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University of Florida's Physical Plant Division Central Stores in Gainesville, Fla. Named a Top Finisher in Energy Star National Building Competition

Release Date: 04/17/2014
Contact Information: Dawn Harris Young, (404) 562-8421 (Direct), (404) 562-8400 (Main), [email protected]

ATLANTA – The University of Florida's Physical Plant Division Central Stores in Gainesville, Fla. was recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a top finisher in the annual Energy Star National Building Competition: Battle of the Buildings. The plant division was recognized for reducing their energy use by 29 percent. Teams from more than 3,000 buildings across the country spent the past year competing to obtain the greatest reduction in energy use.

“When we save money on energy costs and increase energy efficiency, we all win,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “I congratulate the competitors and finalists for their dedication to reducing emissions and carbon pollution, and for their leadership in increasing energy efficiency to combat the impacts of our changing climate.”

In support of President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, which calls for buildings to cut waste and become at least 20 percent more energy efficient by 2020, the competition targeted wasted energy in buildings and motivated building owners and occupants to improve energy efficiency, reduce harmful carbon pollution, and save money. Energy use in commercial buildings accounts for nearly 20 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions at a cost of more than $100 billion per year.

Together, competitors in this year’s National Building Competition saved more than $20 million and reduced greenhouse gas emissions by more than 130,000 metric tons—equal to the annual electricity use of nearly 18,000 homes. Many organizations used the competition to involve people—such as staff and students—who might not ordinarily be engaged in such efforts.

Teams from more than 25 different types of commercial buildings faced off in this year’s Energy Star National Building Competition, representing all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Nearly 50 buildings demonstrated energy use reductions of 20 percent or greater in a single year.

The top overall finishers and their percentage-based reductions in energy use include:

Claiborne Elementary School, Baton Rouge, La. 45.9%
Hillside Center II, Columbia, Md. 37.1%
Lake Local - Lake High School/Wellness Center, Uniontown, Ohio 36.2%
UNC-Chapel Hill Bioinformatics Building, Chapel Hill, N.C. 35.8%
High Construction Company Building 105, Mechanicsburg, Pa. 35.3%
JCPenney, Shawnee, Okla. 33.9%
Studebaker Elementary School, Des Moines, Iowa 31.9%
McCombs Middle School, Des Moines, Iowa 29.7%
Eastman Chemical Company Building B-470, Kingsport, Tenn. 29.6%
Eastman Chemical Company Building B-469, Kingsport, Tenn. 29.6%
South Greene High School, Greeneville, Tenn. 29.2%
Fourth Walnut Centre, Cincinnati, Ohio 29.2%
DeBusk Elementary School, Greeneville, Tenn. 29.1%
University of Florida's Physical Plant Division Central Stores, Gainesville, Fla. 29.0%
West Middle School, Shelbyville, Ky. 28.9%