US Says Record Number of Buildings cut Energyuse
Date: 09-Feb-07
Country: US
Author: Lisa Lambert
About 930 facilities received the government's Energy Star label last year, which is commonly given to energy-efficient appliances, the Environmental Protection Agency said in its annual list of green buildings released Wednesday.
The agency has issued the award since 1992 to 3,200 buildings which saved owners a collective US$600 million in their annual energy bills.
The buildings' energy-savings efforts also prevent almost 11 billion lbs a year of greenhouse gas emissions, which are linked to global warming, from being released into the air. This equals the amount of emissions spewed from about 900,000 vehicles, the EPA said.
"Whether you are running a grocery store, a school, or an office building, getting the most out of your energy dollars -- while reducing your carbon footprint -- just makes sense," said EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson.
With energy costs soaring, more building owners want to make their facilities energy-efficient, said Jean Lupinacci, chief of the EPA's Energy Star commercial and industrial branch. "They're a third less than the cost of average buildings, (which) means there's a lot of financial gain," she said.
Boston's 60-story John Hancock Tower and 500 Boylston Street, the setting for the television show "Boston Legal," both received an Energy Star label in 2006.
The US Customs Building in New York, the Wachovia Financial Center in Florida and the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in California also earned the right to display the EPA award, which is a plaque featuring a shooting star.
Many other less famous buildings were also winners. For the first time, college dormitories earned the Energy Star label.
EPA officials said that many of the buildings became more efficient simply by occupants doing a better job of turning off lights and trimming air conditioner use.
Buildings earning the Energy Star use about 35 percent less energy than average buildings, and about 400 facilities that have so far received the label use 50 percent less energy.
