What is the advantage of sharing access to ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager data with USGBC for a project without an ENERGY STAR label?

Sharing access to ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager data with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for a project that does not have an ENERGY STAR label can minimize the supporting documents required for certification. This is beneficial because it streamlines the certification process by allowing the USGBC to directly verify the energy performance data through the ENERGY STAR platform. By accessing this data, the USGBC can assess energy efficiency without the need for exhaustive documentation that typically proves energy performance, thus reducing the administrative burden on project teams.

The other available options do address some aspects of energy performance and operations, but they do not align as closely with the specific advantage of access to portfolio data in the context of certification. Therefore, this particular advantage significantly facilitates the certification experience and is aligned with efficiency and streamlined processes in the LEED certification journey.