Mayor Coleman, Councilmember Mills, BOMA and Building Energy Efficiency Task Force Members Kick Off the 'Columbus Energy Challenge'
For Immediate Release
June 18, 2014
For More Information:
Erin Miller, Mayor’s office, 645-0815
John Ivanic, City Council, 645-6798
Molly Leach, NAI Ohio Equities-BOMA, 629-5233
Tyler Steele, Hines-BOMA, USGBC, 414-8019
Mayor Michael B. Coleman, Columbus City Councilmember
Michelle M. Mills, Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) President Rick Sargent, and Columbus Building Energy Efficiency Task Force members Molly Leach and Tyler Steele kicked off the “Columbus Energy Challenge” to an audience of building owners and managers attending BOMA’s luncheon today.
Mayor Coleman, in partnership with BOMA Columbus, formed the Columbus Building Energy Efficiency Task Force to recommend a program that would engage over 70% of large building owners to manage and reduce energy usage from buildings 20% by the year 2020.
“I appreciate the work of the Building Energy Efficiency Task Force, they have helped us develop a voluntary program that we hope will be embraced by the real estate industry,” said Mayor Coleman. “With this program, we as a community, can manage and reduce our energy usage while saving money. We encourage all building owners and managers to take the Columbus Energy Challenge today. “Columbus Energy Challenge participation is free and makes achieving energy efficiency easy from start to finish. Each participating building owner or manager is instructed on how to register and benchmark their buildings using US EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager ®. They are provided with information, training opportunities and a tool to auto-upload utility data. Participants will also be directed to utility rebates and other resources to help reduce energy usage and save money. Those who document a 20% or more reduction in energy usage within 18 months will be recognized for their achievement.
“By participating in this program, building owners will experience energy and cost savings that will improve their bottom line,” said Councilmember Mills, chair of the Environment Committee. “And that is money that can then be spent elsewhere in our local economy creating jobs.”“BOMA Columbus (Building Owners & Managers Association) is proud to partner with the City of Columbus and Mayor Coleman to promote the Columbus Energy Challenge, “said Rick Sargent, President of BOMA Columbus. “We applaud Mayor Coleman’s efforts to include the commercial real estate industry in energy reduction discussions.”
“The US Green Building Council - Central Ohio Chapter supports Mayor Coleman's initiative to make our built environment more healthy, prosperous and sustainable. By developing the Columbus Energy Challenge the City of Columbus is showing leadership by harnessing the power of business to align with the demands of a changing energy landscape. This program helps to illustrate that energy efficiency is smart for property owners, tenants and the bottom line, “said Tyler Steele, LEED AP BD+C, Hines & USGBC Central Ohio.”
“AEP Ohio is pleased to have participated in the task force working together to help the City of Columbus develop the Columbus Energy Challenge, “said Pablo Vegas, President and COO, AEP Ohio. “We recognize the value energy efficiency brings to our customers and to the entire community and applaud Mayor Coleman’s leadership in this initiative.”Interested building owners or managers can learn more and join the Columbus Energy Challenge online at www.columbus.gov/energychallenge .
Background information:
In 2012, commercial buildings in Columbus used approximately 4.4 billion kWh of electricity and 104.4 million ccf of natural gas; expending approximately $316 million on energy costs. Reducing usage by 20% would save over $60 million annually and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Columbus by over 720,000 metric tons of CO2e. That is equivalent to removing over 150,000 cars from the roads or from powering 65,000 homes for a year.
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