[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: City of Columbia joins U.S. DOE s Better Buildings Challenge, pledging to drive greater energy efficiency and serve as national model

[Press Releases]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Barb Buffaloe
Sustainability Manager
babuffal at GoColumbiaMo.com


City of Columbia joins U.S. DOE’s Better Buildings Challenge, pledging to drive greater energy efficiency and serve as national model

COLUMBIA, MO (June 27, 2012) - City of Columbia commits to reduce energy use 20 percent by 2020 

Today, the City of Columbia announced its partnership in  the Better Buildings Challenge, a Department of Energy (DOE) national leadership program calling on corporate chief executives, university presidents and state, local and school district leaders to reduce their portfolio-wide energy use by 20 percent by 2020 and showcase the solutions they use and the results they achieve. The city pledged to reduce energy use in 550,000 square feet of its public facilities by 20 percent as well as work with buildings in Columbia to achieve similar savings.

"The City of Columbia is pleased to join the Better Buildings Challenge, helping lead the nation to greater energy efficiency, economic growth and a cleaner environment," said Barbara Buffaloe, sustainability manager for the city. "Columbia will realize over 20 percent in energy savings. We look forward to sharing our successful strategies with other local governments to overcome barriers to greater efficiency and achieve similar savings."

As a Better Buildings Challenge Community Partner, the City of Columbia has pledged to make aggressive efforts to increase energy efficiency by implementing portfolio-wide energy management programs and working with building owners in the community. The city is developing its showcase project and will also share facility-level energy-use data, as well as successful strategies and approaches with DOE, other partners and the public. The city's showcase project is replacing lights in two downtown parking garages with LED fixtures. The project, using DOE standards, is projected to realize over $15,000 in annual electricity savings plus savings from avoided maintenance expenses with the newer fixtures. The data and solution transparency provided will serve as an example to other communities and help transform the market toward increased energy efficiency.

"Through President Obama's Better Buildings Challenge, our partners are committing to real change, breaking through barriers and sharing their successes," said Secretary of Energy Steven Chu. "We applaud these partners for joining in this leadership initiative and we look forward to working with them as they make their communities more energy efficient, saving money for taxpayers while protecting our air and water."

Local governments can play a key role in facilitating energy efficiency across communities through implementing innovative policies, building codes and financing strategies, as well as developing new models of public-private partnerships.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, commercial buildings and industrial plants in the U.S account for 50 percent of the nation's primary energy use, cost about $400 billion to operate and produce 40 percent of the country's CO2 emissions. By taking steps to become more energy efficient, DOE estimates that many buildings can reduce energy use by 20 percent.

 

About sustainability initiatives in the City of Columbia

The City of Columbia has taken a proactive approach to reduce our carbon footprint by altering methods of transportation, energy consumption, urban planning and sustainable architecture to preserve the city for future generations. In 2010, Columbia established the Office of Sustainability to further implement the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement and to set forth a road map for sustainability in the community. Having a department and staff dedicated to spearheading all of the sustainability efforts for the community ensures that all areas of the local government and community are working together to reach the same goals.

 

About the Better Buildings Challenge

The Better Buildings Challenge is a national leadership initiative that calls on chief executive officers, university presidents and state and local leaders to significantly reduce their portfolio wide energy use and share the results of their energy reduction strategies. Launched by President Obama in December 2011, the goal of the Better Buildings Challenge is to make American commercial and industrial buildings at least 20 percent more energy efficient by 2020. More than 100 organizations, representing almost 2 billion square feet of commercial and industrial buildings and almost $2 billion in energy efficiency financing, currently partner with the U.S. Department of Energy in the Better Buildings Challenge. For more information, please visit BetterBuildings.ee.gov/Challenge.

 


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