On Tuesday, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it signed a new Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA). Accordingly, the agency subscribed to this agreement with Natural Resources Canada (NRCan).
Read more of our news content, here: John Kerry: “The U.S. keeps assessing Tax on Polluter Nations”
About the agreement
In this way, the agreement recommends the two agencies continue collaboration on new enhancements to the EPA’s ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager® tool. Worth noting, this tool is free, online energy, water, waste, and emissions measurement and tracking platform for commercial, institutional, and multifamily buildings.
Moreover, the ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager® tool has helped more than 26,000 Canadian buildings measure and track their energy use. In fact, these facilities constitute the equivalent to one-third of commercial space in Canada.
Reception at EPA and NRCan
In this regard, EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan commented in a media release; “Indeed, improving energy efficiency in buildings is essential to achieving our ambitious climate targets. Therefore, today’s agreement with Natural Resources Canada will continue a 10-year research partnership between our agencies.”
Thus, Regan noted, this agreement will let both agencies continue empowering American and Canadian building owners to reduce energy use. Also, to save on costs and cut climate pollution.
Similarly, the Honourable Seamus O’Regan, Canada’s Minister of Natural Resources, said; “Canada and the United States are doubling down on climate action. Accordingly, this agreement is another step we’re taking together towards a net-zero future.”
About EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool
Worth noting, EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager tool is the industry standard for measuring and tracking energy performance within commercial buildings. Currently, it is in use by more than 275,000 buildings, which comprise one-quarter of all U.S. commercial building floor space.
Moreover, the tool provides dozens of energy performance metrics, and some buildings can also receive a 1 – 100 ENERGY STAR score; which indeed rates energy performance relative to similar facilities.
Therefore, EPA noted, the signing of this agreement builds on the unique relationship between the United States and Canada. Similarly, this collaboration also supports ENERGY STAR products, homes, and industrial plants. Therefore, both countries will further enhance cooperation in commercial building energy efficiency.
Similar collaboration between EPA and NRCan
Indeed, EPA first started collaborating on commercial building efficiency with NRCan in 2011. As a result, both agencies enhanced the EPA’s Portfolio Manager with metrics, data, and content specific to Canadian buildings.
In this way, the new agreement will enable continued enhancements to Portfolio Manager to benefit Canadian stakeholders; particularly, the deal includes using recent 1 – 100 ENERGY STAR scores for Canada’s most common building types. Besides, it consists of a new greenhouse gas emission comparison feature and updated Canadian metrics and French content.
Accordingly, these enhancements will benefit U.S. companies that own or manage buildings in Canada. Besides, it will help consultants who support owners in both countries.
Lastly, it is worth noting; commercial buildings currently account for nearly half of all energy consumption in the United States. Besides, they have a cost of more than $300 billion per year, more than any other economy sector.
