EPA recognizes Hanscom office building for energy efficiency

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HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. --  Hanscom's newest office building, Building 1604, earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR certification, which signifies that the building performs in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency and meets strict energy efficiency performance levels set by the EPA. The certification covered the time period from April 1, 2011, to March 31, 2012.

"We're pleased to accept EPA's ENERGY STAR certification in recognition of our energy efficiency efforts," said Tom Schluckebier, base civil engineer, who received the notification May 31. "Through this achievement, we have demonstrated our commitment to environmental stewardship while also lowering our energy costs."

Commercial buildings that earn EPA's ENERGY STAR certification use an average of 35 percent less energy than typical buildings and also release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

According to Schluckebier, Building 1604 uses 39 percent less energy per square foot and is at the national median for similar facilities.

"Improving the energy efficiency of our nation's buildings is critical to protecting our environment, " said Jean Lupinacci, ENERGY STAR Commercial and Industrial Branch chief. "From the boiler room to the board room, organizations are leading the way by making their buildings more efficient and earning EPA's ENERGY STAR certification."

EPA's ENERGY STAR energy performance scale helps organizations assess how efficiently their buildings use energy relative to similar buildings nationwide. A building that scores a 75 or higher on EPA's 1 to 100 scale may be eligible for ENERGY STAR certification. Overall, Building 1604 earned an energy performance rating of 85, making the building fall in the top 15 percent of energy performance.

Commercial buildings that can earn the ENERGY STAR include offices, bank branches, data centers, financial centers, retail stores, courthouses, hospitals, hotels, schools, medical offices, supermarkets, dormitories, houses of worship and warehouses.

ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products as well as new homes and commercial and industrial buildings that meet strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the EPA. Over the past twenty years, American families and businesses saved a total of nearly $230 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 1.7 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions with help from ENERGY STAR.

For more information about ENERGY STAR certification for commercial buildings, visit www.energystar.gov/labeledbuildings.