The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has released a list of U.S. metropolitan areas with the largest number of energy efficient buildings in 2009– buildings that have earned EPA’s ENERGY STAR label.

During the past year, Denver jumped from seventh to fourth place, and now boasts 136 ENERGY STAR commercial buildings.  Los Angeles, CA; Washington, DC; and San Francisco, CA, round the top three cities.  ENERGY STAR buildings typically use 35 percent less energy and emit 35 percent less greenhouse gases than average buildings.

Buildings accounted for 52% of Denver’s greenhouse gas emissions in a 2007 study. Commercial and industrial buildings contributed 35% alone. With 31.5 million square feet of floor space under the ENERGY STAR label, Denver now is better positioned to meet its 2012 greenhouse gas reduction goals of 10% per capita below 1990 levels.

Although most city government buildings such as police and fire stations, recreation centers and libraries are not ratable in the program, Denver currently has two ENERGY STAR office buildings, and two more pending. By Executive Order, new city office buildings are required to be designed to achieve the ENERGY STAR rating.

A program to recognize the Denver area’s most energy and water efficient office buildings and hotels will be launched this summer. “Watts to Water,” sponsored by Denver, the Downtown Denver Partnership, the Denver Metro BOMA, Xcel Energy, Denver Water and U.S. EPA, is expected to further drive energy and water savings in the region.