60% Increase in Energy Star Buildings in 2010

In 2010 more than 6,200 commercial buildings
earned the Energy Star label for superior energy efficiency–an increase of nearly 60% over 2009.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today released its
third-annual list of U.S.
cities with the most Energy Star labeled buildings. Los Angeles remained first on the list of list, followed by Washington D.C.
and San Francisco.

Since EPA awarded the first ENERGY STAR to a building in
1999, more than 12,600 buildings across America have earned the label. Overall
annual utility savings have climbed to more than $1.9 billion and greenhouse
gas emissions equal to the emissions of nearly 1.3 million homes a year have
been prevented.

Los Angeles remains in first place for the third year, while
the District of Columbia and San Francisco hold second and third respectively
for the second year.

Detroit and Sacramento are new to the top ten; and New York
City climbed five spots to claim fifth in the rankings. California boasts more
cities on EPA’s list than any other state in the country with a total of five.

A couple of standout buildings in the top three cities
include a Staples store and the John W. Mack Elementary School in Los Angeles;
the National Housing Center Corporation and U.S. Department of Transportation
Building in Washington, D.C.; and the Embarcadero Center and Wells Fargo Center
in San Francisco. A combination of behavioral changes (such as energy
efficiency training programs for employees) and facility upgrades (such as
lighting retrofits) led to big energy and cost savings for these buildings, EPA
said.

The top 25 U.S. metropolitan areas with the greatest number
of ENERGY STAR certified buildings in 2010 are:

1. Los Angeles, CA
2. Washington, DC
3. San Francisco, CA
4. Chicago, IL
5. New York, NY
6. Atlanta, GA
7. Houston, TX
8. Sacramento, CA
9. Detroit, MI
10. Dallas-Fort Worth, TX
11. Denver, CO
12. Boston, MA
13. Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN
14. Philadelphia, P
15. Portland, OR
16. Seattle, WA
17. Phoenix, AZ
18. Austin, TX
19. Charlotte, NC
20. San Diego, CA
21. Miami, FL
22. San Jose, CA
23. Des Moines, IA
24. Indianapolis, IN
25. Cincinnati, OH

For additional information about these buildings and more,
check out the ENERGY STAR certified building
locator at the link below.