CHICAGO, IL--(Marketwired - Jul 10, 2014) - The gloves are off in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) competition to lower energy and water use in commercial buildings, and JLL's (NYSE: JLL) properties are entering the ring ready to rumble. Twenty-six JLL-managed buildings have formed a team to compete against other participants across the country to improve energy and water efficiency as part of the EPA's ENERGY STAR program. This year marks the first time the EPA has invited groups of five or more buildings to compete as a team in the annual ENERGY STAR® National Building Competition: Team Challenge.

"On average, commercial buildings waste 30 percent of the energy they use, and the EPA's ENERGY STAR National Building Competition creates an incentive for building owners and managers to implement efficiency initiatives," said Bob Best, Executive Vice President and Head of Energy and Sustainability Services for JLL. "We'll be monitoring our buildings and the competition closely to see our clients' energy, water and greenhouse gas emissions drop while cost savings skyrocket."

This year, more than 5,500 buildings and 100 teams will face off in the ENERGY STAR® National Building Competition: Team Challenge. Below are the 26 JLL properties participating in the competition as a team:

  • Urban Centre One (6113 aa)
  • Urban Centre Two (6113 ab)
  • Independence plaza
  • Emerald View I
  • Emerald View II
  • CityPlace Office Tower
  • Evening Star Building
  • 540 West Madison
  • MEPT 475 Sansome Street
  • 125 South Wacker
  • Civic Center Plaza
  • 1835 Market St
  • Metropolitan Square
  • 1800 9th Avenue
  • 141281 Raleigh Corporate Center
  • 3190 Fairview Park
  • Crown Ridge
  • Fair Oaks Commerce Center
  • The Alexander Graham Bell
  • 3701 Pender Drive
  • 3702 Pender Drive
  • 12902 Federal Systems Park Drive
  • Stonegate I
  • Apollo 4045 S Riverpoint
  • Apollo 4035 S Riverpoint
  • Union Bank Plaza

Participants will measure and track their monthly energy consumption using the EPA's ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager® tool; make improvements to their building's energy performance; and share their progress regularly. In April 2015, the EPA will recognize the individual and team competitors that demonstrate the greatest percentage-based reduction in energy and water use. The EPA will also recognize the best-preforming building in each category, as well as all individual and team competitors who reduce energy or water use by 20 percent or more.

"Thousands of buildings across the country are going on energy diets with help from EPA and ENERGY STAR," said Jean Lupinacci, Director of EPA's ENERGY STAR Commercial Buildings Program. "Organizations like JLL are taking a bold step by putting themselves in the spotlight as they compete to protect the environment and save as much energy as possible."

The EPA will maintain a website devoted to the competition, www.energystar.gov/battleofthebuildings, featuring a list of competitors and their results, a map of competitor locations, and a live Twitter feed where competitors will post updates on their progress.

About JLL

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a professional services and investment management firm offering specialized real estate services to clients seeking increased value by owning, occupying and investing in real estate. With annual fee revenue of $4 billion, JLL has more than 200 corporate offices and operates in 75 countries worldwide. On behalf of its clients, the firm provides management and real estate outsourcing services for a property portfolio of 3 billion square feet and completed $99 billion in sales, acquisitions and finance transactions in 2013. Its investment management business, LaSalle Investment Management, has $48.0 billion of real estate assets under management. For further information, visit www.jll.com.