Design commercial buildings

The climate is changing.

Commercial buildings in the United States consume 19 percent of the nation’s energy at a cost of more than $190 billion per year. They also generate 19 percent of our country’s greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change.

Your industry is changing, too.

Now for some good news: By 2035, 75 percent of all buildings will be new or renovated. That means there’s an enormous opportunity for architecture/engineering (A/E) firms to ensure that the buildings of the future are more efficient than ever. In fact, in the United States, the green share of the U.S. nonresidential construction market grew from two percent in 2005 to 44 percent in 2012¹. The same study of architects, engineers, contractors, owners, and consultants also shows that:

• 53 percent of U.S. firms expect to be dedicated to green building by 2015.
• 63 percent of firms surveyed have new green commercial projects planned, 45 percent have plans for new green institutional projects, and 50 percent have plans for green renovation work.

You can be a leader.

This section provides a start-to-finish framework for A/E firms that want to design buildings that save energy, save money, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Follow EPA’s step-by-step guidance to ensure your firm is poised to deliver projects that are designed, constructed, and operated to be energy efficient.

• Join the ENERGY STAR Green Your Blueprint Challenge
• Learn why you should design to earn the ENERGY STAR                       
• Follow EPA’s step-by-step process
  • Step 1: Assemble a team
  • Step 2: Set an energy performance target
  • Step 3: Evaluate your target with ENERGY STAR tools
  • Step 4: Design to be energy efficient
  • Step 5: Apply for Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR recognition
  • Step 6: Market your project as Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR
  • Step 7: Commission the building
  • Step 8: Complete the ENERGY STAR lifecycle: Earn the ENERGY STAR

¹World Green Building Trends: Business Benefits Driving New and Retrofit Market Opportunities in Over 60 Countries, McGraw-Hill Construction Research & Analytics, 2013