ENERGY STAR will no longer supply free plaques

It always seemed like only a matter of time before the cost to produce and ship the 8 lb metal plaques became too much for the free program to bear. Though, as the email states, this change is not only in response to the "resource requirements associated with producing and shipping" the current ENERGY STAR plaque, it's also the result of requests for a more versatile recognition option for certified buildings.

So all buildings who submit after June 1, 2011 will receive the new decal in lieu of the traditional plaque.

According to the ENERGY STAR Commercial & Industrial team, "EPA will offer these new, professional-quality decals that are better suited and more adaptable for the many different types of buildings in our partners’ portfolios. EPA will no longer provide the ENERGY STAR plaque, thereby freeing up resources and allowing us to concentrate those resources on providing energy efficiency and program support to our partners. We are working with our supplier to explore the possibility of enabling our partners to purchase plaques on their own. We will send more details as they become available."

The new decal will include the ENERGY STAR certification mark, along with text indicating that the building is an "ENERGY STAR Certified Building". There will be two decal options available, the traditional blue and white or one with an 'etched look'. A third option, with no decal, will include a certificate of achievement only. A preview of these decals is included below. Contact buildings@energystar.gov with questions.