Bring Your Green to Work

with ENERGY STAR®

How to save energy and protect the environment
—all without leaving your workplace!
Energy and the Environment

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The Link Between Energy Use &
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Every building uses energy, which is most
often generated by the burning of fossil
fuels.
• Burning fossil fuels, such as coal, releases
greenhouse gas emissions into the
atmosphere which contribute to climate
change.

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The Big Picture: Energy Use in the
United States

Residential
Industrial 22%
32%

Transportation
Commercial 28%
18%

The buildings where we work, play, and learn are

responsible for nearly 50% of our country’s energy use
at a cost of over $200 billion a year.
Energy Information Administration, 2003 CBECS Detailed Tables
The Big Picture: Greenhouse Gas
Emissions in the United States
Other Residential
10% 17%

Industrial
28%

Transportation
28%
Commercial
17%

Commercial buildings and industrial facilities are

responsible for 45% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
Inventory of U.S. Greenhouse Gas and Sinks: 1990-2005, US EPA
Did You Know?

The energy used by a building to support

just one office worker for a day causes
more than twice as many greenhouse gas
emissions as that worker’s drive to and
from work?
Opportunities for Energy
Efficiency

• The average building wastes 30% of the

energy it consumes because of inefficiencies.
• If the energy efficiency of U.S. commercial
and industrial buildings improved by 10%:
– Savings of $20 billion.
– Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions
equal to about 30 million vehicles.
… a year

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EPA’s ENERGY STAR Program:
An Effective Solution
Carbon dioxide
Energy
efficiency
Greenhouse
gas emissions
in the =
atmosphere

Healthier environment for American families

• Since 1992—good for the environment; good for the bottom
line.
• More than 60 different categories of ENERGY STAR
qualified products.
• Tens of thousands of ENERGY STAR certified buildings.
• More than 1 million ENERGY STAR qualified homes.
ENERGY STAR and the Buildings
Where We Work, Play and Learn
• Buildings that perform in the top 25% of energy
efficiency nationwide compared to their peers
may be eligible for the ENERGY STAR.
• ENERGY STAR certified buildings:
– Use 35% less energy.
– Generate 35% fewer greenhouse gas emissions.
– Cost 50 cents less per square foot to operate (office
buildings).
• Look for the ENERGY STAR next time you go to
the grocery store or choose a hotel for your next
vacation! (See energystar.gov/buildinglist.)
Helping Organizations Improve
Energy Efficiency
• EPA has challenged organizations to improve the
energy performance of their buildings by 10% or
more.
• Thousands of organizations are working toward this
goal—and beyond.
• We are answering this Challenge.
– Took the ENERGY STAR Challenge in XXXX [or] Joined
ENERGY STAR as a partner in XXXX.
– Taking steps in our organization to save energy and
educate our employees, such as this brownbag!

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What Our Partnership with ENERGY
STAR Means
• We’ve joined more than 5,800 other ENERGY
STAR partners to improve the energy
efficiency of buildings where we work, play
and learn.
• ENERGY STAR partners have helped prevent
emissions equal to the electricity used by
more than 60 million American homes per
year.
• Improving energy efficiency frees up financial
resources for other uses.
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What We’re Doing to Save Energy
• As part of the ENERGY STAR partnership commitment,
we agreed to:
– Measure and track energy use in the buildings we own
or manage.
– Develop a plan to improve energy performance.
– Make energy efficiency upgrades.
– Spread the word about energy efficiency to others.
– Design new buildings that we own or manage to be
energy efficient.
• In addition, we’ve decided to go green by:
– Recycling cardboard, paper, plastic, glass, and metals.
– Using recycled paper.
– Cutting down on water use. 12
You Can Help!

• Like everything we do here at Organization

Name, energy efficiency is a team effort.
• Small changes make a big impact.
• By working together, we can save energy
and help protect the environment.

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What You Can Do to
Help Save Energy

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Bring Your Green to Work

• www.energystar.gov/work
• EPA can help you make many of the same
green choices at work as you make at
home.

