The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced its list of the top metropolitan areas in the USA with the greatest number of certified Energy Star commercial buildings. The leading ten cities on the list included: Los Angeles, California; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta, Georgia; New York City; San Francisco, California; Chicago, Illinois; Dallas and Houston, Texas; Denver, Colorado; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Municipalities and business with buildings utilizing green construction and energy star designation save money due to energy efficiency and promote improved public health by a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions.
Commercial buildings are responsible for seventeen percent of energy used through the nation. Certified Energy Star commercial and industrial buildings save on average fifty cents per square foot in operations costs than non-green friendly buildings, and consume approximately two times less power and energy than traditional buildings.
There are currently twenty three thousand buildings throughout the US that have earned the Energy Star certification. The total combined saving in utility costs for these buildings is more than three billion dollars.
To earn the Energy Star certification, a building must perform in the top twenty five percent for energy efficiency compared to comparable buildings throughout the nation and be verified by a registered architect or licensed professional engineer. All types of buildings can achieve Energy Star designation including schools, office buildings, hotels and retail establishments. In addition, there are now one and a half million homes and twenty three thousand commercial and industrial buildings that have been awarded the Energy Star label.
WasteCare Wants You to Remember: These Energy Star award winning cities show the economic and environmental benefits that can be achieved when facility managers and owners apply proven approaches to energy efficiency. When was the last time your facility had an energy audit? Going green with Energy Star updates can help to save you green in the long run!