EnergyStar Certified - Industrial Plants

1. Check sector eligibility: Confirm your industrial plant operates in one of the ~21 sectors supported by the Energy Star industrial plant program (e.g., food processing, automotive, pharmaceuticals, cement, glass, pulp and paper). Not all industrial sectors have an established EPA benchmarking model.

1. Benchmark your plant in Portfolio Manager: Create a free account in EPA's Energy Star Portfolio Manager tool and enter 12 months of energy consumption data, production output, and plant characteristics. The tool will calculate your energy performance score (1–100 scale).

1. Confirm top-25% performance: Your plant must score 75 or above (top 25% for your sector) to be eligible for certification. If your score is below 75, use Portfolio Manager's benchmarking insights to identify efficiency improvement opportunities before applying.

1. Implement energy improvements (if needed): Work with your engineering team or an energy consultant to close the gap. EPA's Energy Star Industrial program offers sector-specific energy guides and tools to support improvement planning.

1. Engage a licensed PE or RA: Hire a licensed Professional Engineer (PE) or Registered Architect (RA) to independently verify your energy and production data. The verifier reviews your data inputs, confirms accuracy, and signs the application — they may conduct a site visit at their discretion.

1. Submit your application: Once the PE/RA has verified and signed off, submit the completed application through Portfolio Manager. EPA staff review the submission to confirm eligibility and compliance with sector benchmarking methodology.

1. Receive certification and display the mark: Upon EPA approval, your plant is listed in the public Energy Star certified facilities registry and receives authorization to display the Energy Star mark on the facility and in marketing materials.

1. Renew annually: Certification expires after 12 months. Each year, resubmit updated energy and production data with fresh PE/RA verification to maintain certified status.

The Energy Star Industrial Plants certification evaluates a single core metric: energy intensity relative to sector peers. Rather than assessing a broad set of management practices or building systems, the program focuses entirely on measured energy performance outcomes.

Energy Performance Score (1–100): Using EPA's sector-specific benchmarking methodology, the plant's energy consumption is normalized against production output to calculate an energy intensity metric (e.g., BTU per unit produced, per ton, or per square foot depending on the sector). This normalized score is then compared against the national distribution of similar plants. A score of 75 or higher — meaning the plant performs better than at least 75% of its peers — is required for certification.

Energy Consumption Data: All energy inputs to the plant must be accounted for, including electricity, natural gas, fuel oil, steam, and other on-site energy sources. Twelve consecutive months of metered or utility-billed data are required, covering the full scope of plant operations.

Production Output Data: To normalize energy use against operational scale, plants must submit production data appropriate to their sector (e.g., units manufactured, tons processed, vehicle assemblies). This allows fair comparison across plants of different sizes.

Plant Characteristics: Applicants must document relevant operating parameters such as operating hours, plant size, process types, and any co-generation or on-site energy generation. These factors are used in the benchmarking model to ensure comparisons are made on a like-for-like basis.

Data Verification: A licensed PE or RA independently reviews all submitted data for accuracy and completeness before the application is finalized. This third-party verification step is a core credibility element of the program — EPA does not conduct its own on-site audit but relies on the professional certifier's attestation.

Energy Star is one of the most recognized environmental labels in the United States, with strong brand equity built over three decades across consumer products, commercial buildings, and industrial facilities. The industrial plants program, however, occupies a narrower niche than the broader Energy Star commercial buildings program (which covers tens of thousands of certified buildings). With approximately 200 certified industrial plants across 21 sectors, the industrial certification remains relatively exclusive — a reflection of both the high performance threshold (top 25%) and the complexity of industrial energy benchmarking.

The program's primary competition in the industrial space comes from ISO 50001, the international energy management system standard, and the DOE's Superior Energy Performance (SEP) program, which actually integrates ISO 50001 as its foundation. ISO 50001 is more process-oriented (certifying that an energy management system exists and is followed) while Energy Star Industrial is purely performance-based (certifying that actual energy outcomes are top-quartile). Many large industrial operators pursue both, as they address complementary aspects of energy management. LEED O+M and BREEAM In-Use are more relevant to commercial and institutional buildings than heavy industrial facilities.

Demand for industrial energy certifications is growing, driven by corporate net-zero commitments, Scope 1 and 2 emissions reporting requirements under frameworks like GHG Protocol and CDP, and increasing pressure from institutional investors and supply chain partners. The Inflation Reduction Act (2022) has also renewed focus on industrial decarbonization in the U.S., potentially expanding the pool of facilities investing in energy efficiency. However, the Energy Star industrial program's reach is constrained by the limited number of sectors with established benchmarking models — expanding sector coverage remains a key opportunity for the program's growth.

The Energy Star program was launched in 1992 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as a voluntary labeling initiative initially focused on energy-efficient computers and monitors. It was designed to help consumers and businesses identify energy-efficient products without the complexity of traditional regulatory mandates. The program expanded rapidly through the 1990s, extending to appliances, homes, and eventually commercial buildings with the introduction of the Energy Star score for buildings via Portfolio Manager in 1999.

The industrial plants certification emerged as an extension of this building-level framework, applying sector-specific benchmarking models to manufacturing and processing facilities. The EPA developed energy performance indicators (EPIs) for individual industrial sectors in collaboration with industry stakeholders, trade associations, and the U.S. Department of Energy — a process that required significant data collection and statistical modeling for each sector. The program has grown incrementally as new sector models are validated and published, reaching approximately 21 eligible industrial sectors by the mid-2020s. In 2009, the DOE formally joined EPA as a co-administrator of the Energy Star program, deepening the technical resources available for industrial benchmarking development. The program has remained free to applicants throughout its history, funded through federal agency budgets rather than certification fees.