Building Energy Performance Metrics That Matter

Are you looking to save money and improve the energy performance of your facility? To do that, you need to know where you stand. The following are three key measures you can use to evaluate your current performance and identify opportunities for improvement. Using these insights, you can develop a plan for long-term energy management and savings.

Energy Use Intensity (EUI)

This is a primary metric for assessing your building’s energy efficiency. It’s calculated by dividing the total energy consumed by the building in one year by its total gross floor area. EUI is typically expressed in thousand British thermal units per square foot per year (kBtu/ft²/yr) or kilowatt-hours per square foot per year (kWh/ft²/yr). A lower EUI means better energy performance.

Source Energy Use Intensity (Source EUI)

Source EUI accounts for the total energy required to operate a building, including the energy used to generate and deliver energy to the site. It’s also calculated using kBtu/ft²/yr or kWh/ft²/yr. Source EUI provides a more comprehensive picture of a building’s overall energy impact.

This document provides average EUI and Source EUI figures for different building types based on U.S. Department of Energy data. You can use these numbers to establish a baseline for the performance of your building and establish goals for improvement.

ENERGY STAR® Score

This is a 1-100 score provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that compares a building’s energy performance to similar buildings nationwide. A score of 50 represents median energy performance, while a score of 75 or higher indicates that a building is a top performer and may be eligible for ENERGY STAR building certification.

You can obtain your building’s score by using the no-cost ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager™ tool. Simply answer some questions about your facility and energy use and you’ll receive an initial score from which to build on.

Plan for long-term savings

Optimizing building energy performance requires careful planning and follow through. The EPA has developed a seven-step process for energy management planning. These are summarized as follows:

1. Make a commitment. Get buy-in from top management and dedicate staff and funding to energy efficiency as a core business priority.
2. Assess performance. Using the metrics and tools listed above, evaluate your facility’s current energy use to establish a baseline for measuring future improvements.
3. Set goals. Establish clear and measurable energy performance goals to guide decision making and provide a basis for tracking progress.
4. Create an action plan. Develop a detailed plan that defines the measures and resources needed to achieve your energy-saving goals.
5. Implement the action plan. Put the plan in motion by raising awareness, implementing key measures and motivating staff to contribute.
6. Evaluate progress. Continuously track energy use and measure the results of the implemented measures against the established goals.
7. Recognize achievements. Publicize success and acknowledge the contributions of individual staff and teams to build support for future energy management efforts.

Consider also a facility energy audit. A qualified energy professional will inspect your facility and equipment and provide you with a set of customized energy-saving recommendations. Implementing these recommendations can become part of your energy-saving action plan.