Building Energy Efficiency

For details about this credit, including the criteria, reporting timeframe, applicability, scoring, and more, please review the full credit language:

• OP 5: Building Energy Efficiency – version 2.2
• OP 5: Building Energy Consumption – version 2.1

Substantive changes have been made to this credit. Some of these changes include renaming the credit to more clearly communicate its intent. Electricity units are now requested in kilowatt-hours to help minimize data entry and conversion errors. Source-site ratios were updated to be consistent with US EPA Portfolio Manager. A comprehensive list of differences can be found in the 2.2 Summary of changes.

• STARS 2.2: Institutions in the US should use 3.0, institutions in Canada should use 2.0, institutions in Europe should use 2.0, and institutions in all other countries should report 2.5. See the 2.2 credit language linked above for additional guidance.
• STARS 2.1: Institutions in the US should use 3.14, institutions in Canada should use 2.05, institutions in Australasia and Latin America should use 2.25, and institutions in Europe should use 2.50. See the 2.1 credit language linked above for additional guidance.

• STARS 2.2: Electricity figures must be reported in kilowatt-hours. All other figures (stationary fuels and thermal energy) must be converted to MMBtu. An Energy Consumption Calculator is provided.
• STARS 2.1: All units must be converted to MMBtu. The Campus Energy Consumption Converter is provided to assist in making the necessary conversions.

Institutions that convert fuel on-site (e.g., on-campus cogeneration facilities and boilers) should report only the amount of fuel purchased/converted toward the total energy consumption figure, not the resulting heat, steam, hot/chilled water or electricity.

Like cogeneration, the benefits of these technologies are recognized indirectly in terms of efficiency gains (i.e., the fuel consumption avoided to achieve the same result). Therefore, thermal energy of this type should not be included in the reported figures.

There are a number of degree day calculators available, including DegreeDays.net (global) and the Degree Days Calculator (U.S. and Canada).

Gross floor area and energy intensive space reported in this credit is typically consistent with the figures reported under Operational Characteristics (PRE 4/IC 2). A lower number may be reported under this credit if outdoor energy from parking garages/stadiums, etc is metered separately and excluded under this credit and not others. Valid discrepancies should be clarified in the Notes field (for instance, if a different performance year or data source was used). See related Help Center article on sharing information between credits.

• The difference between source and site energy (US EPA)
• Portfolio Manager Technical Reference: Source Energy – U.S. EPA
• STARS 2.2 Energy Consumption Calculator:  Download Excel file or copy Google Sheet
• Campus Energy Consumption Converter (STARS 2.1) – a spreadsheet to convert various fuel sources to MMBtu
• DegreeDays.net (global data)
• Degree Days Calculator – Portfolio Manager (U.S. and Canada)

• Lawrence University – All required fields filled out correctly, and there is consistency with OP 6. Correct version 2.2 source-site ratio was selected for U.S. institutions (3.0).

• Thompson Rivers University – All required fields filled out correctly, and there is consistency with OP 6. Uses Canadian standard for source-site ratio.
• University of California, Irvine – All required fields filled out correctly, and there is consistency with OP 6. The reduction in energy consumption is clarified and affirmed in public Notes field.

• Score outlier: Uncommon for institutions to earn full points or very close to it. If a high score is reported, check closely for the issues below (particularly numeric outliers). 
• Numeric outlier: Zero or very low response under “Stationary fuels and other energy products used on-site” is highly unlikely, since most institutions use natural gas, fuel oil, diesel, or coal for heating or other non-transportation purposes. A response of zero (or other very low response) should include clarification in the Notes field, including affirmation that the institution uses no/very little fuels for heating.
• Numeric outlier: Low responses under Heating degree days and Cooling degree days. Typical responses in both figures are in the thousands, but responses for institutions in very mild, warm or cool climates may be in the hundreds. See Help Center FAQ on determining heating and cooling degree days.
• Site-source ratio: U.S. and Canadian institutions must use the ratios reported in the Technical Manual (3.0 and 2.0 respectively). Institutions in other countries can report their own national/regional figures if they differ from what is recommended in the Technical Manual. 
• Data consistency: Total energy consumption figures between OP 5 and OP 6 should match. Notes field should explain any valid discrepancies. 
• Data consistency: Gross floor area and Energy-intensive building space figures between OP 5 and PRE 4 should be equal. Figures in OP 5 can be slightly lower if outdoor energy from parking garages/stadiums, etc is metered separately and excluded under OP 5. Valid discrepancies should be clarified in the Notes field.