The Green Garage Challenge Commitment

Green Garage Registrar: 888-374-PIRK(7475) www.greengaragechallenge.com Email: [email protected]

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The Green Garage Challenge Commitment FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. WHAT IS FIND GREEN GARAGE? 2. WHAT IS THE GREEN GARAGE CHALLENGE? 3. WHAT IS GREEN GARAGE RATING? 4. WHAT IS GREENHOUSE GAS LABELING? 5. WHAT IS THE ENERGY STAR® PORTFOLIO MANAGER? 6. WHAT IS SUSTAINABILITY SCHOOL TRAINING? 7. WHAT IS A GREEN GARAGE CHALLENGE SPONSOR? 8. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR GREEN CERTIFICATION? 9. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR SUSTAINABILITY? 10. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR BENCHMARKING? 11. WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR GREENHOUSE GAS MONITORING? 12. WHAT IS A BENCHMARK? 13. WHAT ARE GREEN METRICS? 14. HOW DO OWNERS MEASURE GREEN PERFORMANCE? 15. WHAT ARE THE TYPICAL RATINGS FOR SERVICE & REPAIR SHOPS? 16. WHEN IS A BENCHMARK REPORT NEEDED? 17. HOW LONG IS THE BENCHMARK REPORT VALID? 18. YOU’RE REGISTERED, NOW WHAT? 19. WHERE REPORTS NEED TO BE SUBMITTED? 20. WHAT JURISDICTIONS REQUIRE REPORTING?



1. What is Find Green Garage? The Find Green Garage public service is a, Grant funded, Search Engine Optimization (SEO) program for locating various automotive service and repair facility(s) rated for Greenhouse Gas emissions in accordance with local government reporting requirements. Registration is subject to the building owner, or his/her/its authorized agent, verification of the facility energy performance and Green sustainability.

2. What is the Green Garage Challenge? The Green Garage Challenge program is an independent certification and consumer-protection program to validate carbon footprint reduction at the automotive services level in accordance with the “truth in marketing” standards established in the U.S. and Canada.

3. What is a Green Garage Rating? The Green Garage, community service, pop-up “bubble” depicts building energy efficiency percentile rating of 1-10 for Greenhouse Gas emission metrics, including the Green Sustainability reporting rate: = Commitment; =Annual; =Semiannual; =Quarterly; =Monthly.

Example:

4. What is Greenhouse Gas Labeling? GHG rating scores are based on new mandatory vehicle “window sticker” labeling requirements for fuel economy and environmental protection beginning in 2013. The EPA regulation includes Greenhouse Gas (GHG) and smog (VOC) emissions ratings, estimates of fuel cost over a five year period, and a QR Code that can be scanned by a smartphone to allow the public to access current online information.

Example: (EPA vehicle label law)



5. What is an ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager? You must use the EPA’s online software, ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager. Portfolio Managers collect the energy usage data from the local utility (electricity, gas, water & waste) using the EPA’s Automated Benchmarking Service (ABS). Portfolio Manager then calculates the energy used per square foot and, given the size of the building, location and other operational characteristics, provides a percentile ranking between 1 and 100.

Example:

6. What is Sustainability School training? Sustainability School training certification is available, without charge, to maintain Green Garage recognition pursuant to ASTM, EPA, FTC, and OSHA general requirements, standards and practices.

Example:



7. What is a Green Garage Challenge Sponsor? Authorized Green Garage Challenge Sponsors are energy efficiency partners that measure and

report associated members’ facility building energy and greenhouse gas "GHG" emissions reduction on a continuous basis, including environmental statistics for: Barrels of Oil Saved; Acres of Forest Saved; Gallons of Gasoline Saved; Cubic Yards of Landfill Saved; and, metric tonnes of CO2e reduced. An “Organization” sponsor is a for profit company; An “Association” sponsor is a non-profit trade association; and a “Supplier” is a licensed distributor possessing a local resale Registration Statement.

