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Six Midwestern cities make EPA's top 25 list with most Energy Star buildings in 2008

Release Date: 03/04/2009
Contact Information: William Omohundro, 312-353-8254, [email protected]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 09-OPA026

(Chicago, Ill. - March 4, 2009) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Region 5 today announced that six metropolitan areas in the region were on EPA's top 25 list of energy-efficient buildings that earned EPA's Energy Star in 2008.

Chicago ranked sixth with 125 buildings, Minneapolis-St. Paul was eighth with 102, Detroit was 14th with 65, Milwaukee was 15th with 62, Grand Rapids, Mich., was 20th with 42, and Madison, Wis., was 25th with 33.

In total, the 429 buildings have saved their owners $137.1 million in utility bills and prevented carbon dioxide emissions equal to those associated with electricity use from more than 114,000 homes for a year.

"Energy Star buildings save energy, save money and protect our environment by reducing greenhouse gases," said Cheryl Newton, director of EPA Region 5's Air and Radiation Division. "They are an important part of the fight against global warming."

In 2008 alone, Energy Star buildings and plants across the country saved more than $1.1 billion in energy costs and reduced more than 7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. The savings are equal to the emissions associated with the electricity use of more than 1 million homes for a year.

Energy Star qualified buildings and plants in America now total more than 6,200 with overall annual utility savings of more than $1.7 billion and prevention of greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to 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 and conserve energy through this voluntary, market-based partnership.

A complete list of Energy Star buildings and plants, including the 2008 Top 25 Cities is at http://energystar.gov/buildinglist. More about EPA's Energy Star programs is at http://energystar.gov/labeledbuildings.