The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized 46 building projects throughout 19 states for their plans to conserve energy.

The projects have all achieved Designed to Earn the Energy Star status, meaning they have been crafted with energy efficiency in mind and are expected to meet the EPA's guidelines. They will be eligible to earn the Energy Star label after meeting energy use expectations for a year.

The 46 projects, which represent eight million square feet, are estimated to save $5 million in energy costs and 120 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions annually, compared to average commercial buildings.

The projects are scattered throughout Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

This year's group makes up the most projects that have earned Designed to Earn the Energy Star in a single year. Since 2001, 94 projects covering more than 13 million square feet have earned the recognition.