This credit is easily achieved by tracking monthly energy consumption of the project building through the use of Portfolio Manager. In order to comply, you simply need to generate a Statement of Energy Performance (SEP) that shows the associated GHG emissions.

Go for a more rigorous analysis?

Using the Energy Star Portfolio Manager to earn the credit is fairly easy and straightforward. However, you also have the option of performing a more rigorous analysis in order to report emissions reductions using a third-party voluntary reporting program, such as WRI/WBCSD or EPA Climate Leaders.

Projects electing to perform the more rigorous analysis will find this a more challenging undertaking. The analyses are more comprehensive and go beyond just a simple review of building energy consumption. However, the results will be much more detailed and valuable and can help to inform decisions regarding the implementation of specific energy-efficiency initiatives that would help to reduce emissions.

Understanding WRI/WBCSD

The World Resources Institute/World Business Council on Sustainable Development (WRI/WBCSD) Greenhouse Gas Reporting Protocol is the most widely used international accounting tool for government and business leaders to understand, quantify, and manage greenhouse gas emissions.

However, WRI/WBCSD approaches emissions tracking and reporting on the scale of an entire company rather than by individual building. The WRI/WBCSD tools are adaptable to single-building applications, but take care to fully understand this adjustment; If your entire company uses more buildings than just your project building, you won’t be able to take full advantage of these tools and are probably better off using Portfolio Manager.

Parent company GHG inventory

Consider whether your parent corporation has participated in a GHG inventory that includes the data for your specific building. You may make use of the results of such an inventory, but must also summarize building-specific data to highlight the emissions for your project building only.

Consider these questions when approaching this credit:

• Are you tracking energy consumption data in Energy Star Portfolio Manager? If so, you’ll have a head start on this credit and will be able to easily generate an emissions report from their website.
• Are you interested in participating in a more detailed third-party voluntary reporting program to track and report emissions data for your building? This can be a much more time-intensive process and while it may produce more useful results, these programs are setup to analyze at the corporate level and are not designed to address individual buildings.