U.S. Department of Labor earns Energy Star
designation for superior energy efficiency

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Labor's Frances Perkins Building, a two million-square-foot office building, recently was cited for earning the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) prestigious Energy Star, the national symbol for superior energy efficiency and environmental protection.

To qualify for the designation, a facility or building must use an average of 40 percent less energy and release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the environment compared with typical buildings.

"The U.S. Department of Labor is proud of its accomplishment in becoming an Energy Star facility," said Patrick Pizzella, assistant secretary of labor for administration and management. "Through these efforts on the part of agency employees, we have demonstrated a commitment to environmental quality while significantly lowering energy consumption."

Over the past decade, the Frances Perkins Building facilities and engineering management team, working with the General Services Administration National Capital Region's Public Building Service team, have taken significant steps to replace older inefficient lighting, heating and cooling systems with more energy efficient equipment and fixtures. The results of these efforts include reduced energy consumption within the Labor Department's headquarters building and the formal recognition of these achievements by earning the ENERGY STAR certification for fiscal year 2008.

The EPA established Energy Star in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based approach to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through energy efficiency. Today, the Energy Star label can be found on more than 50 products, including buildings, appliances and computers. In 2007, Americans who used Energy Star products saved about $16 billion on their energy bills while reducing greenhouse gas emissions equal to 27 million vehicles.

Archived News Release — Caution: Information may be out of date.