COVID-19 Resources for Buildings

ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager COVID-19 related guidance for benchmarking and certification

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way many buildings in the United States operate. ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager has assessed the impact of these changes on 1-100 ENERGY STAR scores and have updated some of their guidance accordingly. Their first priority continues to be the health and safety of all of their stakeholders. The guidance below will allow more of you to apply for ENERGY STAR certification (*not required by Atlanta’s Commercial Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance) while complying with the recommendations of medical experts for reducing the risk of exposure to the coronavirus.

See more here.

General COVID-19 Recovery

A list of resources related to the pandemic’s effect on commercial and multifamily facilities:

Facilities Net

List of Resources

BOMA International

Coronavirus Resource Roundup

Urban Land Institute (ULI)

• Public Health and Real Estate: Resources on COVID-19

Uptime Institute

COVID-19: Minimizing Critical Facility Risk

OSHA

COVID-19 Resources

Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance (SEEA)

COVID-19 Resource Center

Re-Opening Buildings

A list of resources to support buildings in pursuing a safe and efficient re-opening process:

Center for Disease Control (CDC)

Guidance for Reopening Buildings After Prolonged Shutdown or Reduced Operation

ASHRAE

Building Reopening Guide

Gensler

Back to the Office, Return Strategies for the Workplace and Office Buildings

International Code Council (ICC)

Coronavirus Response Center

American Institute of Architects (AIA)

Re-occupancy Assessment Tool

US Green Building Council (US GBC)

Helping Buildings and Spaces with Post-Pandemic Re-Entry

Arc Re-Entry is a set of tools that can be used

• To document and benchmark infection-control policies and procedures.
• To collect and analyze related occupant experiences.
• To measure and track indoor air quality.

Occupant Health

A list of resources related to making buildings as healthy as possible for occupants and tenants:

World Green Building Council Reports

• Doing Right by Planet and People 
• Case Study Library
• Health, Well-being, and Productivity in offices 

British Council for Offices (BCO) Reports

• Defining and Measuring Productivity in Offices 
• Improving Productivity in the Workplace 

Interact Office Report

Creating Engaging Office Environments 

Center for Active Design

Recommended Operational Strategies, including strengthening cleaning protocols and increasing ventilation rates to minimize recirculated air. 

Resources for Empty Buildings

Not ready to open yet? Here’s some guidance on how to maintain energy and water efficiency and save money, while your building is closed:

Institute for Market Transformation (IMT)

Efficiently Empty: Maintaining Building Efficiency in Empty Buildings

• Identify total remote workers: Confirm which of your tenants will be remote, and for how long to determine what systems to adjust and how.
• Adjust operational schedules and set points: adjust your building’s mechanical and hot water systems to ensure they’re not running unnecessarily at full capacity.
• Turn off equipment: Ensure that all non-emergency lights, equipment, and appliances are turned off. This prevents devices from setting phantom loads and drawing power while in standby mode.
• Complete deferred maintenance needs: Assuming that your managers can get to the building safely, or must be at the property for other reasons, it’s a great time to be able to complete any deferred maintenance during normal business hours.