EPA Kicks Off 2011 Energy Star National Building Competition / Teams from 245 buildings around the U.S. compete to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions (HQ)
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program launched the 2011 National
Building Competition: Battle of the
Buildings. Teams from 245 buildings
around the country are going head-to-head to improve energy
efficiency and determine who can reduce their energy use the most.
Nearly five million commercial buildings in the United States are
responsible for approximately 20 percent of both the nation’s
energy use and greenhouse gas emissions at a cost of more than $100
billion annually. Through energy efficiency improvements,
competitors are working to save energy, reduce harmful greenhouse
gas emissions and protect the health of Americans.
“I am excited to see so many companies joining our Battle of
the Buildings competition and finding new ways to improve their
energy efficiency,” said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.
“We’re harnessing our nation's innovative capacity to
save money on electric bills, create a cleaner environment and
protect the health of American families.”
The competition includes 26 different types of commercial
buildings, such as retail stores, schools, hotels, and museums,
some of which are more than 100 years old. Competitors will be able
to exchange ideas and strategies through various social media
applications, including a live Twitter feed and a Facebook forum.
Information about all competitors, including photos and facts about
each, will be featured on the competition website in addition to
tips and links to consumer-friendly information about saving energy
where Americans work, play, and learn.
Competitors will measure and track their building's monthly energy
consumption using EPA's Energy Star online energy tracking tool,
Portfolio Manager. Of the initial 245 competitors, a small group of
buildings will be selected as finalists in July. The finalists will
be required to submit Statements of Energy Performance (SEPs) on
their utility data for the entire competition period, which must be
signed and stamped by a professional engineer or licensed
architect. Among the finalists, the building with the largest
percentage reduction in energy use will be recognized as the winner
in November.
Energy Star was started by EPA in 1992 as a
market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through
energy efficiency. Today, the Energy Star label can be found on
more than 60 different kinds of products as well as new homes and
commercial and industrial buildings that meet strict
energy-efficiency specifications set by EPA. Last year alone,
Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved approximately $18
billion on their energy bills while preventing greenhouse gas
emissions equivalent to the annual emissions of 33 million
vehicles.
More information on the competition:
http://www.energystar.gov/BattleOfTheBuildings