New Better Buildings Challenge Partners Commit 70 Million Square Feet, $1.7 Billion

New Better Buildings Challenge Partners Commit 70 Million Square Feet, $1.7 Billion

WASHINGTON – Building on President Obama’s Climate Action Plan, the Energy Department announced today that more than 20 new partners have committed to improving energy efficiency across their respective building portfolios by 20 percent over the next ten years. These new partners, including the 6 multifamily partners announced by the White House earlier today, bring with them fresh perspective and leadership in newly represented sectors, spanning over 70 million square feet of fast-food, restaurant, manufacturing, university, and government facilities. As leaders in energy efficiency, partners will work with the Department to share their successful efficiency strategies and help pave the way for other organizations to follow.

“The Better Buildings Challenge partners announced today are demonstrating leadership in a variety of industries, bringing greater energy efficiency to American restaurants, data centers, multifamily housing developments and cities across the country,” said Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz. “Joining hundreds of other organizations, these new partners are taking action to save money by saving energy, while also cutting carbon pollution and creating jobs.”

Spanning 1.7 billion square feet, food service facilities in the U.S. consume 400 trillion BTUs of energy annually, representing a significant opportunity for energy savings. Restaurant and fast-food owners including Arby’s and CKE Restaurants, the owner of Carl's Jr. and Hardee's, are partnering with the Department to improve the efficiency of the food service sector. Facebook, another new partner, will focus on infrastructure upgrades across its entire suite of data centers. These partners, and the other organizations joining the Better Buildings Challenge today, will work with the Energy Department to achieve portfolio-wide energy savings and share successful, cost-effective strategies to maximize building efficiency:

AHEAD, Inc., Littleton, NH commits 190,000 square feet of multifamily housing. Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc., Atlanta, GA commits over 2.5 million square feet as a food service partner. Bank of America, San Francisco, CA commits $1.5 billion dollars as a financial ally. Celanese Corporation, Irving, TX commits 8 manufacturing plants. Chesapeake Community College, Wye Mills, MD commits 320,000 square feet. City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA commits 15 million square feet of building floor space. CKE Restaurants Holdings, LLC, Carpinteria, CA commits over 2.5 million square feet as a food service partner. Commercial Power Partners, Los Angeles, CA commits $50 million as a financial ally. Community Investment Corporation, Chicago, IL commits $25 million dollars as a financial ally. Facebook, Menlo Park, CA commits 10 data centers. Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL commits 3 million square feet as a higher education partner. Gragg Cardona Partners, Washington, DC commits 49,000 square feet of multifamily housing. Holcim (US) Inc. Bedford, MA commits 12 manufacturing plants. Housing Authority of the Birmingham District, Birmingham, AL commits 3 million square feet of multifamily housing. King County, WA, Seattle, WA commits over 5.5 million square feet of building floor space. Las Vegas Sands Corporation commits over 19.5 million square feet as a hospitality partner. Newark Housing Authority, Newark, NJ commits over 1 million square feet of multifamily housing. PACE Equity, Milwaukee, WI commits $25 million dollars as a financial ally. Parkway Properties, Orlando, FL commits 18 million square feet of commercial real estate. Rockwell Finance, Centennial, CO commits $25 million dollars as a financial ally. Structured Finance, Los Angeles, CA commits $150 million dollars as a financial ally. The DeBruler Co., Libertyville, IL commits 700,000 square feet of multifamily housing. The JBG Companies commits 12.5 million square feet of commercial real estate. Windsor Locks Housing Authority, Windsor Locks, CT commits 72,000 square feet of multifamily housing.

A cornerstone of the President's Climate Action Plan, the Better Buildings Challenge supports the Administration’s goal of doubling American energy productivity by 2030 while motivating corporate and public sector leaders across the country to save energy through commitments and investments. More than 250 organizations are partnering with the Department of Energy to achieve 20 percent portfolio-wide energy savings and share successful strategies that maximize efficiency over the next decade. Across the country, Better Buildings Challenge partners are deploying energy efficiency projects at more than 9,000 facilities, with more than 2,100 buildings improving efficiency by least 20 percent, and another 4,500 by at least 10 percent, compared with their baseline years.

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