American buildings in race to cut energy waste

Thousands of buildings across the USA are competing in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) fifth annual Energy Star Battle of the Buildings as part of President Obama’s plans to cut in half the energy wasted in public and commercial properties over the next 20 years.

More than 5,500 buildings are taking part in the 2014 Energy Star Battle of the Buildings: Team Challenge, measuring and tracking their monthly energy consumption using the EPA's online tool, Energy Star Portfolio Manager. Buildings will form teams of five or more with the aim of optimising or upgrading equipment, retrofitting lighting and changing occupants’ behaviour. The team that reduces its buildings’ average energy use the most over a 12-month performance period will be declared the winner.

Among the 100 teams in competition is “Team Staples” comprising 17 Staples stores, while 15 Whole Foods stores will support each other as part of “Team Whole Foods Market.” In New Castle County, Delaware, 13 elementary schools will compete as part of a team, going up against the county’s five middle schools and six high schools. In Hillsborough County, Florida, fire stations will team up to compete against libraries.

In addition to the team competition, 700 individual buildings are competing in a special water reduction category and will work with the EPA’s WaterSense programme to apply best practices for commercial building water management.

“The competitive spirit is alive and well among the building teams working to improve their energy efficiency in this year’s Battle of the Buildings,” said EPA administrator Gina McCarthy. “After four successful years, we’re excited to see the innovative ideas that will emerge from the competitors as they find new ways to save energy and money while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and protecting the environment.”

Last year’s competitors saved an estimated $20m on utility bills. Nearly 50 buildings in the competition demonstrated energy use reductions of 20 per cent or greater.

Commercial buildings in the United States spend more than $100bn in annual utility bills and are responsible for approximately 20 per cent of both the nation’s energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

EPA will maintain a website devoted to the competition, featuring a list of the competitors and their starting, midpoint and final standings, a live Twitter feed where competitors will post updates on their progress and an interactive map of the competitor’s locations. Midpoint results will be posted in October, with the winner announced in April 2015.