Watch a video clip from ASHRAE that highlights the building energy labeling program. Access Standard 189.1 resources from ASHRAE.org

A building energy labeling program provides the general public, building owners and tenants, potential owners and tenants, and building operations and maintenance staff with information on the potential and actual energy use of buildings. This information is useful for a variety of reasons.

• Building owners and operators can see how their building compares to peer buildings to establish a measure of their potential for energy performance improvement.
• Building owners can use the information provided to differentiate their building from others to secure potential buyers or tenants.
• Potential buyers or tenants can gain insight into the value and potential long-term cost of a building.
• Operations and maintenance staff can use the results to inform their decisions on maintenance activities and influence building owners and managers to pursue equipment upgrades and demonstrate the return on investment for energy efficiency projects.

Beyond the benefit received by individual building owners and managers, the increased availability of building data—specifically the relationship between the design and operation of buildings—will be a valuable research tool for the building community.