Utility Support for the ENERGY STAR MFHR Program

Utilitiy Resources

The ENERGY STAR Multifamily High Rise (MFHR) Program provides a modeling, testing, verification, and benchmarking process that gives utilities confidence that they are capturing energy savings from the MFHR buildings they incentivize.

Residential mid and high rise buildings lie at the intersection of the commercial and residential sectors. EPA designed the ENERGY STAR MFHR Program specifically for this unique building type. By sponsoring ENERGY STAR multifamily high rise construction, utilities can complement their existing residential and commercial energy efficiency programs. 

For units in multifamily mid and high rise buildings to earn the ENERGY STAR, a new or substantially rehabilitated mid or high rise multifamily building must be designed to be at least 15% more energy–efficient than MFHR buildings built to the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air–Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Standard 90.1–2007. MFHR ENERGY STAR Guidelines require buildings to undergo rigorous testing and verification validated by a Licensed Professional who provides quality assurance for the Developer Partner and their subcontractors.  This process gives utilities greater confidence that the efficiency measures are being properly installed and that MFHR buildings meet performance and quality expectations.

Developers and owners of MFHR buildings must also commit to benchmarking their buildings with EPA’s Portfolio Manager for a period of no less than two years after construction. Portfolio Manager is a free, online, interactive energy management tool that allows developers/owners to measure and track their building’s energy and water consumption, identify investment priorities, and verify improvements over time. Utilities are encouraged to work with building developers, owners, and managers to ensure that buildings are performing as efficiently as possible.

Become a partner

Why Support Multifamily Housing?

The multifamily sector provides an opportunity for utilities to capture energy savings as well as support affordable housing in their service territories.

  • There is significant potential for energy savings in the multifamily sector. The United States has more than 18 million occupied apartments and condominiums in buildings with five of or more units. These building owners and tenants spent almost $22 billion on energy in 2009 of which $15.4 billion was spent on electricity, $5 billion on natural gas, and more than $1 billion on fuel oil. [i] Energy expenditures in rented multifamily units are also on average 38% higher than in owner–occupied single family homes. [ii] With over 300,000 permits filed for new multifamily units in 2012, the energy savings potential for multifamily new construction continues to grow.
  • Mid and high rise multifamily housing has been traditionally underserved by utility–sponsored energy efficiency programs. A limited number of utilities have developed whole–building new construction multifamily energy efficiency programs. Existing multifamily programs are funded at rates far less than other programs given the market share of the multifamily sector. [iii] It can be difficult for utilities to provide incentives for mid and high rise multifamily buildings for a number of reasons including: multifamily buildings have a wide variety of architectural characteristics and energy usage characteristics; many different actors are involved in designing, constructing, and commissioning multifamily projects, and multifamily owners and developers face split incentive barriers when investing in energy efficiency, among other challenges. The ENERGY STAR MFHR program helps overcome some of these barriers to assist utilities in reaching this market.
  • A majority of low income households live in multifamily housing and spend a higher proportion of their income on energy expenses compared to the average household. Over 27 million low–income households live in multifamily housing. Households that earn $50,000 or more spend just 3% of their income on energy expenditures while households than earn $10,000 or less spend 33% of their income on energy related expenses. [iv] Utilities looking to support affordable housing initiatives or programs can make a significant impact by incentivizing energy efficient construction of multifamily buildings through the ENERGY STAR MFHR Program. 

Benefits of Incentivizing Multifamily Mid and High Rise Buildings with ENERGY STAR

Utilities can capitalize on the energy savings potential in the multifamily sector by incentivizing mid and high rise buildings through the ENERGY STAR MFHR Program. As a sponsor, utilities can also leverage the following resources:

  • Use of the ENERGY STAR brand to promote utility partnership and engage multifamily developers, Licensed Professionals, and other key stakeholders.
  • Established MFHR program requirements and verification protocols reduce the burden on utilities to set up their own programs.
  • Technical and marketing support from the ENERGY STAR program.

Need More Information?

For more information about incorporating the ENERGY STAR Multifamily High Rise Program into your utility portfolio, please contact mfhr@energystar.gov.  To learn more about the ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Program (for low rise multifamily buildings or single family homes) or to access additional resources for utility sponsors, visit the page on Sponsoring an ENERGY STAR Residential Homes Program.  Here you’ll find additional information on program design, implementation, and partnering with the ENERGY STAR Certified Homes Program.

i CNT Energy and The American Council for an Energy–Efficient Economy (ACEEE), “Engaging as Partners in Energy Efficiency: A primer for Utilities on the Energy Efficiency Needs of Multifamily Buildings and Their Owners,” March 2013.

ii The National Housing Trust, “Partnering for Success: An Action Guide for Advancing Utility Energy Efficiency Funding for Multifamily Rental Housing,” March 2013.

iii Kate Johnson and Eric Mackres, ACEEE, “Scaling up Multifamily Energy Efficiency Programs: A Metropolitan Area Assessment,” March 2013.

iv The National Housing Trust, “Partnering for Success: An Action Guide for Advancing Utility Energy Efficiency Funding for Multifamily Rental Housing,” March 2013.

Residential New Construction