Los Angeles ranked at the top of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s list of cities with the highest number of ENERGY STAR-certified commercial and multifamily buildings in 2021, officials announced on Wednesday, June 1.
Such buildings meet criteria for saving energy and money and produce fewer greenhouse gas emissions than typical buildings, according to the EPA.
The city of Los Angeles has 648 commercial and multifamily buildings that meet the criteria and are more efficient than 75% of similar buildings nationwide.
“The city of LA is leading the way by proving that cutting energy costs, increasing efficiency and reducing emissions, can also save money for municipalities and their constituents,” EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Martha Guzman said. “Congratulations Los Angeles for its #1 Energy Star recognition in reducing carbon pollution and fighting the effects of climate change.”
According to the EPA, commercial buildings across the United States are responsible for 18% of the nation’s energy use, and more than $190 billion is spent each year on energy bills. On average, ENERGY STAR-certified buildings use 35% less energy and emit 35% less carbon dioxide emissions.
“We’ve led the country in clean buildings year after year because we know the importance of giving building owners the tools to reduce their carbon footprint,” Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said. “Buildings are not just Los Angeles’ largest source of climate pollution — they’re one of our greatest opportunities to show the world that climate action and economic opportunity go hand in hand. We know the real work still lies ahead, so we’ll keep doing our part to realize our promise of reduced emissions, healthier communities, and more inclusive economies.”
Following Los Angeles on the EPA’s list are Washington, D.C., Atlanta, San Francisco and Dallas. By the end of 2021, more than 39,000 buildings in the United States earned ENERGY STAR certification. The EPA says these buildings have collectively saved more than $5 billion in energy bills and prevented nearly 22 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, which is about the amount that 2.7 million homes emit annually.