Example:

8. Who is Responsible for Green Certification? The building owner or his/her/its authorized agent.

9. Who is responsible for Sustainability? The building owner or his/her/its authorized agent.

10. Who is responsible for Benchmarking? The building owner or his/her/its authorized agent.

11. Who is responsible for Greenhouse Gas Monitoring? The building owner or his/her/its authorized agent collects the energy usage data from the local utility (electricity and gas). You must use the EPA’s online software using the EPA Carbon Footprint Calculator or the EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator for Carbon Dioxide equivalency to reflect the time-integrated radiative forcing of a quantity of emissions or rate of greenhouse gas emission—a flow into the atmosphere—rather than the instantaneous value of the radiative forcing of the stock (concentration) of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere described equivalent Carbon Dioxide (CO2e).

http://www.epa.gov/climateleadership/smallbiz/footprint.html

http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html



12. What is a Benchmark? An energy benchmark consists of a systematic approach for collecting building and energy-use over a given time period (11 month minimum) to determine the energy-use per square foot for the building. Typically the Environmental Protection Agency’s Portfolio Manager (PM) software is used for the processing and reporting on the data. A building’s energy-use intensity is similar to fuel efficiency for a car (see: GHG labeling), except building energy efficiency is measured by annual energy-use per square foot, or by relative/operational work-hours. (Also known as Energy Use Intensity or EUI) To make the comparison valid across many buildings, the energy-use per square foot is normalized for factors such as type of use (office, restaurant, warehouse, auto service, etc.), age of building, number of people, number of PCs, hour of operation and location (climate) for an “apples to apples” comparison. This normalized energy-use intensity is compared against the median energy use in the EPA database to generate a percentile ranking or score. A score of 50 would mean that the building is considered “average”. A score of 70 means the building is more efficient than 70% of all buildings in the EPA database. A score of 75% may earn an ENERGY STAR® label for the building.

13. What are Green Metrics? The Green Garage Challenge charter requires owners of non-residential, North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) automotive service and repair designation, buildings to measure usage units for electricity, natural gas/propane/oil used for heating, water and waste. Engineering units of usage, i.e., Sqft, Kwh, lbs, KW, Gal, cfm, BTU, Therms, etc., are converted into kilojoules of energy (carbon footprint) in accordance with U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR® and International Standards (ISO) of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) equivalence (CO2e) for Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions measurement.

14. How do Owners Measure Green Performance? The facility owner may prepare Greenhouse Gas emissions reduction and sustainability reports them self, delegate the task to office staff, or his/her/its authorized agent. The EPA calculation and conversion software is available online and it is free. Software training is available from the local utility. The owner may outsource the preparation of the EPA benchmark reports to a third party who will prepare the reports and submit them to the regulatory authorities of a transaction, if applicable. There are companies that prepare benchmark reports as part of their energy auditing services or equipment sales. Just make sure they will prepare it promptly even if there is no follow-on business for them. They should also be familiar with state real estate transactions filing and reporting requirements which consist of more than just the standard EPA Statement of Energy Performance report.



15. What are the Typical Ratings for Service & Repair Shops?

TYPICAL SHOP ENERGY EFFICIENCY RATINGS TYPE OF AUTOMOTIVE SERVICE AND REPAIR FACILITY RATING

New facility built to building code standards 65-72

New facility with some energy-efficiency improvements 73-79

Energy-efficient new facility 80-90

Facility requiring little or no purchased energy 91-100

For a brand new shop, a rating of 80 or higher is excellent.

1National Median Source Energy Use and Performance Comparisons by Building Type

Building Use Description2

Median Source EUI3 (kBtu/Sqft)

Average Percent (%) Electric Use

Median Site EUI (kBtu/Sqft)

Vehicle Repair/Service 96 63% 45

Vehicle Dealerships 139 67% 53 1Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) was used to calculate values presented in this table. The data is gathered from the Dept. of Energy’s – Energy Information Administration (EIA). These are building types that are not currently available in EPA’s Target Finder and Portfolio Manager. 2Buildings Use Descriptions are taken from valid building activities as defined by EIA in the 2003 CBECS data. The building type in the blue shaded rows is defined according to the CBECS variable for “Principal Building Activity” (PBA8) which is a broader defined category. The subset of building types listed below those broader categories is defined according to the CBECS variable for PBAPLUS8. These are defined as a more specific building activity within the broader PBA8 category. 3Median Energy Values are computed by calculating the EUI for each individual building and then computing a median EUI for each category, applying the CBECS survey sample weights. The median represents the 50th percentile of a distribution (i.e. group or sample) of numbers. When the numbers in the group are ranked from smallest to largest, the median is the number in the middle. Half of the numbers in the group fall above the median and half of the numbers fall below the median. It is comparable to a score of 50 on the ENERGY STAR® performance scale – where half of the buildings of a given type use more energy than the median and half of the buildings use less energy.

