LA Tops EPA’s List of ENERGY STAR-Certified Buildings
Such buildings emit an average of 35% less energy and 35% less carbon dioxide emissions.
Los Angeles is by far the leading city when it comes to having ENERGY STAR-certified commercial buildings, outdistancing Washington, D.C., New York, Atlanta, and San Francisco, according to a new report from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
LA had 876 such buildings, followed by D.C. with 631, and New York with 390.
EPA says 16% of the nation’s greenhouse gas emissions come from energy used by commercial buildings at a cost of more than $190 billion per year.
ENERGY STAR-certified buildings use an average of 35% less energy and are responsible for 35% less carbon dioxide emissions than typical buildings.
Across the country, more than 8,800 commercial buildings earned the ENERGY STAR last year.
To earn the EPA’s ENERGY STAR, a commercial building must earn a score of 75 or higher on the EPA’s 1 – 100 scale, indicating that it is more energy efficient than 75% of similar buildings nationwide. Key factors include energy use, hours of operation, and a variety of other operating characteristics.
Provo, Utah, led the way in the EPA’s mid-sized city category with 125 buildings; followed by Raleigh, N.C., with 82; Louisville with 55; Jacksonville with 53, and Tulsa with 50. Jacksonville and Tulsa were placed in the top five for the first time.
For small cities, Jackson, Mich., led the way with 34 buildings; followed by San Angelo, Texas, with 22; Bloomington, Ill., with 15; Sebring, Fla., and Manhattan, Kan., with 13 apiece.