The Green Garage recently hit a major milestone when we were certified as a green building through ENERGY STAR. We earned a score of 100, meaning that our historic building in Midtown Detroit is more energy efficient than 100% of comparable buildings in the national ENERGY STAR portfolio. This makes us the clear choice for anyone looking for an eco-conscious coworking space in Detroit or Detroit Virtual Office provider. Let’s take a closer look at what ENERGY STAR certification is, how we achieved ours, and what it means for us moving forward.
What is ENERGY STAR certification?
ENERGY STAR is one of several types of green building certifications. (Others you may have heard of include Passive House, LEED, and Living Building Challenge.) It’s administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which describes it as recognizing “commercial, institutional, and industrial buildings for superior energy efficiency, based primarily on operational energy data and comparative performance among similar facility types.” Representing 25% of building stock in the U.S., it is awarded to buildings that achieve a score of 75 or higher.
How does certification work?
In order for a building to become ENERGY STAR certified, a licensed engineer or architect must perform a comprehensive energy analysis. This process includes reviewing 12 months of utility bills, as well as conducting a site visit to assess comfort factors like temperature, humidity, CO2 and lighting levels.
Our analysis was performed by architect Paulina Reyes. She’s the principal of the firm Prospect Works and member of Sustainability Institute of Detroit, a Green Garage-led initiative that helps a growing network of Detroit nonprofits and social enterprises, including Detroit Horse Power and DBG, build, renovate, and operate their own buildings sustainably.
Why does it matter?
Our ENERGY STAR certification doesn’t just demonstrate the Green Garage’s commitment to a more sustainable future. It also empowers the entire network of small businesses, nonprofits, and remote workers who are part of our coworking and Virtual Office communities to know that by partnering with us, they are meaningfully reducing the environmental footprint of their business operations. That’s nearly 100 businesses and individuals who can rest assured knowing that they’re part of a professional community that’s making a real difference.
It is also a proof of concept for our approach to building design and construction, which emphasizes reduced demand for energy and higher return on investment through high-efficiency building systems and renewable energy sources. This certification validates the holistic, collaborative, and science-based approach we pioneered at the Green Garage and which we continue to refine with our community partners through the Sustainability Institute of Detroit.
We’re starting 2026 feeling proud of our new ENERGY STAR certification and grateful to everyone in our network who has supported us in our sustainable journey. But the journey, of course, is far from over, and we’re looking forward to continuing to grow our community of sustainability-minded professionals this year and beyond. There are plenty of opportunities to get involved, whether it’s leasing Detroit coworking space, opening a Virtual Office, or joining us for our twice-a-month community lunches to meet others doing good work in the city and the region. Let’s work together to achieve a more sustainable future for Detroit!