With 528 buildings totaling 112.5 million sf, Los Angeles topped the EPA's ranking of the U.S. metropolitan areas with the most Energy Star certified buildings in 2012. Rounding out the top five are Washington, D.C. (462 buildings); Chicago (353); New York (325); and Atlanta (304).
In 2012, more than 20,000 Energy Star certified buildings across America helped save more than $2.7 billion in annual utility bills. The cumulative number of Energy Star certified buildings has increased by more than 24 percent compared to last year, representing more than 3 billion square feet of floorspace nationwide. In 2012 alone, more than 8,200 buildings earned EPA’s Energy Star certification.
Phoenix broke into the top 10 for the first time, with 202 buildings. Boston, a newcomer to the list last year, held on to 10th place, with 11th place Philadelphia not far behind. Seventh-place Houston, with 241 buildings, is home to one in particular that stands out: Phoenix Tower, a 34-story office building, has earned EPA’s Energy Star 14 times—more than any other building in America.
Here are the top 25:
1. Los Angeles - 528 buildings
2. Washington, D.C. - 462
3. Chicago - 353
4. New York - 325
5. Atlanta - 304
6. San Francisco - 291
7. Houston - 241
8. Dallas-Fort Worth - 214
9. Phoenix - 202
10. Boston - 188
11. Philadelphia - 174
12. Denver - 161
13. Cincinnati - 137
14. Charlotte - 133
14. Minneapolis-St.Paul - 133
15. San Diego - 123
16. San Jose - 114
17. Seattle - 108
18. Miami - 104
19. Detroit - 100
20. Sacramento - 97
21. Indianapolis - 91
22. Albuquerque, N.M. - 89
23. Kansas City, Mo. - 82
23. Portland, Ore. - 82
24. Riverside, Calif. - 69
25. Virginia Beach, Va. - 67
Download a PDF of the full list.
Related Stories
| Apr 11, 2014
ULI report documents business case for building healthy projects
Sustainable and wellness-related design strategies embody a strong return on investment, according to a report by the Urban Land Institute.
| Apr 11, 2014
Start your engines: Ferrari plans to build first ever hotel
Clad in the carmaker's signature "Ferrari red," the hotel will resemble the grill and hood of one of its iconic cars.
| Apr 10, 2014
Collegiate sports becoming greener: Survey
A survey conducted from May through June 2013 by the University of Arizona Office of Sustainability and published by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)* finds that more collegiate athletic teams are adopting green and sustainable practices in operation of their sports facilities.
| Apr 10, 2014
Submit Your Project for a Bluebeam eXtreme Award!
Bluebeam is holding the second annual Bluebeam eXtreme Awards at the 2014 Bluebeam eXtreme Conference in Hollywood, Calf.
| Apr 9, 2014
How patient-centered medical homes can help healthcare providers and patients
Beyond reducing the number of uninsured Americans, the Affordable Care Act is driving new types of healthcare facilities, especially patient-centered medical homes.
| Apr 9, 2014
Colossal aquarium in China sets five Guinness World Records
With its seven salt and fresh water aquariums, totaling 12.87 million gallons, the Chimelong Ocean Kingdom theme park is considered the world’s largest aquarium.
| Apr 9, 2014
5 important trends shaping today’s hotel construction market
AEC firms, developers, and investors worldwide are bullish on hotels. Our hospitality Giants share what’s new in this fast-morphing sector.
| Apr 9, 2014
Steel decks: 11 tips for their proper use | BD+C
Building Teams have been using steel decks with proven success for 75 years. Building Design+Construction consulted with technical experts from the Steel Deck Institute and the deck manufacturing industry for their advice on how best to use steel decking.
| Apr 8, 2014
Fire resistive curtain wall helps The Kensington meet property line requirements
The majority of fire rated glazing applications occur inside a building to allow occupants to exit the building safely or provide an area of refuge during a fire. But what happens when the threat of fire comes from the outside? This was the case for The Kensington, a mixed-use residential building in Boston.
| Apr 8, 2014
Science, engineering find common ground on the Northeastern University campus [slideshow]
The new Interdisciplinary Science and Engineering Building is designed to maximize potential of serendipitous meetings between researchers.