Nov. 28, 2014: EPA Recognizes First Existing Multifamily Buildings to Earn Energy Star
Buildings in Boston, Chicago, Fayetteville, Ark., New York, Seattle, and Washington, D.C., Honored
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the first existing multifamily housing properties to earn the new Energy Star multifamily certification for superior energy performance. EPA recognized 17 apartment and condo buildings across the country for leading the industry in reducing energy use, increasing affordability, protecting public health, and combating climate change.
“Communities, renters, and businesses all benefit when multifamily properties operate more efficiently,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “When these buildings use less energy, they also prevent greenhouse gas emissions, increase comfort, and lower costs for renters, making it a win-win for the environment, public health, and the economy.”
EPA said current estimates show multifamily properties can become 30 percent more efficient by 2020, unlocking $9 billion in energy savings and preventing annual greenhouse gas emissions roughly equal to those from 4 million homes.
Energy costs for renters have risen by 20 percent on average over the past decade, said EPA, so energy efficiency represents a significant opportunity to reduce utility costs as well as the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production of energy, which contribute to climate change.
The 17 properties on the list demonstrate the economic and environmental benefits achieved by owners and managers when they apply a comprehensive approach to managing energy use in their buildings. These apartment and condo buildings perform among the top 25 percent of similar properties nationwide. They took a variety of approaches to save energy, from investing in upgrades, to low-cost operations and maintenance changes, such as ensuring equipment runs only when needed.
EPA said the new Energy Star multifamily score gives building owners and tenants a way to understand their property’s energy performance using a simple, accurate, nationally-recognized metric. The 1-100 Energy Star score and certification for existing multifamily properties is based on nationally representative survey data provided by Fannie Mae and will be integrated into green building certification programs, including the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. It is the first time existing multifamily properties have been able to be certified as Energy Star. Previously, only new construction multifamily properties have been able to earn certification by meeting prescriptive design requirements for high performance.
The 17 Energy Star-certified multifamily buildings are:
• 30-50 21st, in New York
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• 680 North Lake Shore Drive, in Chicago
• The Ashley at RiverHouse, in Arlington, Virginia
• Aspira Apartments, in Seattle
• AvalonBay Communities – The Albemarle, in Washington, District of Columbia
• AvalonBay Communities – The Statesman, in Washington, District of Columbia
• Castle Square, in Boston
• Circa Green Lake Apartments, in Seattle
• ECO Modern Flats, in Fayetteville, Arkansas
• Harvard School of Public Health - Shattuck International House, in Boston
• Jeffery Parkway at 6731 South Jeffery Boulevard, in Chicago
• Peter Cooper Village, in New York
• Prescott Wallingford, in Seattle
• River City- 800 South Wells, in Chicago
• Stuyvesant Town, in New York
• Terrific Tenements 423 W 48th Street, in New York
• Terrific Tenements 527 W 47th Street, in New York
For more information, visit www.energystar.gov/multifamilyhousing.
Publication date: 11/24/2014
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