Energy Star Program Working - Let's Keep It Going

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a list of U.S. metropolitan areas with the largest number of energy efficient buildings that earned EPA’s Energy Star in 2009. The list is headed by Los Angeles, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, Denver, Chicago, Houston, Lakeland, Dallas-Fort Worth, Atlanta and New York. Energy efficiency saves building owners money and fights climate change.


These cities see the importance of taking action on climate change," said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “Communities from Los Angeles to Louisville are reducing greenhouse gases and cutting energy bills with buildings that have earned EPA's Energy Star."

EPA first issued its ranking of cities with the most Energy Star labeled buildings last year. This year, Los Angeles remains in first place; the District of Columbia picks up second; Denver and Chicago move into the top five; and Lakeland and New York City are new to the top 10.

Continuing the impressive growth of the past several years, in 2009 nearly 3,900 commercial buildings earned the Energy Star, representing annual savings of more than $900 million in utility bills and more than 4.7 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

Since EPA awarded the first Energy Star to a building in 1999, nearly 9,000 buildings across America have earned the Energy Star as of the end of 2009, representing more than a 40 percent increase over last year’s total. Overall annual utility savings have climbed to nearly $1.6 billion and greenhouse gas emissions equal to the emissions of more than 1 million homes a year have been prevented.

Energy use in commercial buildings accounts for an estimated 17 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions at a cost of over $100 billion per year. EPA awards the Energy Star to commercial buildings that perform in the top 25 percent of buildings nationwide compared to similar buildings. Thirteen types of buildings can earn the Energy Star, including schools, hospitals, office buildings, retail stores and supermarkets.

I've made this comment before, and I'll make it again - the National Green Building Standard Program's Bronze (minimum) level requires that a structure perform 15% more energy efficiently than Energy Star standards. So, with more and more folks building to the National Green Standard, we should see exponential savings in energy usage as we move forward. I would love to see a city like Asheville, one of the Tri-Cities, Boone, Abingdon, or Charlotte on the list as we all continue to push green building ahead. Great progress so far!

New Figures Released May Explain Rising Interest in Green

I was talking to a colleague and a client earlier today, and we were discussing how far “green conversations” have come in the Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia area since this time last year.  It’s truly amazing to think about.  Subcontractors are much more knowledgeable and willing to learn, city/county officials aren’t turning a deaf ear to the conversations, and clients are now interested in all things green.  Some of these things are old hat for those of you in parts of Western North Carolina, but it’s very exciting to see the exponential growth of interest in East Tennessee!  I’m sure that part of the reason for the “new attitude” about green is due in part to the economic situation surrounding the real estate and construction industries – at least for the city and county officials.  When there’s not much going on, officials become much more open to a new idea that may spark some business and growth for their city/town or county.  However, I would like to think that a majority of the growth in interest in green is due in large part to the work of the Northeast Tennessee Green Building Council.  So, here’s a big pat on the back to any of you involved directly or indirectly with the council and getting the word out about green construction over the last year!

 

I also tend to think that some of the new figures that have been released really work to paint a pretty picture of the kind of impact that green construction and remodeling is having on the planet.  And, that can’t be bad for the movement!  According to Department of Energy reports, green homes built to the EnergyStar certification standard in 2009 were the equivalent of: Taking 51,645 vehicles off the road, saving 312,399,672 pounds of coal, planting 85,372 acres of trees, and cutting out 612,678,574 pounds of CO2.  I think those are staggering statistics – especially for techniques that can add as little as 1-3% to construction costs.

 

As a company, we build to the National Green Building Standard which has four certification levels (Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Emerald).  And, what I find really exciting is that the Bronze level of the standard requires 15% better energy efficiency than the EnergyStar certification that was used for the study.  If more folks build to the National Green Standard in 2010, we’re going to really start to reduce our impact on the planet!

 

I like where things are headed in the region where green is involved, and it says a lot that more and more folks are starting to understand that green construction isn’t just impacting the environment – it’s putting money back in the pocket of the consumer!