EPA Green - Launches "Work Off the Waste" Contest

Similar to the television reality show The Biggest Loser, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has launched a green reality competition of their own to see which commercial building can reduce the highest percentage of their overall kilowatt hours and thermal unit consumption.

Nearly 200 buildings applied to participate in the "Work off the Waste" competition, but only 14 commercial buildings were selected to participate in this EPA green competition designed to save energy and fight climate change. The commercial buildings selected to participate in the EPA green competition include retail stores, malls, schools, office complexes, and college residence halls. Each building is rated by their starting energy use intensity (EUI). The EUI is a unit of measure that outlines the energy used by a building as it relates to a buildings size.

During the contest, the EPA online measurement and tracking tool will be used to monitor the energy use of each building in the EPA green competition. The building that shows the greatest percentage-based reduction in their energy use intensity over the contest period of September 1, 2009 through August 31, 2010 will be announced as the winner. The EPA green contest winner will be announced on October 26, 2010.

According to the EPA, commercial buildings account for 18 percent of total U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. Commercial buildings can reduce their energy consumption by incorporating operational, maintenance and behavioral changes to capture up to 30% of the energy inefficiencies a building may have.

The "Working off the Waste" EPA green competition goals are to raise awareness of the energy consumed in the places Americans play, work and learn. Improve awareness of the role the EPA Energy Star program plays improving energy efficiency in buildings located across the nation. Advise Americans of the simple steps they can take to help reduce energy use and combat climate change.

The competitors participating in the EPA green competition receive advice and technical support from the EPA's Energy Star program and other industry experts. The participants will also be included in the EPA's media and community outreach programs. The winner will be recognized in an event and highlighted in a national press release.

Sources:

Energy Star - EPA National Building Competition - http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=buildingcontest.index