ARC, an Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge honoree
Atlanta REALTORS® Center Named Top Performer | Energy Efficiency 2015
The Atlanta REALTORS® Center was honored as a "Top Performer in Energy Efficiency" as the Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge announced the top performers of 2016 at its annual recognition event Tuesday at the College Football Hall of Fame.
"Our Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge participants have truly stepped up and gone beyond the® whole nine yards in gaining forward progress toward our goals in energy and water conservation," said Stephanie Stuckey Benfield, director of the Mayor's Office of Sustainability.
The Atlanta BBC is a nation-leading public/private initiative that has been praised as a model for the rest of the country by the director of the U.S. Dept. of Energy's Better Buildings Challenge. Led locally by the City of Atlanta Mayor's Office of Sustainability and initially spearheaded by CAP and the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District, the goal of the Atlanta BBC is to reduce energy and water consumption by at least 20 percent in participating buildings across Atlanta by 2020. The success of the Atlanta BBC has stemmed from its partnerships with organizations such as Midtown Alliance, Livable Buckhead, and Southface Energy Institute that have allowed for the expansion of the program to the entire City.
To date, the Atlanta BBC encompasses 555 buildings with a total of more than 105.5 million square feet. Emory has again increased its commitment to the program with the addition of Emory Healthcare, with their commitment now totaling more than 11.1 million square feet. The Challenge has also achieved 17% in energy savings and 20% water savings.
"Thanks to a dedicated drive to actively create and share the best energy efficiency solutions, Better Buildings partners have dramatically cut their energy waste and saved more than a billion dollars since the Better Buildings initiative was launched five years ago," said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. "As the initiative continues to grow, we are moving the nation forward by reducing energy costs and carbon emissions through energy efficiency."
Atlanta was recognized in Washington, D.C. at the federal Department of Energy's Better Building Summit. Mayor Kasim Reed was a keynote speaker at the event where Atlanta received an award for becoming the first city to reach its 20% goal for water savings. The total energy savings stand at 17% portfolio-wide, which puts Atlanta well on its way to winning the Challenge nationally.
Background Information
National Better Buildings Overview
Last year, the buildings in which we work and live used roughly 40% of the energy in the U.S. economy at a cost of over $400 billion. Through a variety of efficiency improvements (e.g. new lighting, greater insulation, more efficient heating and cooling) and proven approaches (clear information, access to financing, energy efficiency investment criteria), we can make these buildings more energy efficient and better places to live and work while creating jobs and building a stronger economy.
In February 2011, President Obama, building upon the investments of the Recovery Act, announced the Better Buildings Initiative to make commercial buildings 20% more energy efficient by 2020 and accelerate private sector investment in energy efficiency.
Better Buildings Challenge
Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge President is challenging CEOs, University Presidents, state and local government leaders and others to commit their organizations to lead in saving energy, saving money, and showcasing the best energy saving strategies and their results. Partners commit to an energy savings pledge, a showcase building, and to share their progress. Partners will receive public recognition, technical assistance, and best-practices sharing through a network of peers. Their leadership will provide real case studies and implementation models-linked to results-for others to use.
For more information, please visit www.atlantabbc.com.