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Bring Your Green to Work
Resources
Building tour video
Animated workplace tools
Tip card and posters
Green team checklist
Energy quiz
Fast facts
…and more!

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www.energystar.gov/work
Take a Behind-the-Scenes Tour

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www.energystar.gov/work
Explore Energy-Efficient
Workplaces

From an office cubicle to a manufacturing plant, these

interactive workplace tools show the steps we can all take
to do our part and save energy!
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www.energystar.gov/work
Explore an Energy-Efficient Office
Cubicle
Blinds – During cold
weather, take advantage of
the sun’s warmth by keeping
blinds open during daylight
hours. To keep out the heat
of the summer sun, close
blinds in warm weather.
Programmable thermostat –
programmable thermostats
can automatically adjust
your building’s temperature
settings so energy is not
wasted to cool or warm air
when the building is empty.

Vent – Make sure window

vents are clear of papers
and other items so the air
can circulate freely.

Monitor/ computer – Look for the

ENERGY STAR and enable power
management settings on your work
computer and monitor so they
automatically enter a low-power
mode when not in use.

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www.energystar.gov/work
Explore an Energy-Efficient Office
Cubicle
Challenge poster – Take the ENERGY STAR Challenge, a national
call-to-action to improve the energy efficiency of America’s
commercial and industrial buildings. Encourage your employer and
co-workers to do the same! You can also order free brochures and
posters for your office or for employee fairs and Earth Day
activities at energystar.gov/publications.

Multifunction device (printer/copier/scanner) – An ENERGY

STAR qualified multifunction device that combines several
capabilities (print, scan, copy) can save energy and space.
Make sure power management features are enabled for
additional savings.

Cell phone – Unplug battery chargers or power adapters

when equipment is fully charged or disconnected from
the charger. On average, ENERGY STAR qualified
battery chargers and adapters use 30-35% less energy
than conventional models.
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www.energystar.gov/work
Explore an Energy-Efficient Office
Cubicle

Water cooler – Did you know EPA qualifies water

coolers? On average, ENERGY STAR models
require about half as much energy as standard
units. Encourage your employer to look for one that
has earned the ENERGY STAR.

Desk lamp – Replace the bulbs in desk lamps with ENERGY STAR
qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). These light bulbs use
about 75% less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times
longer! ENERGY STAR qualified lamps and light fixtures are also available
for even more energy savings.
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www.energystar.gov/work
Explore an Energy-Efficient Office
Cubicle

You – You can make a difference by getting

involved! Create a Green Team with your co-
Power strip – Even when
workers to help save energy and reduce office
turned off, electronic and IT
waste. Set a goal to make your building one of
equipment often use a small
the most energy efficient in the nation and earn
amount of electricity when
EPA’s ENERGY STAR.
plugged in. Use a power strip
as a central “turn off” point
when you are done using
office equipment to Light switch –
completely disconnect the Remember to turn off
power supply. your lights when
leaving conference
rooms and your work
space, especially at the
end of the day.

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www.energystar.gov/work
Explore an Energy-Efficient
Manufacturing Plant
Bay Door – Close bays and
doors when not in use to
prevent loss of heat or Motor – Maintain motors. Create a motor
cooled air. management plan, and use the right-sized
motor for the application. Install variable
frequency drives for fluctuating loads, and
replace old motors with premium efficiency
motors.
Energy Management –
Develop an energy
management program.
Plants with sound
energy management
practices save more Light switch – Don’t
energy. Use EPA’s overlook lighting in
ENERGY STAR plants. It is a great
Facility Energy opportunity for energy
Assessment tool to savings. Turn off lights
evaluate your energy when not in use, and
management install lighting controls.
practices!

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www.energystar.gov/work
Explore an Energy-Efficient
Manufacturing Plant
You – You can make a difference by getting Exhaust System –
involved! Create an Energy Team with your co- Don’t blow money
workers. Set a goal to make your plant more out the vent!
energy-efficient. Encourage your company to take Exhaust systems are
the ENERGY STAR Challenge for Industry and big energy users.
adopt a goal to improve energy efficiency by 10% Turn them off when
within 5 years. Order brochures and posters from not needed. Add
EPA to promote saving energy in your workplace. variable frequency
drives to fan motors.

