Thirteen Companies Recognized as “ENERGY STAR Top Certifiers” for Earning the ENERGY STAR for More than 150 Buildings Each

ENERGY STAR Update
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Tuesday, July 7, 2015

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is recognizing 13 companies that each earned ENERGY STAR certification for at least 150 facilities last year. The group includes a combination of large retailers and commercial real estate companies, as well as energy services companies that helped many different clients improve the energy performance of their facilities and earn ENERGY STAR certification.

“EPA applauds the dedication these Top Certifiers have shown to achieving and recognizing top performance,” said Jean Lupinacci, acting director of the Climate Protection Partnerships Division. “Collectively, these 13 ENERGY STAR Top Certifiers saved $562 million on their utility bills and prevented 2.7 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions when compared to average facilities.”

2014 marked the 15^th anniversary of ENERGY STAR certification for commercial buildings and industrial plants, with more than 25,000 buildings and plants certified to date. In celebration of this milestone, EPA asked ENERGY STAR partners to earn the ENERGY STAR for 5, 15, 50, or 150 facilities. More than 300 organizations participated in what became known as “Certification Nation.” Only 13 companies reached the highest level, which was limited to organizations that earned the ENERGY STAR for at least 150 facilities during 2014.

Although EPA has awarded ENERGY STAR certification to buildings and plants since 1999, this is the first year EPA leveraged an anniversary to encourage and highlight the companies that actively certify the most buildings and plants.

Here is the list of ENERGY STAR Top Certifiers:

To earn EPA’s ENERGY STAR, buildings must first measure their energy performance using EPA’s online energy management and tracking tool, ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager. Plants use a similar tool called an Energy Performance Indicator. These tools calculate a 1 – 100 ENERGY STAR score for each facility, which signifies how it performs relative to similar facilities nationwide. If a building earns a score of 75 or higher, a professional engineer or registered architect verifies that the building’s energy data and operating characteristics are correct and that the building meets indoor air quality standards. If a plant earns a score of 75 or higher, it must satisfy an environmental compliance screen. Once this step has been completed, EPA awards the building or plant with the ENERGY STAR.

Energy use in commercial buildings and industrial plants accounts for 45 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions at a cost of more than $400 billion per year. ENERGY STAR certified buildings are verified to perform better than 75 percent of similar buildings nationwide, and they use an average of 35 percent less energy and are responsible for 35 percent fewer carbon dioxide emissions than typical buildings. Many common building types can earn the label, including office buildings, K-12 schools, hotels, and retail stores. These buildings have saved nearly $3.4 billion on utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to the emissions from the annual electricity use of nearly 2.4 million homes.

ENERGY STAR® is the simple choice for energy efficiency. For more than 20 years, people across America have looked to EPA’s ENERGY STAR program for guidance on saving energy, saving money, and protecting the environment. Behind each blue label is a product, building, or home that is independently certified to use less energy and cause fewer of the emissions that contribute to climate change. Join the millions already making a difference at energystar.gov.

More about ENERGY STAR Top Certifiers: www.energystar.gov/TopCertifiers

More about earning the ENERGY STAR for buildings and plants: www.energystar.gov/BuildingCertification