Buildings earning Energy Star certification rise 50% in 2007

Last year, more than 1,400 commercial buildings and plants earned the Energy Star certification.

By Consulting Specifying Engineer Staff February 28, 2008

Last year, more than 1,400 commercial buildings and plants earned the Energy Star certification–a rise of more than 50%. More than 4,100 buildings now have the Energy Star label, with Energy Star buildings in every state.

Energy Star buildings include about 1,500 office buildings, 1,300 supermarkets, 820 K-12 schools, and 250 hotels. Also, more than 185 banks, financial centers, hospitals, courthouses, warehouses, dormitories, and–for the first time–big-box retail buildings earned the Energy Star. More than 35 manufacturing plants such as cement, auto assembly, corn refining, and petroleum refining also are being recognized.

In total, these award-winning commercial buildings and manufacturing plants have saved nearly $1.5 billion annually in lower energy bills and prevented carbon dioxide emissions equal to the emissions associated with electricity use of more than 1.5 million American homes for a year, relative to typical buildings. Commercial buildings that have earned the Energy Star use nearly 40% less energy than average buildings and emit 35% less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, offering a significantly smaller carbon footprint. About 500 Energy Star buildings use 50% less energy than average buildings. Many of these buildings excel due to good energy management practices such as routine energy efficiency benchmarking.

“From a historic office tower in the Big Apple to a small manufacturing plant in America’s heartland, EPA is pleased to see so many organizations offering high-efficiency Energy Star buildings and facilities,” said Robert J. Meyers, principal deputy assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air & Radiation.

Energy Star was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. In 2006, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved about $14 billion on their energy bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 25 million vehicles.

To find Energy Star buildings and industrial facilities in your area, visit https://www.energystar.gov/LabeledList