Energy Treasure Hunt

September 25, 2024

Resource Overview


Energy Treasure Hunts are organized by ENERGY STAR. During an Energy Treasure Hunt, teams walk around a facility looking for quick ways to save energy. Those quick fixes can add up to big savings. Hundreds of organizations have used Energy Treasure Hunts to reduce their facilities’ energy use by up to 15 percent. Are you and your crew ready to find the treasure buried within your facilities?


An Energy Treasure Hunt is a collaborative quest where your employees uncover opportunities to save energy. ENERGY STAR offers a wealth of resources to a successful voyage:


Treasure Hunts: A How-to-Guide for Industrial Plants

This 31-page guide includes detailed instructions and examples for Treasure Hunts in industrial facilities. Appendices with detailed planning and preparation checklists are also included.

Detail sheet

Treasure Hunts: A How-to Guide for Commercial Buildings

This 4-page guide walks you through the basics of planning and implementing a 1-2 day Treasure Hunt in any commercial building.

Detail sheet

Treasure Maps

Print out these checklists and take them along during your Treasure Hunt. Any building can use any version, although there are some building-specific items in each.

Learn more


This resource was created and published by ENERGY STAR. You can view the full resource here.

Green Lease Leaders

January 20, 2025
Resource Overview  Launched in 2014 by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Alliance and the Institute for Market Transformation, Green Lease leaders sets the standard for what constitutes a green lease. The program provides guidance in leasing practices to advance mutually beneficial landlord-tenant relationships that lead to higher-performing buildings and healthier, more sustainable communities. Participants benefit from established guidelines and free support while developing their leases, as well as peer leadership recognition and substantial energy savings when leases have been implemented. Honorees are announced annually at the Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Conference .

Build for the Future Funding Navigator

September 13, 2024
The Build for the Future Funding Navigator provides a listing of funding opportunities across federal agencies to support efforts to enhance climate resiliency, energy efficiency, renewable energy integration, healthy housing, workforce development and environmental justice for HUD communities.

ASHRAE: Advanced Energy Design Guides

September 6, 2024
This is a series of publications designed to provide recommendations for achieving zero energy buildings or building energy savings over the minimum code requirements of ANSI/ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1.

ENERGY STAR Action Workbook for Small Business

August 23, 2024
This guidebook provides step-by-step guidance on ways to increase energy efficiency in facilities by implementing realistic and cost-effective energy improvement projects.

ENERGY STAR Product Finder

August 19, 2024
This resource helps you find all the information you need to start shopping for ENERGY STAR certified products, including product details, rebates, and retailers near you.

GHG Emissions Reduction Audit Scope of Work Template

August 14, 2024
The GHG Emissions Reduction Audit Tool helps building owners and operators identify achievable emissions reductions through energy efficiency, electrification, low-GWP refrigerants, and onsite renewable energy.

Low Carbon Action Plan Templates

July 24, 2024
Building and Plant owners can use example templates provided by DOE to outline and prioritize decarbonization projects at a specific site or facility.

Emissions Reduction Planning Framework for Building Portfolios

July 17, 2024
The Framework for GHG Emissions Reduction Planning (ERP) provides guidance to organizations seeking to reduce GHG emissions for their building portfolios and vehicle fleets.

Low Carbon Technology Strategies Toolkit

July 10, 2024
The U.S. Department of Energy developed the Low Carbon Technology Strategies guidance documents to support you in your journey to reduce carbon emissions in your buildings. The primary purpose is to aid owners and operators of existing buildings in planning retrofit and operational strategies to achieve deep carbon reductions.

The Retrofit Playbook for Large Buildings

June 26, 2024
The Retrofit Playbook for Large Buildings offers a living library of case studies, technical resources, and best practices to support high quality, low carbon retrofits.
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