by Brianna Crandall — March 15, 2013—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released its annual list of U.S. metropolitan areas with the most Energy Star-certified buildings in 2012, highlighting how owners and managers of commercial buildings across the country are taking action on climate change while delivering real financial savings to the bottom line. In 2012, more than 20,000 Energy Star-certified buildings across America helped save more than $2.7 billion in annual utility bills while preventing greenhouse gas emissions equal to emissions from the annual electricity use of more than two million homes, notes the EPA.
For the fifth year in a row, Los Angeles continues to hold on to first place, with 528 buildings. Washington, DC, with 462 buildings, is a competitive front-runner. In third place, with 353 buildings, Chicago has risen through the rankings each year, starting in sixth place in 2008 and increasing the number of buildings certified by an average of 32 percent each year. Chicago also boasts the highest total floorspace and emissions prevented. New York, which recently required its commercial buildings to publicly disclose their energy use, secured fourth place.
Phoenix broke into the top 10 for the first time, with 202 buildings. Boston, a newcomer to the list last year, held on to 10th place, with 11th place Philadelphia not far behind. Seventh-place Houston, with 241 buildings, is home to one in particular that stands out: Phoenix Tower, a 34-story office building, has earned the EPA’s Energy Star 14 times—more than any other building in America, notes the EPA.
The Top 10 out of the list of 25 Top Cities are:
- Los Angeles
- Washington, DC
- Chicago
- New York
- Atlanta
- San Francisco
- Houston
- Dallas
- Phoenix
- Boston
According to the EPA, energy use in commercial buildings accounts for 17 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions at a cost of more than $100 billion per year. The EPA launched Energy Star 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 65 different product categories and more than 1.4 million new homes, in addition to the more than 20,000 commercial buildings. In 2012 alone, more than 8,200 buildings earned EPA’s Energy Star certification. More data behind Energy Star-certified buildings is available online.
