EPA Announces Top Contenders in Energy Star National Building Competition / In the first six months of the competition, participants saved more than $3.7 million on utility bi...
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program announced the top
contenders at the midpoint of the 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, Fla. 31%
Scientific Instruments (Office): West
Palm Beach, Fla. 30%
Jackson Creek Middle School (K-12
school): Bloomington, Ind. 26%
USE Credit Union (Bank): San Diego,
Calif. 20%
North Suburban Medical Office
Building (Medical Office): Thornton, Colo. 18%
Office Depot (Retail Store): Plano,
Texas 17%
Hammond U.S. Courthouse (Courthouse):
Hammond, Ind. 14%
First Unitarian Society of
Minneapolis (House of Worship): Minneapolis, Minn.
14%
St Mark’s Medical Center
(Hospital): La Grange, Texas 10%
Norandex (Warehouse): Rochester, N.Y.
8%
Kenan Residence Hall at UNC (Dorm):
Chapel Hill, N.C. 3%
The Colonnade Hotel (Hotel): Boston,
Mass. 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
National Building Competition
Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/EnergyStarNBC/favorites
National Building Competition Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/energystar?sk=app_150156391718080
