EPA Names Cities with the Most Energy Star-Certified Buildings
March 30, 2011
Los Angeles remained atop the list of cities with the most Energy Star-certified buildings in the third annual tally released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on March 14. Los Angeles, with 510 buildings, kept the lead in 2010. Washington, D.C., and San Francisco in second and third place, also retained their spots from the previous year's ranking of energy efficient buildings. Chicago edged up to fourth, and New York jumped five positions to fifth place. Detroit and Sacramento, California, cracked the top ten for the first time.
In a 60% increase over the 2009 building total, more than 6,200 commercial buildings earned the Energy Star, an energy efficiency program administered by DOE and EPA. Commercial buildings that earn the Energy Star must perform in the top 25% of buildings nationwide compared to similar buildings, and they must be independently verified by a licensed professional engineer or registered architect each year. Certified buildings use 35% less energy and emit 35% less carbon dioxide than average buildings. Fourteen types of commercial buildings can earn the Energy Star, including office buildings, schools, and retail stores. See the EPA press release and the list of top 25 cities.