Compressed Air Pipe – Did you know that tiny

leaks in compressed air systems can cost
hundreds of dollars extra each year? Compressed
air is the most expensive plant utility! Repair leaks
regularly, use compressed air only for critical
uses, reduce pressure where possible, and
monitor compressor performance.

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www.energystar.gov/work
Explore an Energy-Efficient
Manufacturing Plant

Boiler – Tune your

boilers. Install or
improve existing
insulation. Consider
an economizer to
recover waste heat.

Lighting – If some work

Power Switch – Turn off equipment during non-
spaces seem too bright,
production periods. Walk the plant when it is down
they may be over lit. Talk to
for maintenance, at night, and during other off hours
your energy and safety
to see what can be shut down when not in use
teams about optimizing
(lighting, motors, etc.). Create shutdown procedures,
lighting levels and upgrading
train employees on how to use them, and make sure
lights with more efficient
they are followed.
technology.

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www.energystar.gov/work
Explore an Energy-Efficient
Manufacturing Plant

Monitor/ computer – Purchase

ENERGY STAR qualified
computers and enable power
management settings on your
computer and monitor so they
automatically enter a low-power Steam Trap – If your plant
mode when not in use. uses steam, odds are that
10% of your steam traps are
failing—wasting energy and
money! Maintain steam traps
regularly and know how to
identify non-performing
traps.

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www.energystar.gov/work
Tips for Saving Energy at Work
• Use the ENERGY STAR power
management settings on your
computer and a power strip as a
central “turn off” point.
• Unplug electronics once they are
charged.
• Replace the light bulb in your desk
lamp with an ENERGY STAR qualified
bulb, and turn off lights when you
leave.
• Keep air vents clear of paper, files,
and office supplies.
• Create a Green Team with your co-
workers. 27
Tips for Saving Energy at Home
• Replace your five most frequently
used light fixtures or the bulbs in
them with ENERGY STAR qualified
lights.
• Use a programmable thermostat.
• Look for the ENERGY STAR when
buying home appliances,
electronics, and heating and
cooling systems.
• Find and seal air leaks to the
outside.
• Take the ENERGY STAR pledge.
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Create a Green Team

• What is a Green Team?

– A group of people from
across the organization
who want to create a
greener workplace.
• Why a Green Team?
– A team approach helps
build momentum for
positive change and
improves buy-in from all
levels of the organization.
– Empowers staff to address
energy efficiency issues
directly.

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What Our Green Team Can
Accomplish
• Identify areas for improvement.
• Brainstorm energy efficiency steps to take in our
office.
– Which ideas from the tip card and ENERGY STAR @
work and/or @ the factory tools can we apply now
individually?
– What ideas should the team tackle?
– What ideas might need support from senior
management?
– Others?

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Get Started

• Determine Green Team first steps:

– Identify interested coworkers and candidate
members.
– Schedule a kick-off meeting.
• Consider how to win company support for:
– Becoming an ENERGY STAR partner.
– Taking the ENERGY STAR Challenge.

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Other Steps You Can
Take to Save Energy

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Change the World, Start with
ENERGY STAR

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www.energystar.gov/changetheworld
Look for the ENERGY STAR

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Find ENERGY STAR Certified
Buildings in Your Area

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Find ENERGY STAR Certified
Buildings in Your Area

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Kids Can Help, Too

• Visit the ENERGY STAR Kids’ Site

– www.energystar.gov/kids
• Join Dr. Seuss’ the Lorax to learn fun ways kids
can save energy and help protect the
environment.
• Interactive games, puzzles, quizzes,
brainteasers, and stories.

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Test Your Energy IQ

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www.energystar.gov/work
 For more information, please contact:

Organization contact:
Your name
Phone #
Email address

EPA’s ENERGY STAR program

1.888.STAR.YES

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