New England Buildings Battle for Title of Energy Efficiency

Ten New England buildings have joined the Energy Star “Battle of the Buildings” challenge, a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program designed to encourage energy efficiency in buildings around the country.  Teams from 245 buildings across the country are battling it out to see who can save the most energy with help from EPA’s Energy Star program.

Buildings use a lot of energy, and this use includes lighting, climate control, office equipment (among other items).  Nearly 20 percent of the energy consumed in the U.S., at a cost of more than $100 billion a year, occurs in buildings other than residential buildings. Of that amount, nearly a third of that energy goes to waste (according to EPA).

At the halfway point of this year’s competition, EPA has recognized the Top Contenders who have reduced their energy use the most in the twelve building categories in the competition. Of the top national contenders, the Colonnade Hotel in Boston Mass. is the highest ranking hotel in the competition.

Other New England buildings participating in this challenge include:
Winchester Unitarian Church, Winchester, Massachusetts;
Medford High School, Medford, MA;
Middleboro Childhood Early Education Center, Middleboro, MA;
300 Apollo Drive, Chelmsford, MA;
Hauser Hall, Harvard Law School, Cambridge, MA;
ALU Westford, Westford, MA;
99 High Street, Boston, MA;
Planet Subaru, Hanover, MA; and
G Tech Center, Providence, Rhode Island.

“By taking part in the Battle of the Buildings, these property owners are not only reducing their energy use, they are also helping to reduce emissions to the air, saving money and protecting our environment,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England regional office, in a prepared statement.  “Any building operator can apply many of the same common-sense steps we take at home do their part to save energy in the buildings in which we work, learn and play.”

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 may be found on more than 60 products as well as new homes and commercial and industrial buildings that meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the EPA.  Last year alone, EPA estimates that Americans, with the help of Energy Star, saved $18 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 33 million vehicles.

For more information about the Energy Star “Battle of the Buildings” challenge, please visit:

Energy Star “Battle of the Buildings” Challenge