US buildings battle it out to trim their energy waistlines

Fourteen energy-hungry buildings are to be put on a diet, as they strive to reduce their energy consumption as part of a competition designed to promote energy efficiency across the US.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced its Energy Star initiative will run the inaugural National Building Competition, challenging 14 commercial buildings across 10 states to trim the number of kilowatt hours they use, saving money and carbon in the process.

Energy Star expects the competing buildings to reduce their energy consumption by up to 30 per cent over the course of the year by adapting operational and maintenance procedures as well as changing the behaviour of occupants.

The organisation likened concerns about energy wastage to the US weight-loss show The Biggest Loser, where contestants strive to lose the most weight. Under the initiative, the building that sheds the most energy wastage on a percentage basis will be declared the winner at the final "weigh-in" on 26 October 2010.

Energy Star is using its online energy measurement and tracking tool Portfolio Manager to follow the competitors' progress and is hoping to raise awareness of its wider building energy efficiency programmes, which aim to help companies adopt energy efficiency best practices across their offices and facilities

The high-profile campaign may also serve to boost the certification scheme's reputation after the recent scandal over its lax accreditation processes revealed that the EPA had dished out energy efficiency labels to made-up products.

The buildings were chosen to compete out of 200 applicants, including schools, hotels, offices and museums. Competitors come from across 10 states from Manhattan to Colorado. Avid followers of the competition can also track the contestants' progress on their Twitter feed.