For the second year in a row, Washington, D.C. has claimed the top spot in the EPA’s annual ranking of top U.S. cities with 686 ENERGY STAR certified buildings. Los Angeles came in behind Washington with 527 facilities, while San Francisco, Atlanta, and New York City finished out the top five with over 300 buildings each.
The EPA notes that the facilities, which use an average of 35% less energy and emit 35% less CO2 than non-certified counterparts, have saved over $3.8 billion on utility bills since the program began in 1999. This is the second such honor for Washington, D.C. this year, as the USGBC’s annual list of the top states for LEED certification found that it has more certified space than any U.S. state.
“Every year, more cities and buildings are turning to energy efficiency to protect the environment and strengthen their local economies. Money saved on energy bills can boost the bottom line and be reinvested. The cities on this list prove energy efficiency saves money, improves our communities today, and helps us building toward a healthy future full of opportunity,” says EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy.
