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Washington D.C. among top 10 cities with Energy Star certified buildings

Release Date: 03/15/2011
Contact Information: Bonnie Smith, 215-814-5543, [email protected]

PHILADELPHIA (March 15, 2011) – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced today that more buildings than ever have earned the EPA’s Energy Star certification in 2010. Washington, D.C., for the second year in a row, ranks second as the country’s top cities with the most Energy Star buildings. Energy Star buildings play an important role in preventing harmful air emissions that effect climate change, plus they reduce energy use and save money.

"The greater Washington D.C. metropolitan area has emerged as a national leader in the realm of energy efficiency and renewable energy. I encourage communities across the mid-Atlantic to follow their example and enjoy the immediate cost savings that result from more efficient use of energy in commercial buildings," said EPA’s mid-Atlantic Regional Administrator
Shawn M. Garvin.

There are 114 commercial buildings in D.C. that have become Energy Star certified, and across the country more than 6,200 commercial buildings earned the Energy Star in 2010. Nationally this is 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 certification.

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.