ENERGY STAR Certification for Commercial Buildings

Obtaining an ENERGY STAR certification can be a great way to add value to a listing. They use less energy, cost less to operate, and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions. On average, homes with the certification are 20 per cent more energy efficient than new homes, and approximately 83 per cent of Canadians recognize the ENERGY STAR brand. And as of March 2018, commercial and institutional buildings are now eligible for ENERGY STAR certification.

To qualify, the building must be verified by a licensed professional and have a 1-100 ENERGY STAR score of a least 75. Currently there are seven building types that are eligible: K-12 schools, commercial offices, hospitals, supermarkets and food stores, medical offices, senior care communities and residential care facilities, and ice rinks, but Natural Resources Canada is continually working to add new types.

To apply for certification, you have to register for ENERGY STAR's portfolio manager and benchmark your building with at least 12 months of metered energy data. Once you've checked the data for accuracy, buildings with a score of 75 or higher can apply for verification by a licensed professional.

For more information, visit the Natural Resources Canada website.

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