EPA Challenges Local Governments to Energy Efficiency
In an effort to improve energy efficiency in commercial buildings and help protect the environment, EPA is challenging building owners across the country, including local governments, to manage their energy use and identify cost-effective improvements using EPA’s free tools. EPA estimates that if each building owner took the Energy Star Challenge, by 2015 Americans would reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the emissions from 15 million vehicles, while saving about $10 billion. Leaders across the country already are showing that energy use in buildings can be reduced by 10%, 20%, 30% and even more with proven practices and technologies that pay off financially for taxpayers and for our environment. This is significant, considering that commercial buildings contribute about 20% of our national greenhouse gas emissions.
The National Association of Counties (NACo) is working with the US EPA to support the Energy Star Challenge through its NACo Energy Star Courthouse Campaign. NACo is providing training to county government officials on how to use EPA’s energy performance rating system to help them assess, track and improve their buildings. In the first year of the Courthouse Campaign, more than 40 county buildings have been assessed, and several have earned the Energy Star designation for top energy performance.
Public Technology Institute (PTI) has also partnered with EPA to bring Energy Star to its 100+ member jurisdictions, encouraging local governments across the country to reduce energy use by 10% or more and training members on the use of EPA’s energy performance rating system.
For more information about the ENERGY STAR Challenge, visit: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=leaders.bus_challenge .