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Atlanta Ranks in Top 25 U.S. Cities with the Most ENERGY STAR Buildings

Release Date: 03/14/2011
Contact Information: Dawn Harris-Young, (404) 562-8421, [email protected]

(ATLANTA – March 14, 2011) Today, the city of Atlanta has been listed as 1 of 25 cities with the greatest number of energy-efficient buildings that earned the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Energy Star certification in 2010.
Atlanta is 6th with 201 buildings certified in 2010.

Energy Star labeled buildings in Atlanta achieved significant reductions in their energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions. These buildings represent more than 50 million square feet and will save nearly $39 million annually in energy costs while preventing greenhouse gas emissions equal to the emissions of nearly 38,700 homes a year. Energy Star buildings and plants are America’s energy all-stars – they save more, use less and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

EPA debuted its list of cities with the most Energy Star certified buildings in 2008. Los Angeles remains in first place for the third year; the District of Columbia and San Francisco hold second and third respectively for the second year; and Detroit and Sacramento are new to the top ten. New York City climbed five spots to claim fifth in the rankings and California boasts more cities on EPA’s list than any other state in the country with a total of five.

Surpassing the growth of the past several years, in 2010 more than 6,200 commercial buildings earned the Energy Star, an increase of nearly 60 percent compared to 2009. Since EPA awarded the first Energy Star to a building in 1999, more than 12,600 buildings across America have earned the Energy Star as of the end of 2010.

Energy use in commercial buildings accounts for nearly 20 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions at a cost of more than $100 billion per year. Commercial buildings that earn the Energy Star must perform in the top 25 percent of buildings nationwide compared to similar buildings and be independently verified by a licensed professional engineer or registered architect each year. Energy Star certified buildings use 35 percent less energy and emit 35 percent less carbon dioxide than average buildings. Fourteen types of commercial buildings can earn the Energy Star, including office buildings, K-12 schools, and retail stores.

More information on the top cities in 2010 with Energy Star certified buildings:
http://www.energystar.gov/TopCities

More information on EPA’s real-time registry of all Energy Star certified buildings:
http://energystar.gov/buildinglist

More information about earning the Energy Star for commercial buildings:
http://energystar.gov/labeledbuildings