San Diegos USE Credit Union building among Top Contenders in EPAs Energy Star National Building Competition (CA)
(7/27/11) WASHINGTON – Located in San Diego, Calif., the
USE Credit Union building has reduced its energy by 20%, saving
$12,213, which places it among the Top Contenders at the midpoint
of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy
Star 2011 National Building Competition: Battle of the
Buildings.
The list of Top Contenders identifies the
leaders with the greatest percent reduction of energy use in each
of the twelve building categories in the competition. EPA also
provided an update on the progress of all participants as they
continue to go head-to-head to save energy, reduce costs and
protect Americans’ health and their environment.
“Competitors in the second year of the
Energy Star Battle of the Buildings are already achieving
energy-savings that really pack a punch,” said EPA Assistant
Administrator for Air and Radiation, Gina McCarthy. “The
stories behind these energy-savings speak to the dedication of
American businesses and organizations to protecting the environment
and public health, and to economic common
sense.”
In the first six months of the competition
alone, teams representing 245 buildings around the country have
saved more than $3.7 million on utility bills and reduced
greenhouse gas emissions equal to the electricity used by 2,300
homes annually. Competitors measure and track their building's
monthly energy consumption using EPA's Energy Star online energy
tracking tool, Portfolio Manager. The building with the largest
percentage reduction in energy use, adjusted for weather and the
size of the building, will be recognized as the winner in
November.
The Top Contenders in each building
category/percent energy reduction at the midpoint of the
competition:
University of Central Florida Garage C (Other):
Orlando, FL 31%
Scientific Instruments (Office): West Palm
Beach, FL 30%
Jackson Creek Middle School (K-12 school):
Bloomington, IN 26%
USE Credit Union (Bank): San Diego, CA
20%
North Suburban Medical Office Building (Medical
Office): Thornton, CO 18%
Office Depot (Retail Store): Plano, TX
17%
Hammond U.S. Courthouse (Courthouse): Hammond,
IN 14%
First Unitarian Society of Minneapolis (House of
Worship): Minneapolis, MN 14%
St Mark’s Medical Center (Hospital): La
Grange, TX 10%
Norandex (Warehouse): Rochester, NY
8%
Kenan Residence Hall at UNC (Dorm): Chapel Hill,
NC 3%
The Colonnade Hotel (Hotel): Boston, MA
2%
Competitors from 26 different types of commercial buildings across
33 states and the District of Columbia are utilizing social media
applications, including a live Twitter feed and
a
Facebook forum
to exchange ideas and strategies. Consumers can
also go online to view details on the competitors in their region
and find information about saving energy where they work, play, and
learn.
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 about $18 billion on
their energy bills while preventing greenhouse gas emissions
equivalent to the annual emissions of 33 million
vehicles.
List of Top Contenders and all participants as well as more
information on the competition:
http://www.energystar.gov/BattleOfTheBuildings
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