Boston prides itself on being on the cutting-edge of clean energy and green technologies. With its abundance of prestigious higher-ed institutions, formidable healthcare facilities and brainpower, it’s no wonder Boston is helping blaze the trail for more energy efficient projects, like environmentally-conscious buildings. But how does it stack up to cities nationwide?
Pretty well, actually. Though Boston was unable to crack to the EPA’s top ten list of cities with the most certified Energy Star buildings in 2013, we did manage to snag the number 13 spot.
According to the EPA Boston boasts 141 certified Energy Star buildings, all of which help to cut greenhouse gas emissions and save money through energy efficiency. Boston’s commitment to clean and green has helped to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent of 29,591 passenger vehicles, and has lined the The Hub’s pockets with more than $49 million saved in annual utility bills.
“We congratulate Boston for once again representing New England on this list of cities across America that are taking tangible steps to conserve energy and thereby reduce emissions of air pollution and greenhouse gases,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office, in a statement. “Thousands of facility owners and managers have used Energy Star to evaluate and improve their building’s energy performance. Lowering commercial building energy costs is good business.”
Nationwide, more than 23,000 Energy Star certified buildings in metropolitan areas have helped save more than $3.1 billion in annual utility bills and prevent greenhouse gas emissions so draining that they equal the same amount of electricity use of more than 2.2 million homes every year.
An astounding 17 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, totaling some $100 billion annually, stem from buildings. Twenty types of commercial buildings can earn the Energy Star, notes the EPA, including office buildings, K-12 schools, and retail stores.
It’s absolutely fantastic that Boston is contributing so much to the environmental cause. But, in the spirit of competition, I want Boston to be number one. The question is, then, which cities do we have to outdo?
