Businesses in the US have helped save more than $1.3 billion (£0.89) by being energy efficient.

A total of 310 public and private organisations made energy-saving commitments through the Department of Energy’s ‘Better Buildings Challenge’, resulting in the cost savings.

The initiative, which was launched by President Barack Obama in 2011, aims to make commercial, public, industrial and residential buildings 20% more energy efficient over the next decade.

Together those businesses, which represent 34,000 buildings and facilities, have so far invested $5.5 billion (£3.8bn) in energy efficiency projects.

They also saved around 10 million tons of carbon emissions and 2.3 billion gallons of water.

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said: “Thanks to a dedicated drive to actively create and share the best energy efficiency solutions, Better Buildings partners have dramatically cut their energy waste and saved more than a billion dollars since the Better Buildings initiative was launched five years. As the initiative continues to grow, we are moving the nation forward by reducing energy costs and carbon emissions through energy efficiency.”