Los Angeles has retained its U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) crown as the top U.S. city for Energy Star-certified buildings, just as the state comes out of an extreme heatwave.Los Angeles has retained its U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) crown as the top U.S. city for Energy Star-certified buildings, just as the state comes out of an extreme heatwave.  

The EPA claims Energy Star-certified buildings use an average of 35% less energy and emit fewer greenhouse gases than typical buildings. They’re also more energy efficient than three-quarters of their peers.  

Los Angeles added 7.5% more buildings than in 2019, registering 587 Energy Star-certified buildings in 2020. Last year’s performance saved Los Angeles residents and businesses $203 million on energy bills and enough power to run 56,000 homes for a year.  

The EPA ranks top cities according to the number of Energy Star-certified buildings. Across the United States, nearly 6,500 commercial buildings earned the ENERGY STAR last year. Washington, D.C. came in second with almost 550 buildings, followed by San Francisco in third place, then Atlanta and New York.  

Energy Star Buildings’ National Influence 

According to the EPA, commercial buildings are responsible for 18% of the United States’ energy use and receive energy bills worth more than $190 billion per year. It also says more than $5 billion has been saved on energy bills and 22 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. That’s the equivalent of the annual emissions of more than 2.6 million homes.   

Some 37,000 buildings across North America have earned Energy Star certification since the grading’s inception in 1999. The portfolio includes facilities as diverse as the Empire State Building to an elementary school in Alaska.  

National trends boosting the drive for energy efficiency include people switching to LED lighting and smart meters and buildings. Energy Management Systems provide data to help understand a building’s energy needs, identifying areas where energy can be saved, for example, through lighting or air conditioning.   

EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan said: “With help from Energy Star, city leaders and building owners are working together to strengthen their economies and reduce the emissions that lead to climate change.” 

What’s Happening in Los Angeles? 

The EPA thinks that L.A.’s requirement that buildings greater than 100,000 square feet track and report annual energy and water use via its Energy Star Portfolio Manager tool has helped. The city also demands energy utilities provide aggregated energy consumption data, making it easier to track and measure a building’s energy use.  

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti said: “Here in Los Angeles, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword we throw around lightly — it’s a lens through which we see every policy decision. … Year in and year out, Los Angeles finds itself at the head of the pack when it comes to energy efficiency — showing the world that going green is good for your bottom line.”

Energy-efficient buildings are vital in the fight against climate change and global warming, both through losing heat during cold winters and avoiding the heat in summers. 

Los Angeles suffers frequent heat waves, such as the recent hot spell when the barometer hit 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 Celsius) in some areas. Those elevated temperatures are 10-20 degrees Fahrenheit (5.5-11 Celsius) higher than June’s expected levels.   

Buildings need to be well-insulated for air conditioning to work efficiently, especially during hot spells. Both the count and city of Los Angeles have a series of cooling centers — free, air-conditioned indoor locations — where people can keep cool during extreme heat weather conditions.  

Ensuring buildings are energy efficient is a pressing subject to protect both the planet and human lives. 

Opinion writer: Tom Shearman

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