Saint Paul Ranked 11th by EPA for Energy Star Labeled Buildings
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently announced its 2009 list of cities with the most Energy Star labeled buildings. Saint Paul was number 11 on the list. Buildings can either be built from start or retrofitted to be Energy Star compliant. These buildings use 35% less energy than a comparable non-Energy Star building of the same size. They also release 35% less carbon dioxide into the air. The EPA uses a 100 point scale to assess how efficient a building uses energy with a score of 75 or higher being considered Energy Star compliant. Almost any commercial buildings can earn the energy star rating. Houses, townhouses, apartment buildings, and condos can not.
Much of Saint Paul’s success was led by Mayor Coleman who hired the City’s first sustainability coordinator, energy coordinator, and water quality coordinator. All key appointments to lead the charge on energy conservation. Mayor Coleman also directed over $1 million to retrofit City buildings for energy and cost savings. He was also instrumental in working with Xcel energy to replace a coal-burning energy plan with natural gas, secured a $1 million Department of Energy grant to create solar power at the Rock-Tenn plant, and added several LEED buildings to the area.
Saint Paul has also recieved about $4 million in grants from the Department of Energy through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. About $3 million of that money should create new job opportunities in upgrading the energy use of public and commercial buildings and Saint Paul Homes.
I am a licensed Realtor in the State of Minnesota. This website is not a multiple listing service, but each Minnesota & Minneapolis real estate agent is a member of the Regional MLS of MN, inc., a provider of the Minnesota MLS.
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