EPA Recognizes 18 Organizations for
Slashing Energy Bills
Source: GreenBiz.com
WASHINGTON, Oct. 27, 2005 - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) has recognized 18 organizations for achieving significant energy
savings and leading their fields in responding to the agency's Energy Star
Building Challenge.
Those honored for achieving at least 10% energy savings included school
districts, a hospital and supermarket, hotel, banking and commercial real
estate companies. They were recognized by EPA administrator Stephen L.
Johnson who also re-issued the challenge, emphasizing improved energy
efficiency as a solution to rising energy costs.
"Whether you are running a business, a school, or a household, getting the
most out of our energy dollars just makes sense," said Johnson. "Today, EPA
is proud to recognize the leaders who have accepted the Energy Star
Commercial Building Challenge by saving on their energy bills and helping
reduce the demand on our nation's energy supply -- all while protecting our
shared environment for the next generation."
The organizations recognized today used EPA's national building energy
performance rating system which helps building managers score the efficiency
of their buildings on a scale of 1 to 100, set goals for improving building
efficiency, and document their improvements. These organizations have either
documented a 10% or greater improvement across all the buildings within
their organization, or have earned an exemplary average rating across all of
their buildings. EPA’s national building energy performance rating system
has been available since 1999, and more than 20,000 buildings have been
rated.
EPA announced the Energy Star Commercial Building Challenge last spring,
encouraging each building owner and manager to make their buildings more
efficient. Commercial and institutional buildings use about $80 billion
worth of energy each year and contribute about 20% of U.S. greenhouse gas
emissions. EPA estimates that if each building owner met the challenge, the
annual energy savings would be $10 billion.
The 2005 Energy Star Leaders are: Buehler Food Markets; Cambridge Savings
Bank; Colorado Springs School District 11; Columbus Hospitality; Douglas,
Emmett & Company; Food Lion, LLC; Giant Eagle, Inc.; Granite Properties;
Gresham-Barlow School District; H-E-B Grocery Company; Independent School
District 197; New York Presbyterian Hospital; Rochester City School
District; Saunders Hotel Group; South Colonie Central School District; USAA
Real Estate Company; The Vanguard Group; and York County School Division.
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