Recognized by the DOE as a Better Buildings Challenge leader, Los Angeles has pledged to reduce the energy use for 30 million square feet of city-owned and private buildings by 20% by 2020.
“Los Angeles is one of the most energy efficient and economically competitive big cities in the country,” says Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “In partnership with DOE, through the Better Buildings Challenge, the city, businesses, utilities, and the real estate community have come together to save energy and create economic opportunity for residents."
Each year, the 500,000-square-foot Los Angeles Central Library uses approximately seven million kilowatt hours, which is equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of about 600 households. Through the Challenge, Los Angeles has retrofitted the library, including replacing an aging roof with a cool roof, updating the HVAC system, and replacing old lighting with energy efficient bulbs. As a result of these upgrades, the library is on track to save about $175,000 in energy costs per year.
In 2011, the Better Buildings Challenge was launched to bring about change in energy use and achieve record-breaking energy bill savings. More than 120 buildings are partnering with the DOE to achieve portfolio-wide energy savings and share successful strategies that maximize efficiency.
Find more information about the Better Buildings Challenge participants, including the city of Los Angeles, and their energy efficiency projects on the Better Buildings Challenge website.
