Lead Performer: LBNL – Berkeley, CA
FY17 DOE Funding: $300,000
Project Term: October 1, 2016 – September 30, 2017
Funding Type: Lab Award
Project Objective
Commercial buildings account for 20% of the energy used in the U.S. economy, with approximately half of this total consumed by leased commercial spaces. Improving the energy efficiency of tenant spaces therefore represents a significant energy savings opportunity, yet energy efficiency investment in leased spaces has historically been very low. One driver behind this limited investment is the split incentives motivating building owners, who are likely responsible for making capital investments, and tenants, whose behavior ultimately drives actual energy use.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory seeks to overcome these split incentives by mapping out and pursuing various pathways to the achievement of greater energy efficiency in tenant spaces. Current strategies include: (1) highlighting tenant demand for energy-efficient commercial leased space, (2) developing new or highlighting existing tenant effiiency programs and resources, (3) convening commercial building tenants from across disparate sectors and buildings types to discuss this specific issue, (4) encouraging portfolio adoption of EPA’s forthcoming Tenant Star design and construction criteria, and (5) increasing tracking and reporting of tenant space energy information to ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, in anticipation of the release of an ENERGY STAR® score for leased spaces.
Project Impact
This project will help drive improvements in the energy efficiency of leased commerical spaces in the United States. This outcome will stem from a number of related projects impacts, including: increased motivation among tenants and landlords to work toward the development of efficient tenant spaces; the convening of a coalition of diverse tenant interests to advance tenant energy efficiency; a higher prolife for new and existing tenant efficiency resources and recognition programs; and the increased familiarity with, and use of, ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager by commerical tenant organizations.
Contacts
DOE Technology Manager: Holly Carr
Lead Performer: Paul Mathew, Lawerence Berkeley National Laboratory