Houston — The International Facility Management Association announced it has partnered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program to help facility professionals improve building performance through energy conservation.

The IFMA Energy Challenge: ENERGY STAR encourages all facility professionals to track their progress as they work toward a goal of reducing their organization’s measured facility energy use by 15 percent. IFMA has created a master account within the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Managerr and asks facility professionals to create their own accounts, add information about their facilities and share that information with IFMA.

By measuring facility performance in a consistent manner, benchmarking energy and utility use, and sharing and implementing efficiency measures and best practices, ENERGY STAR can help organizations save money; reduce greenhouse gas emissions; improve facility performance; and qualify for tax incentives and rebates. In 2008 alone, Americans saved $19 billion on their utility bills with the help of ENERGY STAR.

“EPA is very excited to work with IFMA as it rolls out its energy challenge. We applaud the association for calling on its members to achieve an aggressive energy reduction target and promoting the value of benchmarking as a key component of successful energy management,” said Alyssa Quarforth, program manager for ENERGY STAR, Commercial Properties. “We have found that association-based initiatives such as IFMA’s can drive significant energy improvements across commercial buildings, while also promoting increased awareness of ENERGY STAR and the value of strategic energy management.”

Facility professionals interested in tracking and reducing their buildings’ energy use are encouraged to download the IFMA Foundation’s free “Sustainability How-to Guide: EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager” publication here for step-by-step instructions and tips on how to create their own account and share their information with IFMA and others. IFMA will not publicize the organization names of those who submit information, only relevant benchmarking data.

IFMA will also offer a free webinar entitled “ENERGY STAR and the IFMA Challenge: Saving Energy in Your Facilities” on March 25. Moderated by representatives from the EPA and Facility Engineering Associates, the webinar will help facility professionals better understand how to use the Portfolio Manager to benchmark facility data. It is open to IFMA members and nonmembers alike, and anyone interested in participating can register here or by contacting IFMA Event Program Manager Monica Cooper at monica.cooper@ifma.org.

Additionally, IFMA’s upcoming Facility Fusion conference — held in Philadelphia April 13-15 — will feature the educational session “Measuring Energy Consumption: IFMA’s ENERGY STAR Initiative” on April 15. Presented by representatives from FEA and CFM2: Conley Facility Management, the session will explore how incorporating energy management and other sustainable facility practices can save money and improve overall facility performance. Those interested in registering for Facility Fusion can do so here.

For more information, visit the IFMA press room or www.ifma.org.