Choosing Energy Efficiency: Considerations and Advice for Nonprofits

The document outlines a framework for nonprofits to pursue energy efficiency, emphasizing the importance of goal-setting, the assembly of a dedicated energy team, and the use of benchmarking tools like ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. It details the process of conducting energy audits—ranging from basic walk-throughs to detailed capital analyses—and highlights the benefits of whole-building retrofits where bundled measures compound savings. The guide also directs organizations toward financial incentives, including utility rebates, on-bill financing, and resources such as the DSIRE database and the Better Buildings Financing Navigator to offset upfront costs.

• Nonprofits should establish a dedicated energy team comprising a leader and staff from facility management, energy management, grant writing, and finance to oversee the project and communicate its benefits.
• The ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool allows nonprofits to benchmark facilities, track energy usage, and calculate greenhouse gas emission reductions; it is used by approximately 25 percent of commercial building space in the United States.
• Whole-building retrofits are highly cost-effective because energy savings are compounded when multiple measures are bundled, such as combining insulation and air sealing with new heating and cooling equipment.
• ASHRAE defines three levels of energy audits: Level 1 (walk-through analysis), Level 2 (energy survey and analysis), and Level 3 (detailed analysis of capital-intensive modifications), with most nonprofits typically requiring Level 1 or 2.
• Financial barriers to energy efficiency can be mitigated through utility rebates, the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE), and on-bill financing programs where payments are offset by monthly energy savings.

APA

Yañez-Barnuevo, M. (2022). Choosing Energy Efficiency: Considerations and Advice for Nonprofits. Environmental and Energy Study Institute. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/choosing-energy-efficiency-considerations-and-advice-for-nonprofits

Chicago

Yañez-Barnuevo, Miguel. Choosing Energy Efficiency: Considerations and Advice for Nonprofits. Environmental and Energy Study Institute, 2022. https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/choosing-energy-efficiency-considerations-and-advice-for-nonprofits.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Yañez-Barnuevo |first1=Miguel |title=Choosing Energy Efficiency: Considerations and Advice for Nonprofits |publisher=Environmental and Energy Study Institute |date=10 June 2022 |url=https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/choosing-energy-efficiency-considerations-and-advice-for-nonprofits |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{yaezbarnuevo2022choosing, author = {Yañez-Barnuevo, Miguel}, title = {{Choosing Energy Efficiency: Considerations and Advice for Nonprofits}}, institution = {Environmental and Energy Study Institute}, year = {2022}, month = jun, url = {https://www.eesi.org/articles/view/choosing-energy-efficiency-considerations-and-advice-for-nonprofits}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }