Charlotte shows up on a new report listing the most energy efficient cities. Some buildings in Ballantyne is just one reason why.

Engineer Richard Fida can control lighting, heating and cooling at all 40 buildings at the Ballantyne Corporate Park with his laptop computer.

Thirteen of those buildings earned an Energy Star rating from the Environmental Protection Agency. They helped make Charlotte 18th in the nation for the number of Energy Star buildings.

Some of the buildings even have solar-powered sinks. There is no sun in the bathroom. But fluorescent lights shine down on a little solar panel. That creates the electricity that turns on the water.

The FDA says Energy Star buildings are 35 percent more efficient. And the EPA says the 45 buildings in Charlotte save emissions equal to the energy use of 5,200 homes each year.

And Fida said energy efficiency will get even better as the buildings that use most of our power find ways to waste less of it.