Tools and Resources

The Cash Flow Opportunity Calculator helps inform strategic decisions about financing energy efficiency projects. This document provides an explanation of the calculations and methodology at work behind the calculator.

Topic: Energy management guidance, Financial

Resource Type: Research and reports, Financial value of energy efficiency

Use the Building Upgrade Value Calculator (BUVC) to analyze the financial value of efficiency-related capital investments in commercial real estate. By evaluating the expected change in tenant contributions for recoverable owner expenses under a variety of lease types (full service gross, modified gross, triple net – each with customizable tenant-level parameters), this tool allows you to calculate the costs and benefits of base building energy efficiency measures for both the owner and each tenant. The results are presented in both summary outputs and customized letters to enable owners and tenants to overcome the traditional “split incentive” barrier, whereby the owner pays the capital expenses for energy efficiency upgrades, while the tenants receive the energy savings benefits through a reduction in their proportionate share of the base building operating expenses.

Topic: Energy management guidance, Financial

The Cash Flow Opportunity Calculator helps inform strategic decisions about financing energy efficiency projects. Using the tool, you will be able to estimate how much new equipment you can finance using anticipated savings, as well whether you should finance now or wait for a lower interest rate. Use the CFO Calculator to get answers to critical questions, such as:

Topic: Energy management guidance, Financial

Learn how Des Moines Public Schools, a school district with more than 32,000 students and 70 facilities encompassing almost six million square feet of space, was able to improve its facilities and maximize energy savings by financing energy efficiency improvements through revenue bonds.

Topic: Financial

Resource Type: Success stories

Market Sector: Higher education, K12 schools, State & local government

Do you have energy efficiency projects that have been postponed or rejected due to capital budget limitations, other projects with better returns, or lack of expertise? Yet, from your perspective the project should be a “no brainer” due to the immediate positive cash flows generated by the energy savings. Understanding your organization’s decision-making process, being able to effectively speak to the benefit of improved cash flow, and improving your financial literacy can greatly increase your probability of receiving approval for a project. The self-funding aspect of energy efficiency is often under-appreciated by senior management, and you want to be able to clearly address any questions, concerns, and benefits.

Topic: Energy management guidance, Financial

Resource Type: Research and reports, Financial value of energy efficiency

Market Sector: Restaurants, Retail, Senior care, Multifamily housing, Small business, State & local government, K12 schools, Corporate real estate, Congregations, Auto dealers, Commercial real estate, Federal agencies, Higher education, Hospitality, Healthcare, Grocery & convenience stores, General industrial/manufacturing

Use this directory to find Energy Efficiency Program Administrators who run regional or sector-based programs to promote energy efficiency. The directory lists programs and organizations that provide incentives, expert help, and benchmarking assistance, plus those that offer Portfolio Manager web services.

Topic: Financial

Market Sector: Utilities/ Energy efficiency program administrators

The Building Upgrade Manual is a comprehensive guide to profitable energy efficiency upgrades presented in an easy-to-understand framework designed especially for ENERGY STAR partners.

Topic: Energy management guidance, ENERGY STAR Building Upgrade Manual, Financial

EPA’s ENERGY STAR Healthcare Energy Savings Financial Analysis Calculators are designed to calculate the financial impact of improved energy performance for your organization. Organizations that reduce energy expenses and improve energy performance increase both their bottom line and their market valuation. These calculators are specially designed to help healthcare organizations quantify cumulative savings and communicate the value of their savings by translating it into metrics that resonate with key decision makers.

Topic: Financial

Market Sector: Healthcare

Use this 14-page PDF to learn how to integrate publicly available, no-cost ENERGY STAR tools into the energy performance contracting process in order to make performance contracting projects more actionable and understandable for building owners, tenants, policy makers, and the public.

Topic: Financial

This 19-page primer is designed to establish best practices for energy service companies (ESCOs) that are implementing energy performance contract (EPC) projects by integrating several publicly available Web-based ENERGY STAR tools that the U.S. EPA has designed and provides free-of-charge through ENERGY STAR. EPA believes that the use of these tools will help make the results of EPC projects more actionable and understandable to building owners, tenants, policy makers, and the general public.

Topic: Financial

Market Sector: State & local government, K12 schools, Higher education