[StBernard] Awards and Recognition News Release (Region 6): EPA Honors Nation's Best in Energy-Efficient Building Design

[Westley Annis]

EPA Honors Nation's Best in Energy-Efficient Building Design 

Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR Projects Honored at the American Institute
of Architects Convention 

  

(DALLAS -May 12, 2011)  Today, at the American Institute of Architects (AIA)
Convention in New Orleans, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
announced that 79 commercial building design projects achieved Designed to
Earn the ENERGY STAR certification in the past year. Together, the projects
are estimated to save nearly 46,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2)
annually and more than $7 million in annual energy costs across nearly 6.5
million square feet. Twelve of the projects attained an estimated CO2
emissions reduction of 50% or more-meeting AIA and industry goals for a
50-percent CO2 reduction in new construction by 2030. 

  

"Through the American Institute of Architects, America leads the way in
energy efficiency and sustainable developments," said Al Armendariz, EPA
Regional Administrator.  "Those acknowledged today show great commitment to
preserving the environment and reducing the carbon footprint." 

  

The projects represent nearly 44 million square feet of space. If built as
designed, EPA estimates that they will prevent greenhouse gas emissions
equal to the emissions from more than 54,000 vehicles per year and save more
than $26 million in annual energy costs. 

  

For the past several years, EPA and AIA have worked together to promote the
Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR certification for new building design
projects. This year, a competition among AIA Chapters was held to see which
of three regional teams across the United States would cross the finish line
with the most projects. The Big Easy Central team came in with the most
projects, with a total of 40 that achieved the certification. 

  

The Community Church Unitarian Universalist in New Orleans, designed by
Brian Gille Architects, is the first house of worship to achieve Designed to
Earn the ENERGY STAR certification and was among the projects recognized at
this year's AIA Convention. 

  

An architecture firm can achieve the certification for its projects by
comparing the project's intended energy performance against the average
energy use of comparable operating buildings using EPA's no-cost, online
tool, Target Finder
<http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=new_bldg_design.bus_target_finder> .
Once the building is occupied, owners can track its actual energy
performance using Portfolio Manager
<http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=evaluate_performance.bus_portfolioman
agerr> , EPA's ENERGY STAR measurement and tracking tool, and earn ENERGY
STAR certification if the building performs as intended. 

  

Energy Star was started by EPA in 1992 as a market-based partnership to
reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the Energy
Star label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products as well
as new homes and commercial and industrial buildings that meet strict
energy-efficiency specifications set by EPA. Last year alone, Americans,
with the help of Energy Star, saved approximately $18 billion on their
energy bills while preventing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the
annual emissions of 33 million vehicles. 

  

For more information, visit www.energystar.gov/CommercialBuildingDesign
<http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=new_bldg_design.new_bldg_design>  

More about activities in EPA Region 6:
http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.html
<http://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/region6.html>  

EPA audio file is available at
http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/may2011.html
<http://www.epa.gov/region6/6xa/podcast/may2011.html>