16. When is a Benchmark Report Needed? In States requiring a transaction report, the building owner shall disclose the Disclosure Summary Sheet, Statement of Energy Performance, Data Checklist and the Facility Summary for the building(s) to:

a. A prospective buyer of the building, no later than 24 hours prior to execution of the sales contract

b. A prospective lessee of the entire building, no later than 24 hours prior to the execution of the lease

c. A prospective lender financing the entire building, no later than submittal of the loan application

d. Most statutes require that you start the process of benchmarking at least 30 days prior to the disclosure being required which is 24 hours before signing a contract.



17. How long is the Benchmark Report Valid? In States requiring transaction reports, the report is valid for only 30 days, but can be easily updated, assuming there are no significant changes in occupancy level and tenant mix. Only the changes to the building’s use need be entered. The energy-use information from the utility is updated automatically.

18. You’re Registered, NOW WHAT? If the building has received an ENERGY STAR score of 75 or more, it may qualify for the ENERGY STAR® label. The benchmark results need to be verified, and a site visit needs to be conducted by a Licensed Engineer to ensure the building meets basic standards for indoor air quality, ASHRAE thermal comfort and IESNA lighting quality. Regardless of the ENERGY STAR® score, there may be substantial room for improvement in energy efficiency that would reduce the operating costs for gas and electricity. The next step would be to conduct an ROI Assessment, where an environmental engineer would review the facility operational conditions, expenditures and methods to reduce energy consumption and prevent pollution. The highest payback for decreasing energy usage is in the installation of controls and implementation of Green behavioral practices. For lighting this would consist of the installation of occupancy and/or daylight sensors to reduce unnecessary energy use. For heating and air conditioning, programmable thermostats are a first step. Other energy saving steps might include de-lamping (eliminating unneeded lamps or bulbs) and re-lamping with more efficient light bulbs. These are all low cost solutions. An energy efficient professional might recommend more capital-intensive projects to reduce energy, water and waste further. Energy efficient projects tend to have a high return on investment and compete favorably for use of capital. Once an energy (Carbon Footprint) benchmark is conducted it will be easy to measure results by continuously monitoring GHG against an established “baseline” after improvements have been made.

19. Where Reports need to be submitted? From the EPA Portfolio Manager website, the reports can be downloaded to the applicable Energy Commission’s website. All reports are secure in a password protected; online record book, i.e., Greenhouse Gas sustainability reports, Key Performance Indicator (KPI) metrics, building Disclosure Summary Sheet, Statement of Energy Performance, Data Checklist, and Facility Summary. Complementary public verification of EPA Portfolio Manager Data and Energy Benchmark (Carbon Footprint) calculations for Greenhouse Gas reduction and sustainability reporting may be submitted to:

Green Garage Challenge Administrator

c/o Government Regulatory Compliance LLC Find Green Garage Registrar - www.FG2.us GRC-Pirk Management, POB 21270, Reno, NV 89515 1135 Terminal Way, Suite 208 Ste-B, Reno, NV 89502

Toll Free Phone: 888.374.7475 - Fax: 866.729.3892



20. What Jurisdictions Require Reporting? Local jurisdictions in the U.S. and Canada have begun aggressive policies aimed at commercial, multifamily and government buildings. There are numerous building energy policies in the U.S. and Canada with specific benchmarking, rating and disclosure requirements unique to each locality. Each jurisdiction's policy parameters are summarized by the date rating legislation was enacted, the period of time needed to fully implement the mandate, the rating or benchmarking tool used, the parties to whom information must be disclosed, and the building types affected. Policies under development or consideration are required for the calendar year, beginning January 1, 2013 as follows:

AUSTIN, TX Learn more...

