Which city has the most Energy Star buildings?

The number of Energy Star buildings in U.S. cities is growing rapidly.

Today the EPA released a list of U.S. cities with the most Energy Star buildings in 2010. Energy Star is a government program to increase energy efficiency in buildings. For a building to be certified, it must be as efficient as the top 25 percent of similar buildings nationwide. A building is then independently verified by a licensed engineer or architect each year. On average, Energy Star buildings use 35 percent less energy and produce 35 percent less carbon emissions than average buildings.

In 2008, the first year the EPA came out with this list, there were only two cities with more than 150 Energy Star buildings. Now nine out of the top 10 cities have more than 150. Last year, 6,200 commercial buildings became Energy Star certified, almost doubling the previous total of Energy Star buildings from 1999-2009.

And the dramatic increase in these buildings is leading to big cost and energy savings. Combined, all the Energy Star buildings are saving $1.9 billion dollars a year, and prevent carbon emissions that are equivalent to that of 1.3 million U.S. homes.

Here's the list of the top 10 cities with the most Energy Star buildings in 2010:

1. Los Angeles (510 Energy Star buildings, $117.9 cost savings in millions)

2. Washington D.C. (301, $74.2)

3. San Francisco (248, $75.1)

4. Chicago (232, $62.7)

5. New York City (211, $86.6)

6. Atlanta (201, $38.7)

7. Houston (175, $62.9)

8. Sacramento (168, $19.1)

9. Detroit (151, $18.7)

10. Dallas Fort-Worth (148, $35.2)

See the rest of the list.

Photo: cameron23/Flickr

This post was originally published on Smartplanet.com