D.C. Overtakes L.A. as Nation’s Energy-Efficiency Leader
Washington City Paper, march 25, 2015
Take that, L.A.: For the first time, D.C. has topped the five-year leader in energy-efficient buildings to take the Energy Star crown.
The Energy Star program, launched by the Environmental Protection Agency in 1999, rewards energy-efficient commercial buildings, which on average use 35 percent less energy than typical buildings and have carbon emissions that are 35 percent lower. The EPA has given the rating to more than 25,000 buildings across the country.
Since 2009, the EPA has ranked metropolitan areas by the number of Energy Star buildings they have. Every year, Los Angeles has come out on top.
This year, L.A.’s reign came to an end. The D.C. area is now the national leader, with 480 Energy Star buildings, topping L.A.’s 475 and third-place Atlanta’s 328.