Los Angeles topped the EPA’s just-released list of cities with the most energy efficient buildings that have received the Energy Star label.
L.A.'s 262 buildings accounted for nearly 74 million square feet of office space with annual savings of $87.2 million, according to EPA estimates. That’s because Energy Star buildings use about a third less energy -- and generate 35 percent less greenhouse gas emissions -- than their conventional counterparts.
More than 3,300 schools, hospitals, office buildings, courthouses and retail stores earned the Energy Star label in 2008; the country now has a total of 6,200 qualified commercial buildings.
The metro areas of San Francisco, Houston, Washington, D.C., and Dallas-Fort Worth rounded out the top five. The top 25 cities with the most Energy Star qualified buildings in 2008 are:
1. Los Angeles, Calif. -- 262
2. San Francisco, Calif. -- 194
3. Houston, Texas -- 145
4. Washington, D.C., -- 136
5. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas -- 126
6. Chicago, Ill. -- 125
7. Denver, Colo. -- 109
8. Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minn. -- 102
9. Atlanta, Ga. -- 97
10. Seattle, Wash. -- 83
11. Boston, Mass. -- 79
12. New York, N.Y.-- 78
13. Austin, Texas -- 77
14. Detroit, Mich. -- 65
15. Milwaukee, Wis. -- 62
16. San Antonio, Texas -- 56
17. Philadelphia, Pa. -- 50
18. Charlotte, N.C. -- 45
19. Portland, Ore. -- 45
20. Grand Rapids, Mich.-- 42
21. Sacramento, Calif. -- 41
22. Phoenix, Ariz. -- 39
23. Miami, Fla. -- 38
24. Riverside, Calif. -- 34
25. Madison, Wis. -- 33