AVMA Headquarters Recognized for Energy Efficiency

Schaumburg, IL

— The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) headquarters building in Schaumburg, Ill., has earned the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star for its energy efficiency and environmental protection efforts.

“The AVMA is pleased to accept EPA’s Energy Star in recognition of our efficiency efforts,” said Kim Michael-Lee, director of the Finance and Business Services Division at the AVMA. “Through this achievement, we have demonstrated our commitment to environmental stewardship of our community.”

Michael-Lee said that improvements made over the past few years during remodeling work at the building, such as phasing in more energy-efficient lighting fixtures and maximizing the utilization of office space, helped the AVMA score so high.

EPA’s national energy performance rating system provides a 1-100 scale to help organizations assess how efficiently their buildings use energy relative to similar buildings nationwide. A building that scores a rating of 75 or higher is eligible for the Energy Star. The AVMA building earned a rating of 97.

Commercial buildings that earn the Energy Star use an average of 40 percent less energy than typical buildings and release 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

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 50 different kinds of products, new homes and commercial and industrial buildings. Products and buildings that have earned Energy Star designation prevent greenhouse gas emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the government.

For more information, contact Michael San Filippo, AVMA media relations assistant, at 847-285-6687 (office), 847-732-6194 (cell), or msanfilippo@avma.org.

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The AVMA, founded in 1863, is one of the oldest and largest veterinary medical organizations in the world. More than 78,000 member veterinarians are engaged in a wide variety of professional activities. AVMA members are dedicated to advancing the science and art of veterinary medicine including its relationship to public health and agriculture. Visit the AVMA Web site at www.avma.org to learn more about veterinary medicine and animal care and to access up-to-date information on the association’s issues, policies and activities.