • Recognize and communicate success
    • About "Tenant Star"
  • Tools and Resources
  • Training
    • Training
    • Slide Library
    • Knowledgebase

Technical resources for small businesses

Whether or not your business already has a developed energy program, the seven steps of the ENERGY STAR Guidelines for Energy Management as described in the ENERGY STAR® Action Workbook for Small Business and its Appendices provide a strategic approach to improving your property’s energy performance.

Understanding how your property is currently using energy will help determine where to focus your efforts. You have to begin somewhere! Your starting point is called a “baseline” of energy performance—a point from which to calculate improvements in your company’s operations. You can use the free ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager® tool to baseline energy and water consumption, as well as GHG emissions. You can also use it to benchmark the performance of one property or a whole portfolio of properties, all in a secure online environment. Use the resources below to implement energy-saving improvements.

  • ENERGY STAR Action Workbook for Small Business
  • ENERGY STAR Action Workbook for Small Business Appendices
  • ENERGY STAR Action Workbook for Small Business Summary
  • Benchmarking your Property with Portfolio Manager

Your small business can use these sector-specific technical resources to implement energy-saving improvements. And, don’t forget that the money you save in operating costs adds to your bottom line, so saving on energy increases your profit. It’s a win for you and a win for the environment. Below, find sector-specific resources for:

  • Restaurants
  • Auto dealers
  • Lodging
  • Offices: owners and renters
  • Grocery and convenience stores
  • Small and medium manufacturers
  • Home-based businesses

For restaurants

  • Energy Tips for Small Business – Restaurants
  • ENERGY STAR Guide for Restaurants: Putting Energy into Profits
  • ENERGY STAR Commercial Kitchen Package
  • ENERGY STAR Energy Efficiency Opportunities for Your Restaurant

Back to top

For auto dealers

  • Energy Tips for Small Business – Auto Dealers

Back to top

For lodging

  • Energy Tips for Small Business  – Lodging

Back to top

For offices: owners and renters

  • Energy Tips for Small Business – Offices: Owners and Renters

Back to top

For grocery and convenience stores

  • Energy Tips for Small Business – Grocery and Convenience Stores

Back to top

For small and medium manufacturers

  • Energy Tips for Small Business – Small and Medium Manufacturers
  • Small & Medium Manufacturer’s Guide to Energy Management

Back to top

For home-based businesses

  • Energy Tips Small Business – Home-Based Businesses

In this section

  • Network list
  • Join the network
  • Technical resources
  • Ask a technical question 
  • Auto dealers
  • Grocery and convenience stores
  • Home-based businesses
  • Lodging
  • Manufacturers
  • Offices
  • Renters and tenants
  • Restaurants
  • Frequently asked questions

Main menu

  • Energy Efficient Products
    • Find ENERGY STAR Products
    • Energy Savings at Home
    • Take the Pledge
    • Learn about Climate Change
  • Energy Savings At Home
    • Start Saving Now
    • Take the Pledge
    • Home Assessment Tools
    • Seal and Insulate Your Home
    • Learn about ENERGY STAR Products
    • Learn about Home Performance with ENERGY STAR
  • Energy Efficient New Homes
    • Find Builders and Incentives
    • Home Features and Benefits
    • Homeowner Testimonials
    • Resources for Partners
  • Energy Strategies for Buildings & Plants
    • Facility Owners & Managers
    • Service Providers
    • Energy Efficiency Program Administrators
    • Tenants
    • Tools & Resources

Homepage Footer last menu

  • ENERGY STAR Home
  • About ENERGY STAR
  • Recursos en Español
  • Publications
  • Partner Resources
  • Contact Us | FAQs
  • Newsroom
  • Kids
  • Privacy
  • US EPA logo
    EPA Home
  • US DOE logo
    DOE Home