by Brianna Crandall — May 6,2011—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program launched the 2011 National Building Competition: Battle of the Buildings on May 2. Teams from 245 buildings around the country are competing to improve energy efficiency and determine who can reduce their energy use the most. EPA notes that the nearly five million commercial buildings in the United States are responsible for approximately 20 percent of both the nation’s energy use and greenhouse gas emissions at a cost of more than $100 billion annually.
The competition includes 26 different types of commercial buildings, such as retail stores, schools, hotels, and museums, some of which are more than 100 years old. Competitors will be able to exchange ideas and strategies through various social media applications, including a live Twitter feed and a Facebook forum. Information about all competitors, including photos and facts about each, will be featured on the competition Web site in addition to tips and links to consumer-friendly information about saving energy in all types of buildings.
Competitors will measure and track their building’s monthly energy consumption using EPA’s Energy Star online energy tracking tool, Portfolio Manager. Of the initial 245 competitors, a small group of buildings will be selected as finalists in July. The finalists will be required to submit Statements of Energy Performance (SEPs) on their utility data for the entire competition period, which must be confirmed by a professional engineer or licensed architect. Among the finalists, the building with the largest percentage reduction in energy use will be recognized as the winner in November.
