March 19, 2004—The National Association of Counties (NACo), representing more than 1,500 county officials, recently joined the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in challenging counties to protect the environment, save energy, and cut operating costs by improving the energy efficiency of county courthouse and office buildings. NACo’s ENERGY STAR Courthouse Campaign sets standards by which counties can rate the energy performance of their courthouses and office buildings and win recognition by EPA for superior energy performance.
According to the EPA, government agencies spend more than $10 billion a year on energy to provide public services and meet constituent needs—while grappling with tightening budgets. Buildings that earn the ENERGY STAR for superior energy performance reportedly use about 40 percent less energy than average buildings, while cutting costs and reducing power plant emissions.
EPA offers the ENERGY STAR program to businesses, governments, and other organizations as a way to adopt superior energy management and realize the cost savings and environmental benefits that can result. EPA’s strategy starts with top leadership, engages the appropriate employees throughout the organization, uses standardized measurement tools, and helps an organization prioritize to get the most from its energy efficiency investments.
