If you’re the owner of a green building, now’s your chance to get involved in a little energy efficiency competition. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is accepting applications for the EnergyStar National Building Competition. The tag line for the competition is Working off the Waste with EnergyStar and EnergyStar partners are invited to apply.

 

The program is limited to commercial buildings, and contest participants will try to reduce their energy efficiency as much as possible between the start of the contest and Aug. 31, 2010. The building that reduces its energy use the most will be named contest winner.

 

EnergyStar partners have until Feb. 12, 2010 to nominate a building they own or manage for the contest. The EPA will then select 12 buildings and announce the contest participants on April 27, 2010. However, the participants selected to participate in the National Building Competition will be notified on March 8, 2010, so that they can prepare for the April media event.

 

The National Building Competition participants will be required to use the Portfolio Manager tool to monitor the building’s monthly energy use. Data will be collected from Sept. 1, 2008 through Aug. 31, 2010. The building that shows the greatest percentage-based reduction in energy use will be named the winner during an Oct. 26, 2010, celebration.

 

If you’re an EnergyStar partner and want to nominate a building for the contest, you can download the National building Competition application form from the EPA website. Don’t forget, the application deadline is Feb. 12, 2010.