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EPA confers Energy Star status on 363 buildings in Midwest

Release Date: 02/16/2006
Contact Information: William Omohundro, (312) 353-8254, omohundro.william@epa.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
No. 06-OPA027

CHICAGO (Feb. 16, 2006) - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency conferred Energy Star status last year on 363 office buildings, schools, hospitals and public buildings in EPA Region 5. EPA chose the buildings because of their superior energy and environmental performance.

Ohio has 96 buildings on the Energy Star list, Minnesota 77, Wisconsin 70, Illinois 68, Michigan 36 and Indiana 16. They are among more than 2,500 buildings nationwide that received Energy Star status in 2005.

The Region 5 buildings represent almost 63 million square feet. They are saving an estimated $42 million in lower energy bills and preventing 247 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to emissions from about 75,000 vehicles.

Nationally, 2005's Energy Star buildings represent 482 million square feet and are saving an estimated $349 million annually in lower energy bills while meeting industry standards for comfort and indoor air quality. The buildings are preventing 1.8 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to emissions from 540,000 vehicles.

Commercial buildings account for more than 17 percent of the country's greenhouse gas emissions. Energy Star-qualified buildings generally use up to 40 percent less energy than typical buildings. Building owners earn the Energy Star by scoring in the top 25 percent on EPA's energy performance rating system. Scores are based on actual energy use.

Energy Star is a government-backed program helping businesses and consumers protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. More than 7,000 organizations partner with EPA in the Energy Star program. In 2004 alone, Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved $10 billion and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 20 million cars.

NOTE TO EDITORS: For more information on numbers for your state, call William Omohundro at (312) 353-8254. For general information on Energy Star, visit energystar.gov.