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EPA Announces Winners in New York and New Jersey for the 2021 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards

Five winners recognized nationwide for innovative technologies that decrease hazardous chemicals, improve community health, reduce costs, and spur economic growth

NEW YORK (June 15, 2021) – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the winners of the 2021 Green Chemistry Challenge Awards, including New York organization Bristol Myers Squibb and New Jersey organization Merck & Co.  Green chemistry is the design of chemical products and processes that reduce or eliminate the generation and use of hazardous substances.

“Green chemistry is one way to provide solutions to some of the significant environmental challenges we’re facing today, like exposure to toxic chemicals, dependence on non-renewable sources, and climate change,” said EPA Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator Michal Freedhoff. “The innovative technologies we celebrate today are great examples of how green chemistry is protecting our environment, preventing pollution at its source, and keeping U.S. business globally competitive by creating more sustainable products.”

The 2021 Region 2 winners are:

• Bristol Myers Squibb, New York, for a new class of sustainable reagents – substances used to cause a chemical reaction. These new reagents use less solvents and are derived from limonene, a waste product from discarded citrus peels, which increases sustainability and decreases environmental impact. They also can tolerate air and moisture better than traditional reagents, eliminating the need for expensive technology and specialized shipping and storage.
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• Merck & Co., New Jersey, for developing a green and sustainable manufacturing process for a drug used to treat chronic coughs. By incorporating green chemistry techniques into the manufacturing process, the team not only replaced two highly toxic and hazardous chemicals, it also reduced carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide emissions. Life-cycle assessment data shows that these changes are expected to decrease the carbon footprint of manufacturing this drug by more than 80 percent.

EPA recognized the winners today during the virtual American Chemical Society Green Chemistry & Engineering Conference. This year’s awards have special meaning because it’s also the 25^th anniversary of the Green Chemistry Challenge Awards. During the quarter century of the Green Chemistry program, EPA and the American Chemical Society, which co-sponsor the awards, have received more than 1,800 nominations and presented awards for 128 technologies that decrease hazardous chemicals and resources, reduce costs, protect public health and spur economic growth. Winning technologies are responsible for annually reducing the use or generation of hundreds of millions of pounds of hazardous chemicals and saving billions of gallons of water and trillions of BTUs in energy.

An independent panel of technical experts convened by the American Chemical Society Green Chemistry Institute formally judged the 2021 submissions and made recommendations to EPA for the 2021 winners.

More information: https://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry

Follow EPA Region 2 on Twitter at http://twitter.com/eparegion2 and visit our Facebook page, http://facebook.com/eparegion2

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EPA Names San Antonio Among 2021 Top Cities for ENERGY STAR Certified Buildings

Media contacts: Jennah Durant at [email protected] or 214 665-2200

DALLAS – (June 15, 2021) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced San Antonio, Texas, earned its first spot on the annual “Top Cities” list, spotlighting the cities with the largest number of ENERGY STAR certified commercial and multifamily buildings last year. San Antonio-New Braunfels ranks 25^th among the nation’s largest cities. Last year, the area’s 52 ENERGY STAR certified commercial and multifamily buildings saved more than $10.5 million and 55,279 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to taking nearly 12,000 passenger vehicles off the road.

“Cities and communities play an essential role in reducing energy use in commercial and multifamily buildings,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “With help from ENERGY STAR, city leaders and building owners are working together to strengthen their economies and reduce the emissions that lead to climate change.”

“I’m thrilled that San Antonio has reached the Environmental Protection Agency’s top 25 cities for ENERGY STAR certified buildings. Having recently adopted our local Climate Action & Adaptation Plan, which strives to make our community carbon neutral by 2050, it’s encouraging to see that our city is on the right track,” said Mayor Ron Nirenberg. “Through initiatives like our local Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program, I’m confident that we’ll only see that number increase in the years to come.” 

