500 Sansome earns the ENERGY STAR

500 Sansome,500 Sansome Street San Francisco, California owned/managed by M & J Wilkow, has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) prestigious ENERGY STAR, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection.  This signifies that the building's energy performance rates in the top 25 percent of facilities nationwide.

Commercial buildings that earn the ENERGY STAR use an average of 35 percent less energy than typical buildings and also release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

"Improving the energy efficiency of our nation's buildings is critical to preserving our environment and our natural resources," said Jean Lupinacci, chief of EPA's ENERGY STAR Commercial and Industrial branch.  "From office buildings to hotels, supermarkets to schools, the ENERGY STAR distinguishes those organizations who are taking environmental responsibility into their own hands."

EPA's national energy performance rating system provides a 1-100 scale that helps organizations assess how efficiently their buildings use energy relative to similar buildings nationwide.  A building that scores a rating of 75 or higher is eligible for the ENERGY STAR.  500 Sansome Street obtained a rating of 90 points.

ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency.  Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 60 different kinds of products, new homes, and commercial and industrial buildings.  Products and buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR designation prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government.  Last year alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved about $19 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 29 million vehicles.