In May 2011, EPA launched the ENERGY STAR National Building Competition: Battle of the Buildings. In its second year, the ”Biggest Loser”-style competition featured teams from 245 buildings across the country in a head-to-head battle to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.
As the battle drew to a close, the competitors had saved a combined total of more than 240 million kBtus of energy and $5.2 million on annual utility bills. They prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to the electricity used by more than 3,600 homes a year. The top ten overall finishers achieved energy reductions of at least 30 percent, and the winner saved an impressive 63 percent in twelve months.
The ENERGY STAR National Building Competition provides a valuable platform for organizations to review and improve operations and maintenance; test innovative approaches and technologies; mobilize internal teams; and engage local communities. It also offers an enormously valuable “test-bed” for new ideas that can be expanded to entire building portfolios as well as an inventory of best practices and publicly available energy performance data that can help inform the commercial building market.
EPA congratulates all of the participants for a great competition. While one competitor came out on top, everyone wins by saving energy in the buildings where we work, play, and learn.