Commercial buildings are responsible for 18 percent of the nation’s energy use and cost more than $190 billion per year in energy bills. ENERGY STAR certified buildings use an average of 35 percent less energy and are responsible for 35 percent less carbon dioxide emissions than typical buildings.

First released in 2009, EPA’s list of cities with the most ENERGY STAR certified buildings shows how buildings across America are embracing energy efficiency as a simple and effective way to save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To create the annual list, EPA tallies the number of ENERGY STAR certified buildings within each metropolitan area, as defined by the U.S. Census. These areas include the city itself as well as surrounding suburbs. This year’s Top Cities are:

Rank   Metro Area                Building Count          Last Year’s Rank

1          Los Angeles                587                              1

2          Washington, DC         549                              2

3          San Francisco             341                              6

4          Atlanta                        329                              4

5          New York                   276                              5

6          Chicago                       237                              7

7          Houston                       195                              10

8          Dallas                          194                              3                     

9          Boston                         193                              11

10        Denver                        186                              9

11        Seattle                         165                              13

12     &
nbsp;  San Diego                   164                              13

13        Riverside, Calif.          152                              12       

13        Tampa                         152                              16

15        Minneapolis                133                              19

16        Phoenix                       119                              8

17        Austin                         107                              17

18        San Jose                      104                              18

19        Charlotte                     103                              23

20        Miami                         87                                21

20        Philadelphia                87                                15

22        Sacramento                 77                                22

23        Portland                      65                                n/a

24        Raleigh                       54                                n/a

25        San Antonio                52                                n/a

Across the country, nearly 6,500 commercial buildings earned the ENERGY STAR last year.

As of the end of 2020, over the lifetime of the program more than 37,000 buildings across America had earned EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification. Together, these buildings have saved more than $5 billion on energy bills and prevented nearly 22 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions—equal to the annual emissions of more than 2.6 million homes. 

To earn EPA’s ENERGY STAR, a commercial building must earn an ENERGY STAR score of 75 or higher on EPA’s 1 – 100 scale, indicating that it is more energy efficient than 75 percent of similar buildings nationwide. When calculating a building’s ENERGY STAR score, ENERGY STAR takes into account multiple factors, including hours of operation, energy use, and occupancy. This means that, despite buildings operating differently during the COVID pandemic, ENERGY STAR scores and certification still reflect actual, measured energy efficiency.

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations—including nearly 40 percent of the Fortune 500®—rely on their partnership with EPA to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Together, since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners have helped American families and businesses save 5 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity, avoid more than $450 billion in energy costs, and achieve 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions, all through voluntary action. Learn more about ENERGY STAR at energystar.gov/about.

More on ENERGY STAR Top Cities, including the 2021 ranking of top small and mid-sized cities, as well as last year’s rankings: www.energystar.gov/topcities
 

Search for ENERGY STAR certified buildings: www.energystar.gov/buildinglocator

More about earning the ENERGY STAR certification for commercial buildings: www.energystar.gov/buildingcertification
 

Connect with EPA Region 6:

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eparegion6 

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EPAregion6

Activities in EPA Region 6: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-6-south-central

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EPA Names Austin Among 2021 Top Cities for ENERGY STAR Certified Buildings

Media contacts: Jennah Durant at [email protected] or 214 665-2200

DALLAS – (June 15, 2021) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Austin, Texas, earned a spot on the annual “Top Cities” list, spotlighting the cities with the largest number of ENERGY STAR certified commercial and multifamily buildings last year. Austin-Round Rock ranked 17^th among the nation’s largest cities. Last year, the area’s 107 ENERGY STAR certified commercial and multifamily buildings saved nearly $17.8 million and 78,035 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to taking nearly 17,000 passenger vehicles off the road.

“Cities and communities play an essential role in reducing energy use in commercial and multifamily buildings,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “With help from ENERGY STAR, city leaders and building owners are working together to strengthen their economies and reduce the emissions that lead to climate change.”

