B & P - Program News - 2011

The Governments of United States and Canada Harmonize Approach to Save Energy in Commercial Buildings

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) have signed an agreement that will create a common platform for measuring and assessing the energy performance of commercial buildings in both countries. The agreement will harmonize the approach of the two countries by enhancing EPA’s existing Energy Star Portfolio Manager software tool to track and rate the energy performance of Canadian commercial buildings, in addition to buildings in the United States.

EPA Press Release

NRCan Press Release

EPA Updates Energy Star Tool to Support Greater Energy Efficiency in Hospitals

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Today, EPA released an important update to ENERGY STAR's national energy performance scale methodology for hospitals. The updated performance scale will help hospitals better assess their energy performance and make more informed financial and investment decisions in order to cut costs and improve their energy efficiency.

Updated ENERGY STAR Scale for Hospitals

ENERGY STAR and the healthcare industry

EPA Press Relesase

Portfolio Manager Improvements Effective November 7, 2011

Mon, 07 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0400

EPA Announces Winner of the 2011 ENERGY STAR National Building Competition

Wed, 02 Nov 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Today EPA announced that the University of Central Florida (UCF) is the winner of EPA’s 2011 Energy Star National Building Competition: Battle of the Buildings. In its second year, the competition featured teams from 245 buildings across the country in a head-to-head battle to save energy, reduce costs, and protect people's health and the environment. UCF’s winning building was a parking garage on the university’s main campus where energy use was decreased by 63.2 percent. Together, competitors cut their energy costs by $5.2 million.

More information on the 2011 Energy Star National Building Competition

EPA Press Release

ENERGY STAR NEWS: Small Business Edition

Wed, 05 Oct 2011 00:00:00 -0400

EPA Announces Top Contenders in ENERGY STAR National Building Competition

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 00:00:00 -0400

In the first six months of the competition, participants saved more than $3.7 million on utility bills

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program has announced the Top Contenders at the midpoint of the 2011 National Building Competition: Battle of the Buildings. The list of Top Contenders identifies the leaders with the greatest percent reduction of energy use in each of the twelve building categories in the competition. EPA also provided an update on the progress of all participants as they continue to go head-to-head to save energy, reduce costs and protect Americans’ health and their environment. More

EPA Press Release

City of Houston Wins Mayors' Climate Protection Award

Fri, 17 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Initiative Incorporates ENERGY STAR Tools and Resources

City of Houston’s Mayor has received the 2011 U.S. Conference of Mayors’ Climate Protection Award.the city's work in implementing the Houston Green Office Challenge, which relies heavily on ENERGY STAR tools and resources. Participants measure and track their building’s monthly energy use with EPA’s online tool, Portfolio Manager and participate in monthly EPA training sessions on improving energy performance in buildings. More than 330 organizations participate in the Challenge, including city-owned buildings.

EPA Press Release

EPA Awards ENERGY STAR Certification to First Cookie and Cracker Bakeries

Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing the first cookie and cracker bakeries to earn ENERGY STAR certification. The first thirteen ENERGY STAR certified bakeries are owned by Lance Private Brands, Richmond Baking of Indiana, Oak State Products, Bremner Food Group, and the Kellogg Company. Compared to average plants, these thirteen ENERGY STAR certified bakeries save 4.3 trillion Btus of energy, avoid nearly $24 million in utility bills, and prevent more than 85,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent annually, equivalent to the emissions from more than 16,000 cars. Plants verified to be in the top twenty-five percent of performance nationwide may be eligible for ENERGY STAR certification.

· More information about ENERGY STAR Cookie and Cracker Energy Performance Indicators

· Find ENERGY STAR certified manufacturing plants across the U.S.

EPA Awards ENERGY STAR Certification to First Container Glass Plants

Wed, 25 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing the first container glass plants to earn ENERGY STAR certification. The first ENERGY STAR certified container glass plants include three Verallia North America plnats, owner by Saint-Gobain, located in Pennsylvania, Indiana, and Massachusetts. Compared to average container glass plants, these ENERGY STAR certified container glass plants annually save 1.3 million Btus of energy, avoid about $7.5 million in energy bills, and prevent the emission of nearly 61,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, equal to the emissions from the electricity use of more than 7,000 homes for one year. Plants verified to be in the top twenty-five percent of performance nationwide may be eligible for ENERGY STAR certification.

· More information about ENERGY STAR Glass Energy Performance Indicators

· Find ENERGY STAR manufacturing plants across the U.S.

EPA Kicks-Off 2011 ENERGY STAR National Building Competition

Mon, 02 May 2011 00:00:00 -0400

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR program launched the 2011 National Building Competition: Battle of the Buildings. Teams from 245 buildings around the country are going head-to-head to improve energy efficiency and determine who can reduce their energy use the most. Nearly five million commercial buildings in the United States are responsible for approximately 20 percent of both the nation’s energy use and greenhouse gas emissions at a cost of more than $100 billion annually. Through energy efficiency improvements, competitors are working to save energy, reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and protect the health of Americans.

EPA Press Release

Battle of the Buildings

EPA's ENERGY STAR Leaders Drive Greater Energy Efficiency

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0400

Thousands of buildings across the country are saving energy while reducing harmful air pollutants and protecting the health of Americans with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star program. EPA recognized 74 leading Energy Star organizations for their achievements in energy efficiency across their entire building portfolios in 2010, 50 of which were recognized as first time Energy Star Leaders. Through their commitment to superior energy management, these organizations together have prevented the equivalent of more than 460,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide annually and saved more than $100 million a year.

EPA Press Release

Apply for EPA's 2011 National Building Competition

Tue, 25 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0400

EPA is once again hosting a national competition among commercial buildings to save energy and fight climate change. Competitors will work off the waste through improvements in energy efficiency with help from EPA's ENERGY STAR program. More

All Federal Agencies Now Required to Lease Space in ENERGY STAR Labeled Buildings

Sat, 01 Jan 2011 00:00:00 -0400

As of December 19, 2010, Federal agencies are now required to lease space in buildings that have earned EPA’s ENERGY STAR in the most recent year. This provides an opportunity for owners and operators of ENERGY STAR labeled buildings to attract and retain Federal tenants, and allows Federal agencies to help move the market for energy efficient buildings.