Building owners in St. Louis could save at least $61.5 million annually by improving energy efficiency in their buildings, according to the city’s first annual Building Energy Benchmarking Report & Checklist to Explore Energy Savings Opportunities report.
If building owners, including the city, made efficiency upgrades, greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by at least 11%, the report says. The calculations apply to municipally-owned and operated buildings, as well as private buildings greater than 50,000 sf. According to the City’s 2015 Greenhouse Gas Inventory, energy used in commercial, industrial, and residential buildings in St. Louis is responsible for 77% of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions.
Along with the benchmarking report, the city released a new energy efficiency checklist that was developed in conjunction with the U.S. Green Building Council-Missouri Gateway Chapter. The checklist provides recommended steps for saving energy in buildings and investing in building maintenance staff.
“We hope the energy efficient checklist, combined with education and training opportunities, utility incentives and PACE financing, will drive investments in the efficiency of our buildings and reduce their environmental impacts,” said Emily Andrews, Executive Director of the U.S. Green Building Council-Missouri Gateway Chapter, in a news release.
Related Stories
Urban Planning | Jul 8, 2019
U.S. cities experience ‘Doppler shift’ in walkable urban development
The walkability trend is spreading to urbanizing suburbs.
Codes and Standards | Jun 27, 2019
Construction workers need continuous skills upgrades
A report by Autodesk and Deloitte focuses on how workers can succeed in an automated world.
Codes and Standards | Jun 27, 2019
Updated standard for liquid applied flashing for exterior wall openings released
AAMA document establishes minimum performance requirements.
Codes and Standards | Jun 27, 2019
Public restrooms being used for changing clothes, phone conversations, and 'getting away'
About 60% of Americans use a public restroom one to five times a week, according to the latest annual hand washing survey conducted by Bradley Corporation.
Codes and Standards | Jun 21, 2019
Green Globes 2019 accepted as a revised American National Standard
Advances include language on resilience, life cycle cost analysis, moisture control analysis, health, and effectiveness.
Codes and Standards | Jun 14, 2019
Reports from Intl. Code Council focus on expanding use of shipping containers as building materials
Three companies show compliance for using containers for housing.
Codes and Standards | Jun 13, 2019
Report explores potential for rope-less and multidirectional elevators in tall buildings
Technology can enable cities to be more interconnected, efficient, and accessible.
Codes and Standards | Jun 12, 2019
USGBC-LA launches Net Zero Accelerator
Goal is to enable building tech market adoption for a net positive future.
Codes and Standards | Jun 11, 2019
BREEAM USA In-Use standard to be released this fall
Will expand to include residential and multifamily for assessment and certification.
Codes and Standards | Jun 10, 2019
Intl. Code Council releases Natural Disaster Preparedness Guide
Provides tips for staying safe during and after a hurricane or severe weather.