WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) announced that more than 20 new partners have committed to improving energy efficiency across their building portfolios by 20 percent over the next 10 years. These new partners, including six in the multifamily sector, represent more than 70 million square feet of fast-food, restaurant, manufacturing, university, and government facilities. They will work with DOE to share their successful energy efficiency strategies.

According to DOE, food service facilities in the U.S. consume 400 trillion Btu of energy annually, representing a significant opportunity for energy savings. Restaurant and fast-food owners including Arby’s and CKE Restaurants, the owner of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, are partnering with DOE to improve the efficiency of the food service sector. Facebook, another new partner, will focus on infrastructure upgrades across its entire suite of data centers. These partners, and other organizations joining as financial allies, have committed to work with DOE:

• AHEAD Inc., Littleton, New Hampshire, commits 190,000 square feet of multifamily housing.

• Arby’s Restaurant Group Inc., Atlanta, commits over 2.5 million square feet as a food service partner.

• Bank of America, San Francisco, commits $1.5 billion dollars as a financial ally.

• Celanese Corp., Irving, Texas, commits 8 manufacturing plants.

• Chesapeake Community College, Wye Mills, Maryland, commits 320,000 square feet.

• City of Philadelphia commits 15 million square feet of building floor space.

• CKE Restaurants Holdings LLC, Carpinteria, California, commits over 2.5 million square feet as a food service partner.

• Commercial Power Partners, Los Angeles, commits $50 million as a financial ally.

• Community Investment Corp., Chicago, commits $25 million dollars as a financial ally.

• Facebook, Menlo Park, California, commits 10 data centers.

• Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, Florida, commits 3 million square feet as a higher education partner.

• Gragg Cardona Partners, Washington, District of Columbia, commits 49,000 square feet of multifamily housing.

• Holcim (US) Inc., Bedford, Massachusetts, commits 12 manufacturing plants.

• Housing Authority of the Birmingham District, Birmingham, Alabama, commits 3 million square feet of multifamily housing.

• King County, Washington, Seattle, commits over 5.5 million square feet of building floor space.

• Las Vegas Sands Corp. commits over 19.5 million square feet as a hospitality partner.

• Newark Housing Authority, Newark, New Jersey, commits over 1 million square feet of multifamily housing.

• PACE Equity, Milwaukee, commits $25 million dollars as a financial ally.

• Parkway Properties, Orlando, Florida, commits 18 million square feet of commercial real estate.

• Rockwell Finance, Centennial, Colorado, commits $25 million dollars as a financial ally.

• Structured Finance, Los Angeles, commits $150 million dollars as a financial ally.

• The DeBruler Co., Libertyville, Illinois, commits 700,000 square feet of multifamily housing.

• The JBG Companies, Chevy Chase, Maryland, commits 12.5 million square feet of commercial real estate.

• Windsor Locks Housing Authority, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, commits 72,000 square feet of multifamily housing.

The Better Buildings Challenge has the goal of doubling American energy productivity by 2030 while motivating corporate and public sector leaders across the country to save energy through commitments and investments. For more information, visit https://www4.eere.energy.gov/challenge/home.

Publication date: 2/9/2015

Want more HVAC industry news and information? Join The NEWS on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn today!