Arapahoe County recently was honored with the Energy Star award for having five of the most efficient buildings in the nation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The Energy Star is the mark of superior energy performance, which was awarded to the county for reducing the release of greenhouse gases and helping protect the environment.

The buildings receiving an Energy Star designation include the Administration Building, 5334 S. Prince St., Littleton; Administration II, 13101 E. Broncos Parkway, Centennial; Justice Center District Courthouse, 7325 S. Potomac St., Centennial; CentrePoint Plaza, 14980 E. Alameda Drive, Aurora and Altura Plaza, 15400 E. 14th Place, Aurora.

In 2007, the Arapahoe County Administration I and Administration II buildings were two of only 138 Energy Star buildings in Colorado, and the Justice Center District Courthouse was the only courthouse in Colorado to receive the award.

“At a time when energy prices are rapidly increasing, but county revenues are declining, it’s good to know that Arapahoe County is firmly committed to energy conservation,” said County Commissioner Pat Noonan, who represents District 4. “The cheapest energy is that which you don’t use.”

The Arapahoe County Board of County Commissioners has initiated many energy performance improvements in recent years, which contributed greatly to the county’s achievement.

Many of these improvements were put in place as part of an Energy Performance Contract, which resulted in more than $969,000 in documented energy cost savings for the first full contract year, which ended in April 2008.

The improvements include upgraded lighting, more efficient cooling and heating equipment, improved building controls, revised building equipment operating schedules and measuring and adjusting building equipment operating parameters to assure that equipment is performing as designed.

Additional benefits are improved comfort levels and more even-lighting levels, which contribute to greater employee productivity.

The Energy Star program ranks buildings on a 0 to 100 scale.

Buildings with a rating of 75 or higher are eligible for the Energy Star designation.

Building energy use performance is based on many characteristics, such as size, location, use — office, courthouse, school — age of building, number of occupants and weather.

“It’s good to knowthat Arapahoe Countyis firmly committed toenergy conservation … The cheapest energy is that which you don’t use”

Pat NoonanArapahoe County commissioner