“We are proud in Austin to have made transformational investments to make our city sustainable,” said Austin Mayor Steve Adler. “Austin’s participation in federal programs like ENERGY STAR gives residents and businesses alike a brand and an economic incentive to take action toward building a greener environment.”

Commercial buildings are responsible for 18 percent of the nation’s energy use and cost more than $190 billion per year in energy bills. ENERGY STAR certified buildings use an average of 35 percent less energy and are responsible for 35 percent less carbon dioxide emissions than typical buildings.

First released in 2009, EPA’s list of cities with the most ENERGY STAR certified buildings shows how buildings across America are embracing energy efficiency as a simple and effective way to save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To create the annual list, EPA tallies the number of ENERGY STAR certified buildings within each metropolitan area, as defined by the U.S. Census. These areas include the city itself as well as surrounding suburbs. This year’s Top Cities are:

Rank   Metro Area                Building Count          Last Year’s Rank

1          Los Angeles                587                              1

2          Washington, DC         549                              2

3          San Francisco             341                              6

4          Atlanta                        329                              4

5          New York                   276                              5

6          Chicago                       237                              7

7          Houston                       195                              10

8          Dallas                          194                              3                     

9          Boston                         193                              11

10        Denver                        186                              9

11        Seattle                         165                              13

12        San Diego                   164                &n
bsp;             13

13        Riverside, Calif.          152                              12       

13        Tampa                         152                              16

15        Minneapolis                133                              19

16        Phoenix                       119                              8

17        Austin                         107                              17

18        San Jose                      104                              18

19        Charlotte                     103                              23

20        Miami                         87                                21

20        Philadelphia                87                                15

22        Sacramento                 77                                22

23        Portland                      65                                n/a

24        Raleigh                       54                                n/a

25        San Antonio                52                                n/a

Across the country, nearly 6,500 commercial buildings earned the ENERGY STAR last year.

As of the end of 2020, over the lifetime of the program more than 37,000 buildings across America had earned EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification. Together, these buildings have saved more than $5 billion on energy bills and prevented nearly 22 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions—equal to the annual emissions of more than 2.6 million homes. 

To earn EPA’s ENERGY STAR, a commercial building must earn an ENERGY STAR score of 75 or higher on EPA’s 1 – 100 scale, indicating that it is more energy efficient than 75 percent of similar buildings nationwide. When calculating a building’s ENERGY STAR score, ENERGY STAR takes into account multiple factors, including hours of operation, energy use, and occupancy. This means that, despite buildings operating differently during the COVID pandemic, ENERGY STAR scores and certification still reflect actual, measured energy efficiency.

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations—including nearly 40 percent of the Fortune 500®—rely on their partnership with EPA to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Together, since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners have helped American families and businesses save 5 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity, avoid more than $450 billion in energy costs, and achieve 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions, all through voluntary action. Learn more about ENERGY STAR at energystar.gov/about.

More on ENERGY STAR Top Cities, including the 2021 ranking of top small and mid-sized cities, as well as last year’s rankings: www.energystar.gov/topcities
 

Search for ENERGY STAR certified buildings: www.energystar.gov/buildinglocator

More about earning the ENERGY STAR certification for commercial buildings: www.energystar.gov/buildingcertification
 

Connect with EPA Region 6:

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eparegion6 

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EPAregion6

Activities in EPA Region 6: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-6-south-central

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EPA Names Tulsa Among 2021 Top Cities for ENERGY STAR Certified Buildings

Media contacts: Jennah Durant at [email protected] or 214 665-2200

DALLAS – (June 15, 2021) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Tulsa, Oklahoma, earned a spot on the annual “Top Cities” list, spotlighting the cities with the largest number of ENERGY STAR certified commercial and multifamily buildings last year. Tulsa ranks 10^th among the nation’s mid-sized cities, tied with Madison, Wisconsin. Last year, Tulsa’s 28 ENERGY STAR certified commercial and multifamily buildings saved more than $1.4 million and 12,826 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to taking more than 2,700 passenger vehicles off the road.

