Delaware and Maryland were already in. El Paso, Orlando,
San Diego, and Spokane were in.
On Tuesday, Mayor Nutter, flanked by federal energy and
environmental officials, announced that Philadelphia also was joining a U.S.
better-buildings challenge and launched an energy race among the city's biggest
buildings.
As in weight reduction, the biggest losers win.
The challenge is to reduce energy use 5 percent by Sept.
30, 2015. But building operators are encouraged to do more.
At the end of the challenge, the three top-performing
buildings in Philadelphia will be awarded $5,000.
"We know that there is a significant opportunity to
cut energy use and costs, as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions through
more efficient operations," the mayor said.
Missy A. Quinn, chair of the nonprofit Building Owners
and Managers Association of Philadelphia, whose member buildings define the
city skyline, applauded the move.
"We have often said, 'Don't legislate change;
incentivize us,' " she said. "While energy efficiency is one of the
areas where we already place a tremendous focus, this will allow our true
champions to shine."
Many of BOMA's 400-plus members have already made
improvements, such as retrofitting their buildings' lighting and upgrading
their air-conditioning systems.
One goal is making sure a building starts up and shuts
down according to usage by its occupants, not some clock that can't turn off
the lights when no one is home.
Those that have already made significant improvements may
not win the challenge, but no matter, said Donald S. Haas, director of
operations at Three Logan Square, owned by Brandywine Realty Trust.
"Believe me, if you're ahead of the curve, there is
no better feeling that everyone catching up to you," he said.
In Philadelphia, buildings account for 62 percent of
greenhouse emissions, said Alex Dews, policy and program manager for the
mayor's office of sustainability.
The city - including the housing authority and school
district - has joined the Department of Energy's Better Building Challenge,
through which states, municipalities, corporations, and educational
institutions commit to energy savings of 20 percent or more over 10 years.
The latest DOE update showed that more than 190
participating organizations are seeing roughly a 2.5 percent decrease in energy
use per year, an amount that eventually would total savings of $80 billion a
year if all U.S. buildings and homes improved at the same rate.
In accepting the Mayor's challenge, Quinn issued one of
her own, saying that she was so confident in BOMA's capabilities that "I
would be willing to wager our top three member buildings will outperform the
city's top three participants. What say you, Mr. Nutter? You in?"
ENERGY SAVERS?
Among the competitors are all city-owned buildings and
some commercial buildings, including:
City Hall
Municipal Services Building
One Parkway Buildings
Free Library
Recreation centers
Firehouses
Aramark building at 1101 Market
Three Logan Square at 1717 Arch.
Source: Philly.com
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