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Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center in Atlanta, Georgia Receives Energy Star Designation

Release Date: 04/19/2005
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(Atlanta, GA April 19, 2005)  During a ceremony today in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in conjunction with the General Services Administration (GSA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) officially designated the Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center (SNAFC) as an Energy Star® Building. The SNAFC is the ninth largest federal building in the U.S. and the largest in the Southeast. 

The ENERGY STAR label is awarded to buildings that perform in the top 25 percent in the country (a score of 75 or better out of 100).  The SNAFC performance rating in 2002 was 59, but as a result of the ENERGY STAR teams’ effort the rating in 2005 is 81.  This means that the SNAFC out performs 80 percent of the office buildings in the country.   Between fiscal year (FY) 2003 and FY 2004 alone, energy use at SNAFC decreased 12 percent.  The SNAFC efficiency project has saved $192,000 per year, the equivalent of the energy needed to power 230 average homes for a year.  This has a significant impact on public health by reducing carbon dioxide   emissions by 3,800 tons per year.

The ENERGY STAR team consists of experienced staff from EPA, the Southeast Regional Office of DOE, GSA - energy and facilities, Oak Ridge and Pacific Northwest laboratories, and SNAFC operations and maintenance contractor Brooks Range (BRCS).  As a result of the partnership's efforts, SNAFC now serves as a model for energy efficient building designation regionally and nationwide.  This effort has inspired GSA to initiate designation efforts at additional government-owned buildings.  Three buildings in Tennessee have been awarded the ENERGY STAR label – the John Duncan Federal Building, the Quillen US Courthouse, and the Clifford Davis Courthouse.  In October 2004, DOE presented the SNAFC ENERGY STAR Team with the Federal Energy and Water Management Award for Energy Efficiency/Energy Program Management for their work toward achieving the ENERGY STAR label.

Energy efficiency is vital to the United States.  It is a strategic investment that provides many benefits.  Homeowners and businesses can save up to 30 percent on their energy bills each year, increase energy efficiency and reliability, prevent greenhouse gas emissions, and improve national energy security.  It is also an essential strategy for reducing natural gas prices and ensuring a balanced energy future in a growing economy.  ENERGY STAR succeeds because of its common sense approach to promoting existing yet underutilized technologies and practices that improve the efficiency of our homes, commercial buildings, and industries.  Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, prevented 30 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2004 alone – equivalent to the annual emissions from 20 million vehicles.

For more information about the ENERGY STAR program, please visit www.energystar.gov .

Contact:  Dawn Harris-Young, EPA Media Relations, 404-562-8421