The number of commercial buildings and manufacturing plants to earn the Energy Star for superior energy efficiency is up by more than 25 percent in the past year, according to the EPA, and the amount of carbon dioxide emissions reduced has reached an all-time high of more than 25 billion pounds.

California is home to 917 Energy Star qualified buildings representing approximately 177 million square feet of space and saving an estimated $199 billion annually in lower energy bills. These buildings also prevent 1.6 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to the emissions from more than 135,000 vehicles.

In the U.S., 4,056 office buildings, schools, hospitals, and public buildings have earned the Energy Star, including 1,400 in 2007 alone.

Commercial buildings that have earned the Energy Star use nearly 40 percent less energy than average buildings and emit 35 percent less carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. About 500 buildings use 50 percent less energy than average buildings.