Ogden lands on Energy Star list

OGDEN — Ogden ranks 21st on a new Environmental Protection Agency list of U.S. metropolitan areas with the largest number of energy-efficient buildings that earned the agency's Energy Star in 2009.

The city in Weber County was the only area from Utah to make the list. Los Angeles took the top spot, followed by Washington, D.C.; San Francisco; Denver and Chicago.

"These cities see the importance of taking action on climate change," said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "Communities from Los Angeles to Louisville are reducing greenhouse gases and cutting energy bills with buildings that have earned EPA's Energy Star."

Ogden earned its spot on the list by having 51 Energy Star-labeled buildings with 5.5 million square feet that are estimated to save $2.2 million in energy costs, according to the EPA. Regulators say the emissions prevented equate to the electricity use of 2,200 homes.

In comparison, Los Angeles had 293 Energy Star-labeled buildings that saved nearly $94 million in energy costs. Emissions prevented equated to the electrical use of 34,800 homes.

Since EPA awarded the first Energy Star to a building in 1999, nearly 9,000 buildings across the country have earned the Energy Star as of the end of 2009, representing more than a 40 percent increase over last year's total. Overall, annual utility savings have climbed to nearly $1.6 billion, and greenhouse gas emissions equal to the emissions of more than 1 million homes a year have been prevented, according to the EPA.

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. EPA awards the Energy Star to commercial buildings that perform in the top 25 percent of buildings nationwide compared with similar buildings. Thirteen types of buildings can earn the Energy Star, including schools, hospitals, office buildings, retail stores and supermarkets.

EPA first issued its ranking of cities with the most Energy Star labeled buildings last year.

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