ENERGY STAR Rating System & LEED EB Certifi cation A Comparison of Two Complimentary Programs

Abstract

The adoption of Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design
for New Construction (LEED NC®) or Existing Buildings (LEED EB®)
by many local, state, and federal government entities, as well as a sig-
nificant number of leading private sector businesses, has spawned a
market transformation in the construction industry. Many owners want
or even mandate “green” environmentally friendly buildings as certified
by the U.S. Green Buildings Council (USGBC) through LEED. Green
buildings have been mentioned in many sectors—from health care to
higher education—as a comprehensive way to address environmental,
social, and economic issues in facilities.
Many of these progressive businesses, organizations, and gov-
ernment entities already are members of ENERGY STAR ®, a federal
government-backed program administered by the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) and Department of Energy (DOE) that helps
businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior
energy effi ciency. Or even if they are not members, it is likely they are
familiar with the ENERGY STAR brand. Public awareness of ENERGY
STAR has jumped to 64 percent of U.S. households, according to a recent
nationwide survey. In many major markets where local utilities and
other organizations use ENERGY STAR to promote energy efficiency
to their customers, public awareness of ENERGY STAR is even higher,
averaging 74 percent.