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U.S. Department of Energy Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Better Buildings Federal Award

The Better Buildings Federal Award recognizes the Federal Government's highest-performing buildings through a competition to reduce annual energy use intensity (Btu per square foot of facility space) on a year-over-year basis. The Federal building that achieves the greatest percentage energy intensity savings for that year wins.

The competition is on! Featured here are the eight finalists competing in this year's race to reduce their building's fiscal year 2012 energy intensity. The winner will be decided after September 2012, the last month of the competition. Click on the chart or the building images for quick stats about each competitor. Detailed information about each building is also available by clicking the links beneath the cards.

Track the Competition

Graphic of a ribbon representing first place.
Graphic of a ribbon representing second place.
Graphic of a ribbon representing third place.
Energy Use Intensity

Click the building name to highlight its trajectory. Roll over the dots to see each building's percentage of energy intensity reduction (Btu per square foot) over time. The Y axis represents the percentage of energy intensity from a common baseline of 0%, recorded on September 2011. The X axis represents the month and year the data was collected.

Graphic of a baseball card showing a photo of store front the Army and Air Force Exchange Service.

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Graphic of the back of a baseball card showing statistics for the Army and Air Force Exchange Service. The building is located in Fort Hood, TX, is in the category Convenience Store, is 8,200 sq ft, and has an energy baseline of 276.5 KBtu/sq ft. It's highlights include a lighting control system, HVAC control system with economizer control and walk-in temperature sensors.

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Graphic of a baseball card showing a photo of the Bureau of Public Dept Avery Street Building.

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Graphic of the back of a baseball card showing statistics for the Bureau of Public Dept Avery Street Building. The building is located in Parkersburg, WV, is in the category Office Space, is 195,300 sq ft, and has an energy baseline of 4,633.3 KBtu/sq ft. It's highlights include energy-efficient light bulbs, occupancy sensors for daytime dimming and window tinting.

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Graphic of a baseball card showing a photo of the Boatwright Maintenance Park Building 2770.

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Graphic of the back of a baseball card showing statistics for the Boatwright Maintenance Park Building 2770. The building is located in Fort Knox, KY, is in the category Maintenance Warehouse, is 111,566 sq ft, and has an energy baseline of 62.2 KBtu/sq ft. It's highlights include spray foam roof with R-13 rating, air-source heat pumps for office spaces, and high-efficiency exterior wall lighting.

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Graphic of a baseball card showing a photo of the Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility.

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Graphic of the back of a baseball card showing statistics for the Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility. The building is located in Alamogordo, NM, is in the category Office Space/Laboratories/Test Areas, is 15,200 sq ft, and has an energy baseline of 125.6 KBtu/sq ft. It's highlights include three storage tanks with hydropneumatic delivery systems and three evaporation ponds.

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Graphic of a baseball card showing a photo of the Frank Carlson Federal Building and Courthouse.

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Graphic of the back of a baseball card showing statistics for the Frank Carlson Federal Building and Courthouse. The building is located in Topeka, KS, is in the category Courthouse/Parking, is 232,459 sq ft, and has an energy baseline of 52.5 KBtu/sq ft. It's highlights include four high-efficiency climate changer air handlers, advanced metering of all energy and water sources, and rooftop solar panels for preheating domestic water.

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Graphic of a baseball card showing a photo of the Neal Smith Federal Building.

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Graphic of the back of a baseball card showing statistics for the Neal Smith Federal Building. The building is located in Des Moines, IA, is in the category Office Space, is 360,003 sq ft, and has an energy baseline of 63.6 KBtu/sq ft. It's highlights include advanced metering for energy and water, perimeter radiant-heat units, and high-efficiency transformers.

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Graphic of a baseball card showing a photo of the Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center.

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Graphic of the back of a baseball card showing statistics for the Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center. The building is located in Atlanta, GA, is in the category Office Space/Parking, is 2.4 million sq ft, and has an energy baseline of 52.1 KBtu/sq ft. It's highlights include changes to the sequence of operations, energy-efficient light bulbs, and highly reflective thermoplastic polyolefin roofing.

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Graphic of a baseball card showing a photo of the Sandia National Laoratories Building 753.

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Graphic of the back of a baseball card showing statistics for the Sandia National Laoratories Building 753. The building is located in Albuquerque, NM, is in the category Office Space, is 8,366 sq ft, and has an energy baseline of 71.4 KBtu/sq ft. It's highlights include occupancy sensors for office lighting and building automation system (BAS) and occupancy sensors for BAS control HVAC system.

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* September 2011 energy intensity baseline, KBtu/sq ft per a 12-month period