WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the winner of its third annual Energy Star National Building competition. More than 3,000 schools, businesses, and government buildings competed.

Demarest Elementary School in Bloomfield, N.J., won the Energy Star Battle of the Buildings competition by demonstrating a 52 percent energy-use reduction, the largest in the competition. The school identified and addressed a number of mechanical issues and energy management measures that added up to significant energy and cost-saving reductions.

Demarest Elementary School identified and addressed mechanical issues, including replacing a heat timer associated with the control system that allowed it to run on a more energy-efficient schedule. In addition to this mechanical fix, the head custodian adjusted boiler operations based on outside temperature and changes in weather, and adjusted the hall lighting schedule so that lights were dimmed in the early morning and after students were dismissed. The staff also took control of energy management in their immediate areas by turning off and unplugging electronic devices.

Together, competitors of this year’s National Building competition cut their energy costs by more than $50 million, saving more than 3 billion kBtu of energy, and reducing annual greenhouse gas emissions equal to the amount of electricity used by more than 43,000 homes.

“The impressive results of the National Building competition help show that any building can take simple steps to improve the energy efficiency of the places where we all work, play, and learn,” said Bob Perciasepe, EPA acting administrator. “All of the participants in the Energy Star National Building competition are finding more and more ways to cut energy use, saving thousands of dollars and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
Coming in second place was AAFES Fort Hood Warrior Way Express Store B85001 in Fort Hood, Texas, reducing its energy by 48.5 percent. Finishing third was Toms River Verizon Wireless, Toms River, N.J., which reduced use by 43.1 percent. A total of 89 buildings in the competition demonstrated energy use reductions of 20 percent or greater.

Publication date: 5/13/2013 

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