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U.S. EPA honors Los Angeles for being top in energy efficient buildings / Riverside also on list of cities with the most “Energy Star” buildings in the U.S.

Release Date: 03/03/2009
Contact Information: Francisco Arcaute, (213) 244 1815

LOS ANGELES - The City of Los Angeles has the most Energy Star buildings – structures that use approximately one-third less energy – in the U.S., leading the way with 262 buildings completed as of 2008.

Along with San Francisco, Riverside, Sacramento and 21 other cities nationwide, Los Angeles was today honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star program for achieving superior energy efficiency through strategic energy management practices, including effective maintenance and operating practices.

“Energy Star buildings typically use 35 percent less energy and emit 35 percent less greenhouse gases than average buildings,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. “EPA commends all of these cities and all of the others, as well as countless individuals, who are now using more energy efficient appliances and dwellings. They are saving energy, saving money and protecting our environment.”

The Los Angeles Energy Star buildings include the Entertainment Center LLC in Century Plaza and the AG Cambria Reality LLC offices in Santa Monica. In Riverside, the Energy Star buildings include the California Towers and the Market Street Corporate Center.

In 2008, more than 3,300 commercial buildings and manufacturing plants earned the Energy Star - EPA’s label for high efficiency - representing savings of more than $1 billion in utility bills and more than 7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. These buildings include schools, hospitals, office buildings, courthouses, grocery stores, retail centers and auto assembly plants.

The total for Energy Star qualifying buildings and plants in America is now more than 6,200 with overall annual utility savings of more than $1.7 billion and the prevention of the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 2 million cars a year.

Energy use in commercial buildings and manufacturing plants accounts for nearly half of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and nearly half of energy consumption nationwide. For more than a decade, EPA has worked with businesses and organizations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through this voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency.

To view a list of Energy Star buildings and plants, including those in the 2008 Top 25 Cities: http://energystar.gov/buildinglist

To learn more about the Energy Star for buildings and plants:
http://energystar.gov/labeledbuildings