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EPA's energy performance rating uses a 1-100 scale. Lower energy use yields a higher performance rating. An ENERGY STAR rating is 75 or higher.
NEW FEATURES!
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Learn More About Target Finder
What is Target Finder?
It is an internet-based tool that helps you manage energy during the design
of a new building. With Target Finder you can set an aggressive energy performance
target for a building design and compare your estimated energy consumption
to the established target. Target Finder provides an energy performance rating
for whole-building energy use.
Who should use Target Finder?
Anyone can use this rating system to set a definitive energy use target for
a building design and quickly see the annual energy use and associated costs.
Why should I use Target Finder?
To save energy and money. The energy consumption target provides direction
for energy decisions throughout the design process, allowing you to evaluate
which energy efficiency measures will achieve your energy and cost goals.
Designing buildings with superior energy performance contributes to a sustainable
environment.
When should I use Target Finder?
Use it to set a target early in the design process so you can make key decisions
that help you achieve your energy goal. Use Target Finder during preliminary
design, schematic, and design development to monitor the energy performance
of your design. Also, see New
Building Design for more detail on when to consider energy issues
during design.
How do I use Target Finder?
Enter general building information such as name, city, state and zip code
and complete the following sections.
- Select a Space Type: Offices, K-12 Schools, Hospitals,
Hotels, Medical Offices, Residence Halls/Dormitories, Supermarkets/Grocery Stores, and Warehouses.
Enter basic building characteristics for the space type. These may include
size, estimated operating hours, number of occupants, number of computers,
etc.
- Choose a Target Score from 50 - 100 and Target Finder
determines the corresponding annual energy use and estimated costs. A Target
Score of 80 means that energy use ranks in the top 20% of U.S. buildings.
To achieve ENERGY STAR recognition, your design must be 75 or greater. EPA
encourages you to aim higher when designing buildings.
- Rate Estimated Energy Use: Enter estimated energy use
and costs, and Target Finder generates a performance score (using the same
rating scale) for your design. By comparing estimated energy use to your
energy target at critical stages during design, you can monitor progress
toward reaching your goal.
- Print Statement of Energy Design Intent (SEDI) as a record
of all input and results data from Target Finder. The SEDI can be used to
document the commitment and execution of a specific energy performance goal
in the Request for Proposal, contractual language or during the design process.
How does Target Finder work?
The Energy Use Intensity generated by Target Finder reflects the distribution
of energy performance in commercial buildings derived from data in the Energy
Information Agency's (US Department of Energy) Commercial Buildings Energy
Consumption Survey (CBECS)1. The required data
inputs were found to be the primary drivers of energy use. The zip code is
used to determine the weather conditions that the building would experience
in a normal year (based on a 30-year climate average). The total annual energy
use intensity for the target is based on the energy sources typical in the
region specified by the zip code. For example, an Office Building in the 20902
zip code would be roughly 80/20%, electricity to natural gas. Users may enter
their own fuel mix.
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New Features
Enhanced Features and Functionality
- The Help section has a table of contents and search feature.
- New Space Types
- Primary space types: Offices - Bank Branch, Courthouse, Financial Center,
Medical Buildings; Residence Halls/Dormitories; and Warehouses.
- Secondary space type: Swimming Pools.
- The K-12 Schools space type requires additional inputs to determine estimated
annual energy use; they are number of computers, percent of school heated
and cooled, and presence of mechanical ventilation.
- Target Finder calculations and space type models are tied to those in
Portfolio Manager (the tool for rating energy use in existing buildings).
Models and calculations have been updated in both tools.
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