Creating Top-Performing Buildings
Becoming a top performer takes work. Every year, Continuum Services’ Energy Engineer John Campbell measures the performance of the buildings he’s assigned and allocated to for REDICO. He monitors the utilities, reduces energy consumption and reports on the buildings’ performance. An important part of his job is qualifying buildings for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR® Certification. ENERGY STAR is the only energy efficiency certification in the United States that is based on actual, verified energy performance.
How ENERGY STAR Works.
For a building to become a top performer, it must meet strict energy performance standards. The EPA creates a portfolio manager program based on current energy trends, taking into account occupancy, hours of operation and other key metrics. John works with the qualifying building’s Lead Building Engineer to pull the data, which is then input into the program and submitted to a Professional Engineer for approval.
This drive for energy efficiency is a passion for John and he’s always looking for ways to improve the standards of his buildings. “There is another client we’ve been working with on improving his numbers. They need to be ENERGY STAR certified or they’ll lose their lease.”
Once a building receives ENERGY STAR certification, a benchmark is set, and the building must be recertified each year. Qualification for certification is updated based on fluctuating demands for energy efficiency. “Maintaining your score becomes harder and harder,” said John. “Each year the standards get higher because every 10 years there’s more efficient equipment being put in.”
Why Become ENERGY STAR Certified?
ENERGY STAR certification significantly reduces operating costs through lower energy consumption, can contribute to a healthier environment by reducing greenhouse gas emissions and helps companies meet corporate sustainability goals and regulations. Beyond that, the buildings enjoy increased asset value and market competitiveness.
REDICO recognized the important benefits of energy efficiency and partnered with Continuum Services, making John Campbell a dedicated resource to work on REDICO properties. Janet Stevens, Director of Office Properties for REDICO said, “ENERGY STAR certification not only helps us secure government leases, as government tenants require certified buildings, but also appeals to other tenants committed to environmental stewardship. It’s a strong selling point for our buildings, as tenants increasingly ask about our sustainability efforts. In the end, it makes everyone look good and feel good about being environmentally conscious.”
ENERGY STAR Certified Buildings
The Continuum/REDICO partnership has paid off. Below are the REDICO buildings which John and his teams helped achieve 2024 ENERGY STAR Certification. These certified buildings rank among the top 25 percent nationwide for energy performance.
150 West Jefferson
6001 Cass Avenue
American Center
One Kennedy Square
One Towne Square
Two Towne Square
Woodlands Officecentre
