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Officials Unveil Plaque Giving Federal Building Energy-Efficient Seal of Approval

Release Date: 11/23/1999
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(#99186) New York, New York -- The Foley Square Federal Office Building at 290 Broadway was today recognized as the first ultra energy efficient federal building under the federal Energy Star Building. Officials from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Energy (DOE) presented the General Services Administration (GSA) with a large bronze plaque at a ceremony today to commemorate the designation. The building houses EPA's main Regional office. Each year, building owners and designers submit data to EPA and DOE on the amount of energy saved by using energy efficient designs. The top 25% of these buildings are chosen to receive an Energy Star Designation.

"This building was designed with the environment in mind," said Jeanne M. Fox, EPA Regional Administrator. "GSA understands that energy conservation is the easiest and most economically smart way to help the environment. By conserving energy, we reduce air pollution, save natural resources and save money -- all at the same time. I am proud to be a tenant in this beautiful environmentally-friendly building."

"The federal government needs to lead by example and today's designation is a step in that direction," said Energy Secretary, Bill Richardson. "Following up on President Clinton's Executive Order, we are effectively meeting energy reduction goals."

Opened in 1994, Foley Square Federal Office Building was designed to be among the most energy-efficient buildings in its class. Working with Con Edison, the local utility company, and the building developer, the federal GSA demonstrated that energy efficient buildings can be developed by the federal government using off-the-shelf technology. Notable energy efficient and cost-effective equipment used in the building includes a sophisticated building energy management system, T-8 (smaller, more energy efficient) lighting fixtures, steam turbine centrifugal chillers, high efficiency motors and a variable air volume (VAV) air handling system.

"GSA is extremely proud of this recognition of our environmental efforts," stated GSA Regional Administrator Tom Ryan. "We are committed to supporting the Clinton Administration's environmental programs, and the Energy Star Label at 290 Broadway is proof of this commitment."

Located in downtown Manhattan, the Foley Square Federal Office Building is thirty stories tall and contains 1.2 million gross square feet. Receiving the special Energy Star bronze plaque from EPA and DOE requires an owner or manager to rate their building's energy performance against actual energy consumption using a simple Internet-based tool. Now, for the first time, buildings nationwide can be compared equally based on energy performance, business activity, and geographic location. Buildings are ranked on a uniform scale of zero to 100; building with ratings of more than 75 earn the right to be called "Energy Star Buildings." The Foley Square Building got a rating of 81. It is the first federal building nationwide to get an Energy Star designation.

For more information contact:

Mary Mears, Press Office
EPA Region 2
290 Broadway
NY, NY 10007-1866
Voice: 212-637-3669 FAX: 212-637-5046 E-Mail: mears.mary@epamail.epa.gov