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Department of Ecology News Release - August 25, 2005
05-216
OLYMPIA - The state Department of Ecology's headquarters building in Lacey has been named an "Energy Star" by the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
With a focus on protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency, EPA measures current energy performance, sets goals, tracks savings and rewards improvement. EPA recognizes top-performing buildings with an Energy Star.
EPA's evaluation found that the Ecology headquarters, located at 300 Desmond Drive S.E. in Lacey, is one of the most energy efficient office buildings in the nation.
"We require less energy than average at this building, and we've reduced our effect on the environment from day-to-day operations," said Carol Fleskes, administrative services manager for Ecology. "To us, walking our talk means being a good example for other office buildings."
EPA's energy performance target rating uses a 1 to 100 scale, with lower energy use yielding a higher performance rating. An Energy Star rating must be at least 75. The Department of Ecology building has a performance rating of 81 and is currently the only state-owned building with an Energy Star label.
The Ecology headquarters building uses 54.6 kBTUs per square foot per year, while an average building with a median rating of 50 uses 82 kBTUs per square foot per year. The most energy a building can use to reach Energy Star status is 59.1 kBTUs per square foot.
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Media contact: Caitlin Cormier, public information manager, 360-407-6149
EPA's Energy Star information: http://www.energystar.gov/
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
