ENERGY STAR National Building Competition : ENERGY STAR
EPA is pleased to present the ENERGY STAR National Building Competition, the first coast-to-coast contest to save energy and fight global warming in commercial buildings. ENERGY STAR partners are invited to nominate one or more of the facilities they own or manage from across the United States. Approximately a dozen contest participants will be selected by EPA and will “work off the waste” through improvements in energy efficiency with help from EPA’s ENERGY STAR program. The building that reduces its energy use the most on a percentage basis will be recognized by EPA as the winner.
What a great idea! As a graduate of architecture school, I am well aware of the environmental disaster lurking throughout the Colorado Springs real estate area. Old commercial buildings, and even older homes are terribly energy efficient and are often plagued by building materials that have been outlawed for their irresponsible environmental qualities or for health reasons. If these buildings were to be renovated with Energy Star products and building techniques, their value would sky rocket!
We all know that energy is not cheap, especially with rising energy production costs. I can’t help but wonder how much money the City could save if it underwent its own Energy Star renovation program.
