To achieve ENERGY STAR certification for your building, you will need to have your building's performance verified by a registered professional engineer or architect. CenterPoint Energy will reimburse customers for the cost of the ENERGY STAR verification up to a maximum of $1,500 per building. Customer must provide a copy of the verified application and documentation of the verification costs.

View CenterPoint Energy's website for more details.

As energy efficient lighting becomes more affordable and an industry norm, Xcel Energy will sharply reduce rebate offerings for:

• LED troffers;
  
• LED exterior lights;
• LED controls; and
  
• Shelf-stocking LED lamps.

Fluorescent lighting rebates will be discontinued. To still receive maximum rebate value on lighting retrofit projects, invoices must be completed before August 31st. For more information on Xcel Energy's new lighting rebate offers, read this guide.

A study conducted by Seventhwave found ample energy savings opportunities in small embedded data centers. According to the study, almost one-third of the energy used in small embedded data centers could be saved through IT measures.

To learn more about the opportunities for your data center, check out the summary and final report.

The Center for Energy and Environment's research project on indoor pool efficiency found several insights for hotels, fitness centers, schools, and other indoor pool owners to save money on energy. 

Key findings include:

• Recommissioning HVAC equipment can yield the most energy savings and improved air quality
• No-cost control adjustments and pool covers can save energy on dehumidification and water heating
• Variable speed pool pumps can save roughly a third of the energy used by single speed pumps

To learn more about how you could start saving on your pool's operating costs, read the project's research page.

Last month the City of Minneapolis, Xcel Energy, CenterPoint Energy, and Minnesota Interfaith Power and Light (MNIPL) hosted a workshop to help worship facilities cut costs on energy. Among other things, attendees learned about:

• The City's Energy Benchmarking program
• The City's Green Business Cost Share program funding
• Xcel Energy's TurnKey assessment program
• Xcel Energy's Recommissioning Study rebates
• CenterPoint Energy's Natural Gas Energy Analysis program
• MNIPL's offerings for faith communities to take action on climate change
• Mount Olive Lutheran Church's Ground-Source Heat Pump system

This September marks the sixth year of benchmarking in the City of Minneapolis. The City will release building efficiency data for the 2017 calendar year for all public commercial buildings greater than 25,000 sq.ft. and private commercial buildings 50,000 sq.ft. and greater.

Visit the City of Minneapolis' Benchmarking Results page to view historic building efficiency data and learn how results will be disclosed.