Frankfort, Ky. (March 30, 2015) – Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet has announced three Kentucky cities are among the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2015 top cities list for ENERGY STAR buildings. For the second year, Louisville ranks among the top 25 cities with the most ENERGY-STAR buildings in the nation, improving its position by one place. Competing with major cities that include Washington D.C., Los Angeles and New York, Louisville ranked 24 among the top metropolitan areas and fourth in the mid-size city category. Elizabethtown and Fort Knox were also recognized with a fourth place ranking with 21 buildings, while Bowling Green placed fifth with 20 buildings in the small cities category. These 41 ENERGY STAR buildings saved $3.1 million in energy costs in 2014. “Congratulations to the leaders and citizens of these three Kentucky cities for your commitment to preserving our environment through efficient and wise use of our natural resources,” said Len Peters, secretary, Kentucky Energy and Environment Cabinet. “By earning the ENERGY STAR you demonstrate how energy efficiency strengthens local economies, reduces greenhouse gas emissions and ensures a healthy environment for generations to come.” In all, the 59 buildings that earned ENERGY STAR certification in Louisville have helped the city achieve its goal of decreasing its per capita energy use by 25 percent by 2025 as outlined in the city’s comprehensive sustainability plan, Sustain Louisville. The buildings earning the ENERGY STAR in 2014 saved more than $3 million in energy costs, equivalent to the electricity used by 2,800 homes in one year. Louisville has met a secondary goal set by Mayor Greg Fischer to certify 25 ENERGY STAR buildings by 2013 and getting onto the top 25 list by 2018. The EPA Top Cities list shows how cities across the nation are using energy efficiency in buildings as an effective way to lower costs and reduce greenhouse emissions. “Cities across the country are saving billions every year through partnering with our ENERGY STAR program and increasing energy efficiency, while doing their part to reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions that fuel climate change,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. More than 25,000 buildings across America have earned EPA’s ENERGY STAR since 1999. The buildings have saved nearly $3.4 billion on utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions, equal to the emissions from the annual electricity use of nearly 2.4 million homes. Energy use in commercial buildings accounts for 17 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions at a cost of more than $100 billion per year. ENERGY STAR buildings are verified to perform better than 75 percent of similar buildings nationwide, and they use an average of 35 percent less energy and are responsible for 35 percent fewer emissions than typical buildings. Many common building types can earn the ENERGY STAR, including office buildings, K-12 schools, hotels, and retail stores. To create the annual top cities list, EPA tallies the number of ENERGY STAR buildings for the end of the previous year within each metropolitan area, as defined by the U.S. Census. These areas include the city itself as well as surrounding towns and suburbs. More on the 2015 top cities: www.energystar.gov/topcities Search for ENERGY STAR buildings: www.energystar.gov/buildinglist More about Kentucky’s energy initiatives, www.energy.ky.gov
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