LOS ANGELES, Calif.–For a fifth year in a row, Los Angeles had more energy-saving commercial buildings than anywhere else in the country, according to a ranking released today by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The buildings carry the “Energy Star” seal, which apply to energy efficient appliances, such as refrigerators and washing machines, but also to buildings such as schools, offices and retailers that typically use 35 percent less energy than a typical building and emit 35 less greenhouse gases.
Los Angeles was ranked No. 1, with 528 Energy Star buildings.
Washington, D.C., came in second with 462 Energy Star buildings, followed by Chicago with 353.
San Diego ranked No. 15, with 123 Energy Star buildings, and Riverside 24th, with 69 energy saving buildings.
The combined savings represented by 720 Energy Star building in Southern California was estimated at $163 million, according to the EPA. Reduced greenhouse gas emissions were equal to that given off by 62,000 homes.
California had the highest number of cities on the list, with San Francisco, Sacramento and San Jose also making it into the top 25.
The number of Energy Star-certified commercial buildings rose 24 percent last year to about 8,200 nationwide. The EPA estimated utility bill savings represented by the certification of about 20,000 buildings last year totaled $2.7 billion.
About 17 percent of all greenhouse gases are believed to come from commercial buildings.
“Through their partnership with EPA, the owners and managers of Energy Star certified buildings are helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions while saving on utility bills,” the EPA’s acting administrator, Bob Perciasepe, said. “With Energy Star, cities across America are helping achieve President Obama’s goal to cut in half the energy wasted by our businesses over the next 20 years.”
