Boeing headquarters in downtown Chicago, which is managed by CB Richard Ellis, has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Energy Star, the national symbol for protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency. This signifies that the building performs in the top 25 percent of similar facilities nationwide for energy efficiency.
"Boeing is pleased to accept EPA's Energy Star in recognition of our energy efficiency efforts," said James Bell, executive vice president, corporate president and chief financial officer. "Boeing is dedicated to being an industry leader committed to environmental stewardship and recognizes its responsibility to create a better, sustainable future for all stakeholders and the communities in which we work and live."
Improvements to the Chicago building's automation and lighting systems and increased awareness helped to improve the building's environmental performance by reducing energy consumption and costs. Two other Boeing facilities have received the Energy Star; the Bay Area Boulevard building in Houston in 2008 and the Douglas Center in Long Beach, Calif., in 2009.
Participation as an Energy Star Industrial Partner has been a key factor in Boeing's energy-management improvements. Boeing has been an Industrial Partner with Energy Star since 1997. Since 2002, on a revenue-adjusted basis, Boeing has reduced CO2 emissions by 31 percent and energy consumption by 32 percent at major U.S. facilities.
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 protecting our environment," said Jean Lupinacci, chief of the Energy Star Commercial & Industrial Branch. "From the boiler room to the board room, organizations are leading the way by making their buildings more efficient and earning EPA's Energy Star."
Energy Star was introduced by the 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 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 nearly $17 billion on their energy bills while reducing the greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of 30 million vehicles. For more information about Energy Star, visit www.energystar.gov/buildings.
Boeing is the world's leading aerospace company and the largest manufacturer of commercial jetliners and military aircraft combined. Additionally, Boeing designs and manufactures rotorcraft, electronic and defense systems, missiles, satellites, launch vehicles and advanced information and communication systems. As a major service provider to NASA, Boeing operates the Space Shuttle and International Space Station. The company also provides numerous military and commercial airline support services. Boeing has customers in more than 90 countries around the world and is one of the largest U.S. exporters in terms of sales. Headquartered in Chicago, Boeing employs more than 157,000 people across the United States and in 70 countries. Total company revenues for 2009 were $68.3 billion.