by Jbs121409 d3 — December 16, 2009—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing a publication marking the first decade of its ground-breaking energy efficiency program for the commercial marketplace, Energy Star.
Celebrating a Decade of Energy Star Buildings tells the history behind the Energy Star program and its development into a leading energy efficiency brand in the commercial marketplace. Buildings highlighted demonstrate the diversity of types of Energy Star buildings, including:
- The oldest building to earn the Energy Star: Cambridge Savings Bank in Cambridge, MA;
- The tallest building to earn the Energy Star: Aon Center in Chicago, IL;
- The largest building to earn the Energy Star: USAA McDermott Building in San Antonio, TX; and
- The first building to earn the Energy Star: Ridgehaven Green Building in San Diego, CA.
Several buildings with notable tenants are also listed, including Amazon.com in Seattle, WA; National Geographic Society in Washington, DC; and MTV in Santa Monica, CA. Finally, a selection of case studies chronicles how the energy efficiency of different buildings improved with help from Energy Star.
Since 1999, Energy Star partners in the commercial marketplace have helped prevent nearly 120 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, equal to the emissions from the annual electricity use of more than 60 million American homes, says EPA. The Energy Star is available for 13 types of commercial buildings. Nearly 9,000 buildings across the nation have earned the Energy Star in its first decade.
To learn more about the Energy Star Commercial and Industrial Program, visit EPA’s Buildings and Plants Web site.
