[StBernard] Louisiana green choices grow with Energy Star buildings

[Westley Annis]

Louisiana green choices grow with Energy Star buildings 

(Dallas, Texas - February 13, 2008)  Four top-performing Louisiana buildings
have earned the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star for energy
efficiency for 2007.  

These buildings save nearly $3 million annually in lower energy bills and
prevent more than 36 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, which is
equal to the emissions of more than 3,000 vehicles.     

"EPA is glad to see so many organizations making the choice to go green with
Energy Star," said EPA Regional Administrator Richard E. Greene.  "Energy
Star buildings are America's energy all-stars - they save more, use less and
protect the environment."  


Nearly 4,100 buildings and manufacturing plants have earned the EPA's Energy
Star through the end of 2007, with the addition of more than 1,400 in 2007
alone.  In total, these award-winning commercial buildings and manufacturing
plants have saved nearly $1.5 billion annually in lower energy bills and
prevented carbon dioxide emissions equal to the emissions associated with
electricity use of more than 1.5 million American homes for a year, relative
to typical buildings.     

Energy use in commercial buildings and manufacturing plants accounts for
nearly half of the total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions and nearly 50 percent
of energy consumption nationwide.  Commercial buildings that have earned the
Energy Star use nearly 40 percent less energy than average buildings and
emit 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, offering a
significantly smaller carbon footprint.      

EPA has worked with businesses and organizations for more than a decade to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions through strategic energy management
practices.  The number of commercial buildings and manufacturing plants to
earn the Energy Star for superior energy efficiency is up by more than 25
percent in the past year, and the amount of carbon dioxide emissions reduced
has reached an all-time high of more than 25 billion pounds.      

EPA started the Energy Star program in 1992.  Energy Star is a
government-backed program that helps businesses and consumers protect the
environment through superior energy efficiency.  To qualify for the Energy
Star label, a building or manufacturing plant must score in the top 25
percent using EPA's National Energy Performance Rating System.    

The complete list of Energy Star buildings in Louisiana is available at
http://www.energystar.gov/LabeledList
<http://www.energystar.gov/LabeledList> .