Law: Energy Conservation Audit & Disclosure (ECAD) Ordinance Enacted: November 2008 Implementation: June 2011 Rating tool: Portfolio Manager, ACLARA

Disclosure: Buyers, Government Building Type: All public and non-residential buildings Rating Type: Operational

CALIFORNIA Learn more...

Law: Assembly Bill 1103 Enacted: October 2007 Implementation: 2010-2012 Rating tool: Portfolio Manager

Disclosure: Buyers, Lessees, Lenders, Government Building Type: Non-residential buildings Rating Type: Operational

NEW YORK CITY, NY Learn more...

Law: Local Law 84 Enacted: December 2009 Implementation: 2010-2013 Rating tool: Portfolio Manager

Disclosure: Public website, Government Building Type: Public buildings > 10,000 sq.ft., Commercial & Multifamily buildings> 50,000 sq.ft. Rating Type: Operational

MINNEAPOLIS Learn more...

Law: Commercial Building Rating and Disclosure Ordinance Enacted: January 2013 Implementation: TBD Rating tool: Portfolio Manager

Disclosure: Public Website, Government Building Type: Non-residential buildings > 50,000 sq. ft. Rating Type: Operational

PHILADELPHIA Learn more...

Law: Bill No. 120428-A Enacted: June 2012 Implementation: TBD Rating tool: Portfolio Manager

Disclosure: Buyers, Lessees, Public Website, Government Building Type: Non-residential buildings > 50,000 sq. ft. Rating Type: Operational

http://www.buildingrating.org/content/policy-brief-austin-tx


http://www.buildingrating.org/content/policy-brief-state-california


http://www.buildingrating.org/content/policy-brief-new-york-city


http://www.buildingrating.org/content/minneapolis-policy-brief


http://www.buildingrating.org/content/policy-brief-philadelphia

http://www.buildingrating.org/content/policy-brief-philadelphia







SAN FRANCISCO, CA Learn more...

Law: Existing Commercial Buildings Energy Performance Ordinance Enacted: February 2011 Implementation: 2011-2013 Rating tool: Portfolio Manager

Disclosure: Public Website, Government, Tenants Building Type: Public and commercial buildings > 10,000 sq.ft. Rating Type: Operational

SEATTLE, WA Learn more...

Law: Council Bill 116731 Enacted: January 2010 Implementation: 2011-2013 Rating tool: Portfolio Manager

Disclosure: Government, Tenants Building Type: Public buildings > 10,000 sq.ft., Private non-residential buildings> 50,000 sq.ft., Multifamily buildings > 5 units Rating Type: Operational

WASHINGTON STATE Learn more...

Law: Efficiency First, SB 5854 Enacted: May 2009 Implementation: 2011-2013 Rating tool: Portfolio Manager

Disclosure: Buyers, Lessees, Lenders Building Type: Public buildings > 10,000 sq.ft., Private non-residential buildings> 50,000 sq.ft. Rating Type: Operational

WASHINGTON, DC Learn more...

Law: Clean & Affordable Energy Act Enacted: July 2008 Implementation: 2010-2014 Rating tool: Portfolio Manager

Disclosure: Public website, Government Building Type: Public buildings> 10,000 sq. ft., Commercial & Multifamily buildings > 50,000 sq.ft. Rating Type: Operational

Portland, OR (UNDER DEVELOPMENT)

Law: n/a Enacted: n/a Implementation: n/a Rating tool: Portfolio Manager

Disclosure: Government Building Type: Commercial & Multifamily buildings > 20,000 sq.ft. Rating Type: Operational

State of Massachusetts (UNDER DEVELOPMENT)

Law: n/a Enacted: n/a Implementation: n/a Rating tool: TBD

Disclosure: Public website Building Type: Public buildings. 10,000 sq.ft., Commercial & Multifamily buildings > 10,000 sq.ft. Rating Type: Asset

http://www.buildingrating.org/content/policy-brief-san-francisco


http://www.buildingrating.org/content/policy-brief-seattle-wa


http://www.buildingrating.org/content/policy-brief-washington-state


http://www.buildingrating.org/content/policy-brief-washington-dc








The Green Garage Challenge Commitment

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