WASHINGTON – As part of the Obama Administration’s commitment to creating clean energy jobs and lowering energy bills for U.S. businesses, the Department announced that Milwaukee, Wisconsin-based Johnson Controls is joining the Better Buildings Challenge, along with Macy’s and Sprint. Launched by President Obama in 2011, the Better Buildings Challenge brings together corporations, universities, municipalities and other national leaders to make significant commitments to energy efficiency, reduce waste and save on energy costs. Johnson Controls, Macy’s and Sprint will upgrade more than 200 million square feet of building space to cut energy use by at least 20 percent by 2020. These steps support the President’s goal of cutting energy waste from homes and businesses in half over the next two decades, announced in the State of the Union address last week.

“Investments in energy efficiency that save millions in energy costs are making the American economy more competitive, protecting our air and water and creating jobs,” said U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu. “We applaud these new partners for leading by example and showing the savings that energy efficiency makes possible while positioning America as a global leader in the clean energy race.”

Based in Milwaukee, WI, Johnson Controls is a leading global company in the building and automotive industries. Johnson Controls reduced the energy intensity of its U.S. manufacturing plants by 25 percent from 2002 to 2008. Since 2000, Johnson Controls has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by 18 million metric tons and generated savings of $7 billion for its building efficiency customers.

“Johnson Controls commits to an additional 25 percent energy intensity reduction in its 71 U.S. manufacturing plants covering 16 million square feet through 2019,” said Clay Nesler, vice president of Global Energy and Sustainability at Johnson Controls. “Our energy management practices have had a positive impact on organizational performance and profitability, as well as on the environment.”

Each year, the U.S. spends about $200 billion just to power commercial buildings – and another $200 billion to power industrial facilities. President Obama launched the Better Buildings Challenge to help America’s commercial and industrial buildings become at least 20 percent more efficient over the next decade. As Better Buildings Challenge partners, Johnson Controls, Macy’s and Sprint will work with the Energy Department to implement energy savings practices that reduce energy waste and save money. These new partners will also share facility-level energy use data and successful strategies with Better Buildings Challenge partners and other U.S. businesses and organizations – helping to lead a clean, sustainable energy economy.

Launched by President Obama in December of 2011, the goal of the Better Buildings Challenge is to make American commercial and industrial buildings at least 20 percent more energy efficient by 2020. More than 110 organizations, representing more than 2 billion square feet of commercial and industrial buildings and almost $2 billion in energy efficiency financing, currently partner with the U.S. Department of Energy in the Better Buildings Challenge. For more information please visit the Better Buildings Challenge website.

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Popular Interests In This Article: Better Buildings Challenge, Johnson Controls, U.S. Department of Energy