While many initiatives exist nationwide to encourage energy-use benchmarking in buildings, two jurisdictions have taken the next bold step and written benchmarking into law. To boot, both include disclosure requirements. More than 75 percent of U.S. households recognize the ENERGY STAR label and the program has been tested and vetted. It makes sense that using ENERGY STAR tools to implement energy efficiency programs is the de facto choice around the country.

ENERGY STAR News: Business and Industry Edition Summer 2009.

Louisville has been named a finalist for the 2009 Awards for Municipal Excellence through their groundbreaking partnership between city agencies and private businesses to improve energy efficiency, a component of the Mayor's Go Green Louisville initiative.

The interests of the developer and tenant have never aligned. Developers want to make money (by reducing construction costs) and tenants want to save it (by reducing operating costs). Because developers have historically won that battle, much of the nation’s existing office space isn’t green. That doesn’t mean that office buildings can’t be made green. In fact, there are some of established road maps to make the process easier — the Energy Star Label for Buildings program and LEED-EB Operations and Maintenance (LEED-EB O&M).

Mayor Kroger's initiatives include energy audits where crews check the stores at night to ensure cooler doors are closed, computer screens are off and other equipment is operating efficiently.

ENERGY STAR News: Business and Industry Edition Spring 2009.

The U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance (LEED-EB: O&M) rating system measures operations, improvements and maintenance on a consistent scale, with the goal of maximizing operational efficiency while minimizing environmental impacts. LEED-EB O&M addresses whole-building cleaning and maintenance issues, recycling programs, exterior maintenance programs and systems upgrades.

Mayor Newsom calls upon commercial buildings to track and improve their efficiency. The San Francisco 24x7 Energy Challenge is a contest which will celebrate the most energy efficient buildings in the city, as well as properties that make the greatest gains in performance throughout the next year.

Architecture 2030 has issued The 2030 Challenge, asking the global architecture and building community to adopt targets to accomplish by implementing innovative sustainable design strategies, generating on-site renewable power and/or purchasing (20% maximum) renewable energy and/or certified renewable energy credits.

Evaluate opportunities for low-cost energy-efficiency improvements that can help you control costs in a down economy.