Implementing Cool Cities Energy Solutions

• Baseline Emissions Inventory

• Local Climate Action Plans

• Cool City Solutions Best Practices

Creating a GHG Inventory and Baseline

• ICLEI membership software

• In-house

• Local University

• Private Firm

Inventory Design

• Identify Emissions that should be included• Decide on level of aggregation• Decide desired organization of data• Assemble team for data collection• Develop process that will clearly document data

collection

GHG Inventory Expectations

• Transparent, Complete, Comparable

• Analyze and forecast emissions and growth

• Identifies necessary reductions to meet targets

• Analysis of potential reduction measures

ICLEI

• The International Council on Local Environmental Initiatives’ “Cities for Climate Protection” program has over 350 local government members.

• New Sierra Club Partnership to Train Activists on ICLEI Emissions Software

Local Climate Action Committee

• Government staffer/environmental manager• Faith, Labor, Diversity, Youth, Academic, Business • Local Foundation Director• Transportation, Utility, Planning, Architecture• Chamber of Commerce Representative• Water/Air Quality Representative• Local Legislator/ Elected Official

Climate Action Plans

• Provide GHG emissions baseline and forecast

• Set emissions reduction targets and timelines

• Formulate solutions and policies to reduce emissions

• Implement solutions and policies

• Monitor emission reductions and verify results

Perspectives on Climate Action Plans

• Unique challenges and solutions • Different organizational plans • Scalable Solutions• Existing Solutions and Policies• Peer to Peer Learning

Implementation strategies

• Costs, responsibilities, schedules, and funding sources for each solution

• Procedure for monitoring the progress of each solution

Getting Started

• Current Actions Assessment• Solution categories:

– Energy Efficiency– Renewable Energy– Transportation and Land Use– Waste Reduction

• Create work groups

Energy Efficiency Best Practices• LED Traffic Signals

Philadelphia, PAInstalled red LEDs in all 2,900 intersections. The new signals used 83% less energy and required 6 times less maintenance than incandescent lights. Savings for more than $800,000 annually and have simple payback of 4 years.

• Urban Heat Island Reduction and Rain water capture: Green Roofs or Lightening rooftops

Chicago, IL

The rooftop garden mitigates the urban heat island effect by replacing what was a black tar roof with green plants. The garden absorbs less heat from the sun than the tar roof, keeping City Hall cooler in summer and requiring less energy for air conditioning. The garden also absorbs and uses rain water. It can retain 75% of a 1 inch rainfall before there is stormwater runoff into the sewers.

Energy Efficiency Best Practices• Green Building: LEED Ordinance

Kansas City, MORequires green building design and construction to the LEED Silvestandard for new City buildings and renovations greater than 5,000 sq. ft.

Los Angeles, CAGreen Building Incentive Program, financial incentive of point system to earn money on per sq. ft. basis for buildings that are LEED-certified. No cap per project, so a 1 million sq ft facility could earn $600,000 from LADWP once certified.

• Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs in Residences and Municipal Buildings

Fort Collins, COInstalled 26-watt Energy Star compact fluorescents in place of 75-watt incandescent bulbs. Annual savings of $12,000.

Renewable Energy Best Practices

• Renewable outdoor lightingMedford, MAInstalled photovoltaic light arches in city parks

• Rebate programs for water heaters and energy efficient appliancesNatick, MA150 gallon solar water heating system on a house resulted in 1.5

tons of CO2 reduction. Cut water heating expenses by 40-60%.

Renewable Energy Best Practices

• District Energy with renewable resourcesSaint Paul, MNCombined heat and power plant uses clean wood waste fuel. The plant generates 25 megawatts of electricity per year. Heat/Cool

twice the building area as on site systems; serves 80 percent of downtown building space.

• Renewable energy: Methane Recapture and UseLos Angles, CALADWP’s wastewater treatment plant sends methane gas

produced during the digester process to generating station to produce 80% of the facility’s electricity needs. City goal of generating 20% of electricity from renewable sources by 2010 and 35% by 2030.

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Transportation Best Practices

• Commercial Parking Tax or Fee Structure around CitySeattle, WAMore expensive parking encourages people to use other modes of transportation. Taxes will be implemented in three phases, 5% in July of ’07, 7.5% in July of ’08, and 10% in July of ’09.

• Synchronize traffic signals - Traffic Calming ProgramsCambridge, MA Curb extensions, raised crosswalks, raised intersections and zebra crosswalk marking reducing average speed from 30 to21 mph. After project 95% of vehicles were going at or below the 25mph speed limit. Reduces fuel consumption and traffic congestion.

Transportation Best Practices

• Use alternative fuels in municipal fleet Keene, NH

All 77 vehicles in the city PWD are running on biodiesel fuel at the Department’s pump. Prevented an estimated 12 tons of CO2 emissions since 2002. http://www.ci.keene.nh.us/planning/climateLAPSummary.htm

• Increase bike trails throughout cityMinneapolis, MNDeveloped over 81 miles of on and off street bikeways in City. Partnership with a variety of organizations to promote bike riding by providing racks, storage, transport.

Land Use Best Practices

• Preserve or create more open space Los Angeles, CA:

In 2007 will open 14 new parks. Revitalize the LA river to create open space along the 32 mile corridor in the city.

• Develop Brownfield Sites

Minneapolis, MN

One of the first cities in the nation to reclaim abandoned Brownfield sites. The city works with the EPA and Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to monitor and clean up these sites that the Park and Recreation Board uses to create parks and open spaces.

• Increase shade trees, vegetation, and urban forests

California Energy Commission estimates that on average a mature tree will sequester approximately 115lbs of CO2 from the air each year.

Tucson, Arizona•Found that for every $1.00 spend on maintaining a tree, $2.62 worth of benefits are returned in energy savings, air particulate reduction and rain run-off control.

Kansas City, MO• Street tree ordinance requiring shade trees at the street in all new development.• Tree preservation and replacement requirements.• Prioritization of native plantings for City property and new development.

Land Use Best Practices• Transit Oriented Development:

Sacramento, CA

Developed 20 - 25 year plan for mixed use, transit oriented development with goals to increase and improve pedestrian and cyclists circulation and increase public access to mass transit. In 2003 the residentially focused, transit oriented model predicted households would drive 2000 miles less per year compared to existing zoning and use scenarios.

• Increase shade trees, vegetation, and urban forests

Kansas City, MOStreet tree ordinance requiring shade trees at the street in all new development. Tree preservation and replacement requirements.

Prioritization of native plantings for City property and new development.

Waste Reduction Best Practices

• Waste to EnergySan Diego, CAEight digester use heat and bacteria to break down the organic

solids in wastewater. The methane produced powers two continuously running generators that can produce up to 2.25 megawatts of electricity.

• Increase methane capture at local landfillsMontgomery County, MarylandInstalled a gas collection system on local landfill. To date

ratepayers have saved millions in capital costs. 20,000 megawatt hours per year are generated, powering around 2,700 homes

Waste Reduction Best Practices

• “Pay As You Throw” Solid Waste Disposal

Battleboro, VT

Communities with PAYT programs have reported significant increases in recycling and reductions in waste. PAYT is an effective tool for coping with soaring municipal waste management expenses. Inherently fair because of variable-rate.

• Recycling of debris from construction and demolitionMinneapolis, MNReUse Center salvages and resells building materials from structures being dismantled. Run by nonprofit, provides jobs, and saves landfill space.

Helpful Links:

Cool Cities Website

www.coolcities.us