by Rebecca Walker — May 15, 2009—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), together with American Institute of Architects (AIA), has recognized 75 new commercial building design projects for their energy efficiency under the Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR.
These projects represent a 60 percent increase in the number of qualifying projects over last year.
The Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR connects the energy design intent of a building with its operating performance to energy efficiency throughout the building’s life cycle, says the EPA.
Aimed at creating less greenhouse gas emissions and reducing energy bills, this year’s 75 new projects are estimated to save nearly 100,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions and more than $6 million in energy costs annually across more than 14 million square feet. On average, these projects are estimated to reduce carbon emissions by 50 percent, which meets AIA’s goal for a 50 percent CO2 reduction on newly constructed buildings by 2010, according to the organization.
Since the program’s launch in 2004, nearly 170 building design projects submitted by 84 firms have achieved EPA’s Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR. These projects totaling nearly 28 million square feet of space are designed to prevent more than 180,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year, a 46 percent reduction over average similar buildings, and save more than $12 million in annual energy costs.
For more information, see the Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR Web site.
