The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently released its annual Top Cities list, with Boston recognized in the top 10 of 25 of the most ENERGY STAR buildings.
These building owners and managers are reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Massachusetts equivalent to emissions from 25,000 passenger vehicles as well as saving morethan $70 million in yearly utility bills, according to a May 24 news release from the EPA. These savings additionally result in significant reductions in sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter to help protect the air we breathe.
“Climate change is having, and will continue to have, a costly impact on cities,” EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said, according to the release. “Buildings are an essential focus of urban strategies to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that contributes to the climate crisis.”
The cities ahead of Boston on the list include Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Atlanta, San Francisco, Dallas, New York City, Chicago, Denver and Houston, according to the release.
“By working with EPA, the owners and managers of ENERGY STAR certified buildings are taking concrete actions that will reduce emissions, save on their energy bills and help protect their cities for the future,” Regan said, according to the release.
According to the release, for a building to earn the ENERGY STAR, a it must receive an ENERGY STAR score of more than 75 on EPA's 1-100 scale, meaning it is more energy efficient than 75% of buildings that are similar across the country. A building's ENERGY STAR score is decided on by several factors like energy use, hours of operation and other operating characteristics.
In the release, EPA New England Regional Administrator David W. Cash noted the recent 90 degree Fahrenheit weather in Boston underscores the rapidly changing climate.
“Energy efficiency is a cost-effective way to improve public health and protect our communities,” Cash said, according to the release. "Every year, more building owners in more cities are improving energy efficiency, not only to protect the environment, but also to bolster their companies' finances."
The release states the ENERGY STAR is a government-backed symbol representing energy efficiency, which provides “simple, credible and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions.”
