2,500 Buildings Receive Energy Star Status

The United States Environmental Protection Agency provides energy-efficient and environmentally friendly buildings with Energy Star status each year as a way to spark interest in and growth of energy conscious construction and building usage. In the beginning of 2006, Energy Star status was conferred on over 2500 office buildings, schools, hospitals, and public buildings for superior energy and environmental performance in 2005 by the EPA. The buildings, which represent 482 million square feet, are estimated to be saving about $349 million annually in lower energy bills while still meeting industry standards for comfort and indoor air quality. This means that these 2500 buildings alone are preventing 1.8 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions. That is equivalent to emissions from 540,000 vehicles.

Commercial buildings are responsible for more than 17 percent of our nation's greenhouse gas emissions. Energy Star-qualified buildings generally use up to 40 percent less energy than typical buildings. Building owners earn the Energy Star by scoring in the top 25 percent on EPA's energy performance rating system and scores are based on actual energy use.

Here is the breakdown for the top performing buildings: 1007 are office buildings, 501 are public schools and 834 are grocery stores. More than 200 hotels, hospitals, medical offices, and other buildings also earned the Energy Star.

Food Lion leads the list as owner of the most Energy Star buildings, but top-performing buildings are found in every state in the nation and the District of Columbia. The most Energy Star buildings are located in California, Texas, North Carolina, Virginia, Colorado, and Ohio.

Energy Star is a government-backed program aimed at helping businesses and consumers protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. More than 7,000 organizations partner with EPA in the Energy Star program. In 2004 alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved $10 billion dollars and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 20 million cars.

» For more information on alternative energy visit Energy Voyager.