FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Marks Sixth ENERGY STAR Award Earned by BOMA International

(WASHINGTON, D.C. – March 5, 2013) The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International with a 2013 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year Sustained Excellence Award for its continued leadership in protecting our environment through superior energy efficiency.  BOMA International has received a total of six ENERGY STAR awards and is the only commercial real estate association to have received this honor.

The 2013 Partner of the Year Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership year after year.  These winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, and employing innovative energy efficiency approaches.  These awards recognize ongoing leadership across the ENERGY STAR program, including energy-efficient products, services, new homes and buildings in the commercial, industrial and public sectors.  Award winners are selected from the nearly 20,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program and will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 26, 2013.

BOMA International, an ENERGY STAR partner since 2005, will be honored for its long-term commitment to energy efficiency through a number of programs and initiatives, including:

• The successful conclusion of the 7-Point Challenge, BOMA’s unique five-year program designed to help incentivize voluntary market-driven efforts among commercial real estate companies to reduce their use of natural resources, non-renewable energy sources and waste production.  The 7-Point Challenge called on BOMA members to reduce energy consumption by 30 percent across real estate portfolios by 2012 as gauged against an average building measuring a 50 on the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager benchmarking tool.  Participating buildings saw an average decrease of 26.7 kBtu/square foot in adjusted energy use and an average decrease of 113.35 kGal in total water use.
• Educational programs, including the “Sustainability and Energy Management” education track at BOMA’s annual conference and webinars focused on topics such as energy benchmarking and electric vehicle charging stations.
• Publications including Commercial Lease: Guide to Sustainable and Energy Efficient Leasing for High-Performance Buildings, the industry’s first green lease guide, and Working Together for Sustainability: The RMI-BOMA Guide for Landlords and Tenants, a free eBook created in collaboration with the Rocky Mountain Institute.
• The BOMA 360 Performance Program and the Outstanding Building of the Year (TOBY) competition, both which require applicants to complete benchmarking through the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.

• Advocacy efforts on data access issues to drive more energy benchmarking.

Across the U.S., top organizations and companies are leading the way toward a more energy-efficient future through their participation in ENERGY STAR.  Over the last 20 years, with help from ENERGY STAR, American families and businesses have saved more than $230 billion on utility bills and prevented more than 1.8 billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions.

“BOMA International is honored to receive its sixth ENERGY STAR award,” commented BOMA International Chair Joe Markling, managing director of Strategic Accounts with CBRE.  “Earning this prestigious award reaffirms our reputation as a leader in energy efficiency and sustainability as we continue to provide “green” solutions that not only benefit our members, but also protect the environment.  We also congratulate our member companies who have been honored with 2013 ENERGY STAR awards for their sustainability efforts.”

"EPA is recognizing BOMA International for earning EPA’s highest ENERGY STAR award, the 2013 Partner of the Year Sustained Excellence Award,” said Bob Perciasepe, acting administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  “BOMA International leads the field with their commitment to energy efficiency and demonstrates how all Americans can save energy, save money and create a healthier environment.”

BOMA International previously was honored as Energy Star Partner of the Year in 2007 and 2008, and received the Sustained Excellence Award in 2009, 2010 and 2012.

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About BOMA International
The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International is a federation of 93 BOMA U.S. associations, BOMA Canada and its 11 regional associations and 13 BOMA international affiliates.  Founded in 1907, BOMA represents the owners and managers of all commercial property types, including nearly 10 billion square feet of U.S. office space that supports 3.7 million jobs and contributes $205 billion to the U.S. GDP.  Its mission is to advance the interests of the entire commercial real estate industry through advocacy, education, research, standards and information.  Find BOMA online at www.boma.org.

About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency.  Today, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money, and help protect the environment for future generations.  Nearly 20,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes and buildings.  For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).

Contact
Courtney C. McKay
Manager of Communications & Marketing
BOMA International
(202) 326-6352
cmckay@boma.org

Kristinn Vazquez
ENERGY STAR Brand Manager
(202) 343-9062
Vazquez.Kristinn@epa.gov