Commercial and industrial facilities account for 56 percent of all energy consumption in Kentucky at a cost of more than $6.338 billion per year, more than any other sector of the economy. Nationally, these facilities are also responsible for nearly half of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.
Since the ENERGY STAR for commercial buildings was first introduced in 1999, thousands of buildings across the country have earned the ENERGY STAR and are saving billions in energy costs. In November 2009, Kentucky had only 80 commercial ENERGY STAR buildings and 44 ENERGY STAR schools. As of January 2012, there were 212 ENERGY STAR commercial buildings and 125 ENERGY STAR schools. This represents a 165 percent and 184 percent increase, respectively, in ENERGY STAR commercial buildings and schools. Find out if there is an ENERGY STAR building in your Kentucky community.
LEED certification provides independent, third-party verification that a building project meets the highest green building and performance measures. The LEED certification is nationally recognized for demonstrating that a building is environmentally responsible, profitable and a healthy place to live and work.
There are both environmental and financial benefits to earning LEED certification. LEED-certified buildings:
- lower operating costs and increase asset value;
- reduce waste sent to landfills;
- conserve energy and water;
- provide a healthier environment for occupants;
- reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions;
- qualify for tax rebates, zoning allowances and other incentives in hundreds of cities; and
- demonstrate an owner's commitment to environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
Government agencies have the potential to save taxpayers millions of dollars by utilizing simple energy efficient measures. Simple things like turning off office lights at the end of the day or using temperature set-backs during off hours can add up to big savings for government budgets.
For large projects, Energy Savings Performance Contracting (ESPC) can save millions of dollars.