HAWAII’S STATE CAPITOL BUILDING CELEBRATES SAVINGS AT THE MIDPOINT OF EPA’S ENERGY STAR NATIONAL BUILDING COMPETITION
For Immediate Release: July 28, 2011
HONOLULU – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) ENERGY STAR program marked the midpoint of the 2011 National Building Competition: Battle of the Buildings by releasing a list of Top Contenders for each building category as well as the progress of all participants in the competition. The State Capitol building was named a finalist in the Office building category.
Teams from 245 buildings around the country are going head-to-head in this year’s ENERGY STAR National Building Competition to see who can reduce their energy use the most. In the first six months of the competition alone, the competitors together have saved more than $3.7 million on utility bills and reduced greenhouse gas emissions equal to the electricity used by 2,300 homes annually.
As part of DBEDT’s Lead by Example energy efficiency program, state departments reduced total electric consumption by 2.8 percent from 2009 and saved more than $20 million in energy costs statewide.
“We encourage the public to continue their energy efficiency practices as each of us can contribute to reduce our consumption of imported oil,” said Estrella Seese, Acting Energy Program Administrator, State Energy Office. “We’ve received strong support from EPA’s ENERGY STAR program and look forward to even greater success in the remaining months of the competition.”
As of the midpoint of the competition, the State Capitol building has reduced its energy use through a variety of strategies, including mechanical, lighting, and plumbing upgrades, efficient operations, and an occupant behavior change campaign.
In 2007, the Energy Star Portfolio Manager score for the State Capitol Building was 57 with an Energy Usage Intensity (EUI) of 237.4 kBtu/sq. ft., meaning that the building was average in comparison to similar buildings nationwide. At present, the State Capitol Building has an Energy Star Portfolio Manager score of 86, meaning it qualifies for the Energy Star Building designation and ranks in the top 15% of similar buildings nationwide. The current EUI is 183.3 kBtu/Sq. Ft.
“Competitors in the second year of the ENERGY STAR Battle of the Buildings are already achieving energy-savings that really pack a punch,” said EPA Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, Gina McCarthy. “The stories behind these energy-savings speak to the dedication of American businesses and organizations to protecting the environment and public health, and to economic common sense.”
The competition includes 26 different types of commercial buildings across 33 states and the District of Columbia. Competitors measure and track their building’s monthly energy consumption using EPA’s ENERGY STAR online energy tracking tool, Portfolio Manager. The building with the largest percentage reduction in energy use, adjusted for weather and the size of the building, will be recognized as the winner in November. The competitors exchange ideas and strategies through various social media applications, including a live Twitter feed and a Facebook forum. Information about all competitors, including photos and facts about each along with energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions data, is available on the competition website.
ENERGY STAR was started by EPA in 1992 as a market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products as well as new homes and commercial and industrial buildings that meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set by EPA. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved about $18 billion on their energy bills while preventing greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to the annual emissions of 33 million vehicles.
List of Top Contenders and complete midpoint results for all competitors: https://www.energystar.gov/BattleOfTheBuildings For additional information please go to https://www.facebook.com/pages/Hawaii-State-Capitol-Building/181937041856016 or https://www.noresco.com/hi/.
The State of Hawaii’s most important economic enterprise is to pursue energy independence by building a clean energy economy and reaching 70% clean energy by 2030. The DBEDT State Energy Office’s mission is to act as a catalyst for creating efficiency measures, renewable energy resources, transportation initiatives, and progressive policy that lead to green jobs and investments in Hawaii’s economy. For more information, visit www.hawaii.gov/dbedt/energy.
###
For more information, contact:
Estrella Seese
Acting Energy Program Administrator
DBEDT’s State Energy Office
Phone: (808) 586-2352
Lois Hamaguchi
Energy Analyst
DBEDT’s State Energy Office
Phone: (808) 587-9006