ASTM has released a standard for collecting, compiling and analyzing energy use in commercial buildings. The standard which is actually a set of guidelines called Standard E2797-11, Standard Practice for Building Energy Performance Assessment for a Building Involved in a Real Estate Transaction has a variety of uses. The data collected under the standard offers more detail than an Energy Star rating and , unlike LEED certification, can be used to assess energy use within the time constraints of a real estate transaction. Building owners are expected to use the standard to reduce energy usage and in turn improve a building’s score in required reports, increase its value, make it more attractive to potential buyers or tenants, or receive an energy efficiency loan. Lenders also may analyze the data to identify where a building could improve its energy efficiency before offering loans for retrofits.
Building energy performance disclosure regulations now exist in a rising number of states, including California and Washington, as well as cities such as Austin, Texas; Seattle, Wash.; and New York, N.Y. These regulatory activities, combined with the economic reality that energy efficient buildings are more appealing to lenders, buyers and tenants, have been the driving forces for the new ASTM International standard for building energy performance assessment.