“Cities and communities play an essential role in reducing energy use in commercial and multifamily buildings,” said EPA Administrator Michael S. Regan. “With help from ENERGY STAR, city leaders and building owners are working together to strengthen their economies and reduce the emissions that lead to climate change.”

“EPA’s ENERGY STAR recognition speaks well for Tulsa’s quality of life and sustainability,” said Mayor G.T. Bynum. “Energy efficiency in our commercial and multifamily buildings makes a difference for sustainability and profitability, strengthening our overall local economy.” 

Commercial buildings are responsible for 18 percent of the nation’s energy use and cost more than $190 billion per year in energy bills. ENERGY STAR certified buildings use an average of 35 percent less energy and are responsible for 35 percent less carbon dioxide emissions than typical buildings.

First released in 2009, EPA’s list of cities with the most ENERGY STAR certified buildings shows how buildings across America are embracing energy efficiency as a simple and effective way to save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To create the annual list, EPA tallies the number of ENERGY STAR certified buildings within each metropolitan area, as defined by the U.S. Census. These areas include the city itself as well as surrounding suburbs. This year’s Top Cities are:

Rank   Metro Area                Building Count          Last Year’s Rank

1          Los Angeles                587                              1

2          Washington, DC         549                              2

3          San Francisco             341                              6

4          Atlanta                        329                              4

5          New York                   276                              5

6          Chicago                       237                              7

7          Houston                       195                              10

8          Dallas                          194                              3                     

9          Boston                         193                              11

10        Denver                        186                              9

11        Seattle                         165                              13

12        San Diego                   164                  &n
bsp;           13

13        Riverside, Calif.          152                              12       

13        Tampa                         152                              16

15        Minneapolis                133                              19

16        Phoenix                       119                              8

17        Austin                         107                              17

18        San Jose                      104                              18

19        Charlotte                     103                              23

20        Miami                         87                                21

20        Philadelphia                87                                15

22        Sacramento                 77                                22

23        Portland                      65                                n/a

24        Raleigh                       54                                n/a

25        San Antonio                52                                n/a

Across the country, nearly 6,500 commercial buildings earned the ENERGY STAR last year.

As of the end of 2020, over the lifetime of the program more than 37,000 buildings across America had earned EPA’s ENERGY STAR certification. Together, these buildings have saved more than $5 billion on energy bills and prevented nearly 22 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions—equal to the annual emissions of more than 2.6 million homes. 

To earn EPA’s ENERGY STAR, a commercial building must earn an ENERGY STAR score of 75 or higher on EPA’s 1 – 100 scale, indicating that it is more energy efficient than 75 percent of similar buildings nationwide. When calculating a building’s ENERGY STAR score, ENERGY STAR takes into account multiple factors, including hours of operation, energy use, and occupancy. This means that, despite buildings operating differently during the COVID pandemic, ENERGY STAR scores and certification still reflect actual, measured energy efficiency.

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR® is the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency, providing simple, credible, and unbiased information that consumers and businesses rely on to make well-informed decisions. Thousands of industrial, commercial, utility, state, and local organizations—including nearly 40 percent of the Fortune 500®—rely on their partnership with EPA to deliver cost-saving energy efficiency solutions. Together, since 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners have helped American families and businesses save 5 trillion kilowatt-hours of electricity, avoid more than $450 billion in energy costs, and achieve 4 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas reductions, all through voluntary action. Learn more about ENERGY STAR at energystar.gov/about.

More on ENERGY STAR Top Cities, including the 2021 ranking of top small and mid-sized cities, as well as last year’s rankings: www.energystar.gov/topcities
 

Search for ENERGY STAR certified buildings: www.energystar.gov/buildinglocator

More about earning the ENERGY STAR certification for commercial buildings: www.energystar.gov/buildingcertification
 

Connect with EPA Region 6:

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/eparegion6 

On Twitter: https://twitter.com/EPAregion6

Activities in EPA Region 6: https://www.epa.gov/aboutepa/epa-region-6-south-central

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