Chicago is currently the greenest city in the U.S. to work in. Around 70% of its office space is now certified for environmental efficiency.
The Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, program rates buildings on environmentally friendly features such as energy efficiency and waters systems, while the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Energy Star Rating shows a building has met certain energy performance standards.
Chicago’s percentage of green offices is up from around 66% last year based on a study that tracks buildings in thirty of the biggest U.S. real estate markets that are LEED or Energy Star rated.
Commercial properties are often the biggest sources of carbon emissions in any one city and, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, represent about 19% of total energy use in the United States of America.
Chicago has been working towards a goal of 100% renewable energy in all city-run properties by 2025 and has created its own four-star energy rating system for large buildings.
The recently opened Salesforce Tower in San Francisco could put California city back on top next year. San Francisco’s percentage of green-certified square footage rose to almost 64% in the new ranking and they are on target to reclaim their position as the greenest city to work in by next year.
The EPA has strengthened the rules for Energy Star Certification early this year, so some properties could lose their certifications. While this has been the staple for demonstrating energy efficiency for many companies, the changes will cause them to rethink their energy strategies, which can only be a good thing.
Employing energy-saving practices, no matter how small, is essential for the preservation of the planet. It’s imperative that every building or office does what it can to reduce its impact on the environment. From using energy-efficient appliances, technology and renewable energy sources right down to purchasing recycled or eco-friendly office supplies, every contribution helps.
Global Office Supplies specialise in cutting down costs on the products your office consumes on a daily basis. As well as this, we offer excellent recycling services to help companies on the way to meeting their green energy targets and help turn their office into an eco-friendly working environment. For more information, and for help to turn your office into an eco-friendly working environment, give us a call on 0845 519 1556 today.