3 R.I. buildings, 175+ in N.E., win Energy Star rating

BOSTON – More than 175 buildings across New England, including three in Rhode Island and 118 in Massachusetts, have earned the Energy Star label for superior energy performance, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
More than a third of them won the rating in 2007, when the new recipients included include private and government office buildings, hotels, elementary and secondary schools, college residence halls and town halls, the agency said.
“Across New England, businesses and organizations are stepping forward to brighten our nation’s future by making smart decisions that are good for the environment and good for the bottom line,” Robert W. Varney, regional administrator for EPA New England, said in a statement. “These facilities have shown innovation, good management and a commitment to leading the way with a new generation of environmentally-preferable building management practices.”
The three Ocean State structures achieving the Energy Star designation are the Shaw’s Supermarket at 186 County Road in Barrington, a 53,500-square-foot building constructed in 1999 and owned by ACP Shopping Center Associates LP; the Shaw’s at 1485 Hartford Ave. (Route 6A) in Johnston, a 64,560-square-foot structure built in 1997, and owned by Shaw’s Realty Trust; and the Shaw’s at 1500 Bald Hill Road (Route 2) in Warwick, a 46,400-square-foot building constructed in 1993 and owned by Shaw’s Supermarkets Inc.
In the Bay State, most Energy Star structures are concentrated in the Greater Boston Area. No buildings in Bristol County have achieved such recognition yet.
To achieve the Energy Star rating, a building or factory must score in the top 25 percent using the EPA’s National Energy Performance Rating system, which calculates scores based on actual energy use. It must emit at least 35 percent less carbon dioxide than the average building. And it must use nearly 40 percent less energy. Such superior energy efficiency is a critical element of green building, the EPA noted.
The Energy Star program is a voluntary partnership to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Launched by the EPA in 1992, it is now a joint program of the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy.
In 2006, the most recent year for which figures are available, Energy Star saved an estimated $14 billion in energy expenses and 37 million metric tons in greenhouse gas emissions. In New England alone, its Portfolio Manager tools are being used by building owners and managers to assess and improve energy performance of more than 4,000 buildings, including nearly 1,000 office buildings, nearly 900 schools, about 750 grocery stores, 650 other retail stores, 200 college dormitories and 200 hotels, according to the EPA’s regional office in Boston.
Additional information about Energy Star labeled buildings in New England is available from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s regional office at www.epa.gov/region1/eco/energy.