EPA created ENERGY STAR as a voluntary program to help businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. The program focuses on reducing utility-generated emissions by reducing the demand for energy. In 1991, EPA launched the Green Lights Program to encourage corporations, State and local governments, colleges and universities, and other organizations to adopt energy-efficient lighting as a profitable means of preventing pollution and improving lighting quality. Since then, EPA has rolled Green Lights into ENERGY STAR and expanded ENERGY STAR to encompass organization-wide energy performance improvement, such as building technology upgrades, product purchasing initiatives, and employee training. At the same time, EPA has streamlined the reporting requirements of ENERGY STAR and focused on providing incentives for improvements (e.g., ENERGY STAR Awards Program). EPA also makes tools and other resources available over the Web to help the public overcome the barriers to evaluating their energy performance and investing in profitable improvements. In addition, EPA is always looking for ways to simplify its information collections, such as by giving organizations the option of joining ENERGY STAR by completing an online partnership letter or agreement instead of using regular mail.
Partnership in ENERGY STAR is voluntary and can be terminated by Partners or EPA at any time. EPA does not expect organizations to join the program unless they expect participation to be cost-effective and otherwise beneficial for them.
In addition, Partners and any other interested party can help EPA promote energy-efficient technologies by evaluating the efficiency of their buildings using EPA's on-line tools (e.g., Portfolio Manager) and applying for recognition.
If a claim of confidential business information (CBI) is asserted, EPA will manage that information in accordance with EPA's provisions on confidentiality.
For several reasons, there has been a dramatic increase in the public's participation in ENERGY STAR over the past several years, and EPA expects their participation to rise even more in the coming years. President Obama has made energy efficiency an important component of the Federal government's approach to energy management. Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, Congress and the president allocated approximately $20 billion to encourage Federal agencies, States, local governments and industry to design, improve and use energy efficient buildings and products.
In addition, a growing number of State and local governments are leveraging ENERGY STAR as a way for the public to respond to rising energy costs and global warming. Participation in ENERGY STAR has also risen dramatically because of the efforts of trade associations, utilities, and third-party providers in promoting the program to the public. These organizations voluntarily communicate ENERGY STAR messages and promote the use of ENERGY STAR tools and strategies in an effort to help companies reduce their energy consumption and find more environmentally friendly ways to conduct business.
There is an increase of 70,523 hours in the total estimated annual burden hours currently identified in the OMB Inventory of Approved ICR Burdens. Specifically, there is a 3,065-hour decrease due to program changes and a 73,588-hour increase due to adjustments resulting from program growth. This resulted in a net increase of 70,523 hours.
The decrease of 3,065 hours due to program changes resulted primarily from EPA's changes to the Service and Product Provider (SPP) program. EPA recently modified the SPP program by establishing requirements for a minimum level of activity for SPPs. If a SPP does not maintain a minimum level of activity, it will not be featured in a variety of "most active" online listings. In addition, EPA will automatically track SPP activity through internally generated monthly reports. These modifications, taken together, are expected to reduce the number of SPPs actively participating in ENERGY STAR collections. EPA has reflected this program change by estimating the number of SPPs expected to remain active and involved in the collections.
The burden increase due to adjustments resulted primarily from EPA's adjustments to its analysis of Portfolio Manager and ENERGY STAR Labeling. A significant increase in the number of participants using Portfolio Manager and ENERGY STAR Labeling has led to the increase in burden hours, reflecting the dramatic increase in the public's use of these tools and resources over the past three years. The Agency expects continued strong growth for the future.
EPA believes that the burden estimated in this ICR is justified given the significant benefits to participants, the general public, and environment under the ENERGY STAR Program. For example, EPA estimates that, in 2007, the energy efficiency efforts of commercial buildings helped to prevent 18 million metric tons of greenhouse gases and achieve a net savings of $5.4 billion. The efforts of industry helped to prevent another 6.3 million metric tons of greenhouse gases and achieve a net savings of $2.1 billion. Buildings and plants that qualify for the ENERGY STAR also illustrate these savings. Typically, ENERGY STAR buildings use 35 percent less energy and emit 35 percent less greenhouse gases than average buildings. The more than 3,300 commercial buildings and plants that earned the ENERGY STAR in 2008 accounted for savings of more than $1 billion in utility bills and over 7 million metric tons of emissions.
On behalf of this Federal agency, I certify that the collection of information encompassed by this request complies with 5 CFR 1320.9 and the related provisions of 5 CFR 1320.8(b)(3).
The following is a summary of the topics, regarding the proposed collection of information, that the certification covers:
(i) Why the information is being collected;
(ii) Use of information;
(iii) Burden estimate;
(iv) Nature of response (voluntary, required for a benefit, or mandatory);
(v) Nature and extent of confidentiality; and
(vi) Need to display currently valid OMB control number;
If you are unable to certify compliance with any of these provisions, identify the item by leaving the box unchecked and explain the reason in the Supporting Statement.
Form 5900-196 ENERGY STAR Program in the Commercial and Industrial Sectors - Public Sector Entities
1772ss_11_23_09.pdf
ENERGY STAR Program in the Commercial and Industrial Sectors - Public Sector Entities