Los Angeles leads U.S. boom in Energy Star buildings
Los Angeles continues to lead U.S. cities in the number of efficient Energy Star buildings, which increased 40% nationwide last year, the Environmental Protection Agency reports today.
Washington, D.C., where more federal buildings are going green, had the second highest number in 2009, followed by San Francisco, Denver, Chicago and Houston. New York City ranked 10th among the top 27 cities, according to EPA's second annual report card.
EPA awards its Energy Star mark to commercial buildings that score in the top 25% of buildings nationwide for efficiency. Among them are schools, hospitals, office buildings, retail stores, and supermarkets.
Nationwide, 3,900 buildings earned Energy Star last year, bringing the total to 9,000 buildings since the program began in 1999. Each year, EPA says they save $1.6 billion in utility bills and prevent greenhouse gas emissions equal to that of more than one million homes .
The EPA also awards Energy Star to efficient homes. Since it launched that program in 1995, it's approved more than 1 million. In 2008, Energy Star homes accounted for nearly 17% of all single-family homes built, up from 12% in 2007.
The top 25 cities, based on the number of Energy Star qualified commercial buildings in 2009 are:
Los Angeles
Washington
San Francisco
Denver, CO
Chicago, IL
Houston, TX
Lakeland, FL
Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
Atlanta, GA
New York, NY
Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
Portland, OR
Boston, MA
Seattle, WA
Detroit, MI
Sacramento, CA
San Diego, CA
Austin, TX
Miami, FL
Phoenix, AZ
Ogden, UT
Charlotte, NC
Indianapolis, IN
Des Moines, IA; Fort Collins, CO; Philadelphia, PA
Louisville, KY
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