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EPA Names DC Metro Area Second Best in the Nation for ENERGY STAR Certified Buildings in 2017

04/11/2018
Contact Information: 
David Sternberg (sternberg.david@epa.gov)
215-814-5548

Contact: David Sternberg 215-814-5548 sternberg.david@epa.gov

EPA Names DC Metro Area Second Best in the Nation for ENERGY STAR Certified Buildings in 2017

PHILADELPHIA (April 11, 2018) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced its tenth-annual “Top Cities” list, which ranks the 25 U.S. metropolitan areas with the most ENERGY STAR certified buildings in the preceding calendar year. Los Angeles earned first place with more than 700 ENERGY STAR certified buildings. The Washington, D.C. metropolitan area was in second place with 661.

“Earning a spot in the ENERGY STAR Top Cities ranking demonstrates a city’s commitment to cutting building-related energy costs and reducing waste,” said Bill Wehrum, Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation at EPA. “With help from ENERGY STAR, city leaders and building owners are working together to strengthen their economies, foster competition, and create a healthier environment.”

To create the annual list, EPA tallies the number of ENERGY STAR certified buildings within each metropolitan area, as defined by the U.S. Census. These areas include the city itself as well as surrounding towns and suburbs. This year’s Top Cities are:

Rank   Metro Area                Building Count

1          Los Angeles                716

2          Washington, DC         661

3          Dallas                          468

4          Atlanta                        441

5          New York                   434

6          San Francisco             378

7          Chicago                       339

8          Phoenix                       303

9          Denver                        265

10        Houston                      247

11        Boston                         231

12        Riverside, Calif.         173

13        San Diego                   164

13        Seattle                         164

15        Philadelphia                157

16        Tampa                         154

17        Austin                         130

18        San Jose                      129

19        Minneapolis                116

20        Virginia Beach            109

21        Miami                         106

22        Sacramento                 100

23        Charlotte                     94

24        Louisville                   86

24        Indianapolis                86

The Top Cities list shows how cities across America are embracing energy efficiency as a proven path to financial savings and a healthier environment. Commercial buildings are responsible for 19 percent of the nation’s energy use and cost American organizations and cities more than $100 billion per year in energy bills. By the end of 2017, more than 32,000 buildings across America had earned EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification. Together, these buildings have saved more than $4.5 billion on energy bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to the annual electricity use of more than 3 million homes. 

Commercial buildings that apply for EPA’s ENERGY STAR must have their performance verified by a professional engineer or a registered architect. ENERGY STAR certified buildings use an average of 35 percent less energy than typical buildings. Many types of commercial facilities can earn the ENERGY STAR, including office buildings, schools, hospitals, and retail stores.

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations—including more than 40 percent of the Fortune 500®—rely on their partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Together, since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners have helped save American families and businesses over $450 billion and over 3.5 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity while also achieving broad emissions reductions – all through voluntary action. Join the millions already making a difference at energystar.gov. More background information about ENERGY STAR can be found at energystar.gov/about and energystar.gov/numbers.

More on ENERGY STAR Top Cities, including top small and mid-sized cities, as well as last year’s rankings: www.energystar.gov/topcities

Search for ENERGY STAR certified buildings: www.energystar.gov/buildinglist

More about earning the ENERGY STAR certification for commercial buildings: www.energystar.gov/buildingcertification