As of January 13, 2025, Asphalt Paving Plants in the USA and Canada can apply for the USEPA’s ENERGY STAR certification using updated tools and guidance. This certification comes with marketing opportunities, including branding with a nationally recognized program. This certification is earned by demonstrating energy efficiency and validating plant profitability and energy conservation initiatives. Done right, the certification process enables facilities to assess energy efficiency performance over time and may also result in finding additional energy savings opportunities.
An Energy Performance Indicator (EPI) tool is used to score asphalt paving plants’ energy performance. Plants applying for certification must score 75 or better to qualify for the program designation. The formula for successful certification includes documenting regulatory compliance, assessing operating periods, calculating onsite energy use and associated production volumes, plus other considerations. A licensed Professional Engineer (PE) must sign and stamp a “Statement of Energy Performance” and complete a “PE Verification Checklist” as part of the application package.
Energy Star Eligibility
Asphalt paving plants in the USA and Canada with more than 50% of their product value coming from production of asphalt for paving may be eligible for ENERGY STAR certification. Further qualifications include an annual production volume over 30,000 short tons and mobile/portable asphalt plants that have been stationary for the last 12 months. Note that seasonal plants that have not been in production for 12 consecutive months may still be eligible for ENERGY STAR certification.
Eligible facilities for the ENERGY STAR certification include those without significant violations of the Clean Air Act, have not had consent decrees issued in the past year, are in compliance with older decrees, and have no criminal convictions in the past 5 years. The USEPA will screen plant compliance using publicly available information online as a first step. The USEPA will consider the magnitude of violations when assessing compliance criteria.
Energy use and site data must be entered into the USEPA’s Energy Performance Indicator (EPI) that was developed for the asphalt paving industry. A score of 75 or better qualifies for the ENERGY STAR certification. All data must be documented using utility bills or delivery receipts, for example.
Energy Performance Indicator (EPI)
The EPI is a statistical model that uses up to 12 rolling months of operating data, including energy for plant operations and power equipment such as loaders, onsite trucks, air compressors, etc., to benchmark facility energy use. The volume of the total asphalt mix sold will also be included with the data inputs. The asphalt sold value includes reclaimed asphalt pavement and recycled asphalt but does not include mix that is wasted during startup/shutdown and mix changes. Another input to the model is the climate zone where the plant is located, based upon the facility’s zip code. The climate zone will reflect if the area of operations is wet or dry, freeze or non-freeze.
Regarding the energy data, all forms of energy purchased or transferred in the 12-month period must be entered into the model. Data for electricity will include energy from renewable energy sources onsite, virtual power purchase agreements, and other off-site electricity purchases. Energy that is sold or transferred off-site is not included in the model. Energy used to produce compressed air by offsite sources is included, as is electricity used to produce chilled water that comes from offsite. Energy consumed from other onsite generation such as diesel generators, or the energy that is sold or transferred offsite, is not included in the model. Recovered energy and steam are also accounted for in the model.
Energy costs can be entered into the model to demonstrate financial loss and gains from energy conservation measures. However, this data does not impact the EPI score.
Application Process
The application process for ENERGY STAR certification begins by establishing a 12-month annual cycle for the EPI modeling. Facilities can be strategic when choosing the initial 12-month data period as the end date can be any time within the last 12 months. However, once established, recertification will roll continuously forward from the initial 12-month end date.
Next, a formal certification file needs to be created for the data that must be maintained for five years. Copies of all data used to calculate the EPI plant score and all documents used to prove plant certification eligibility must be kept in this file. Database links do not satisfy this recordkeeping requirement.
A PE will need to review the EPI data and supporting documents. The PE must be familiar with the EPI process as they will need to sign and stamp a ‘Statement of Energy Performance’ and a ‘PE Verification Checklist.’ This PE can be a company employee, or a third-party resource, and does not have to be from the state where the facility is located. In accordance with good engineering practices, the PE who does the validations should not be the person who does the initial calculations.
On top of the PE certification process, the calculations used to create the EPI score will need to be replicated by either a USEPA certification manager, or a USEPA-designated reviewer if the data is confidential, to finalize the application.
Finally, there are two additional application forms that need to be completed for the ENERGY STAR certification process to provide background information for facility operations in accordance with the certification process.
A substantial amount of guidance information is available online from the USEPA and also from Trinity Consultants.
ENERGY STAR Program Benefits
The ENERGY STAR program uses EPIs to help facilities measure and benchmark plant performance, evaluate potential energy improvement opportunities and their impact on plant performance, set performance improvement goals, and assess changes in plant performance over time. A score above 50 is above average and a score below 50 has the potential for significant energy saving opportunities.
The ENERGY STAR program is a nationally recognized certification that will empower facility sustainability leaders, provide a point of pride to plant employees, and give the facility bragging rights within their community. In short, the marketing potential is a value-add to the energy efficiencies plants demonstrate during the certification process. The primary goal for energy-efficient plants is to save resources, money, and reduce environmental impacts.
Complimentary Informational Webinar
Asphalt Paving Plants across the U.S. and Canada are eligible for ENERGY STAR certification. Learn how to validate your plant’s energy conservation efforts and enhance profitability and operational efficiency. Join our upcoming FREE webinar, ENERGY STAR for the Asphalt Paving Industry. Our subject matter experts will guide you through the certification process and share key insights.
Trinity can help Asphalt Pavement Plants with ENERGY STAR program applications, provide the required PE reviews, and/or manage the application process all the way through to certification. Contact one of our experts:
Andrew Kriegbaum, PE,
Jose Orsini,
Rich Pandullo, or
Andrea Simmons.
