Building Partnerships with Local Governments

1. Building Partnerships with Local Governments Julie Rosenberg US EPA April 10, 2008

2. US EPA Voluntary Programs for Locals

3. What is ENERGY STAR? • A government-backed, voluntary program that helps businesses and individuals protect the environment through superior energy performance by providing energy-efficient solutions for homes, businesses, and institutions. • The national symbol for environmental protection through energy efficiency, recognized by more than 70% of all U.S. households. • Cost-free climate protection / energy efficiency resources: • Tools to benchmark and track energy performance in buildings • Energy Management Guidelines • Assistance for architects on designing energy efficient buildings • Case studies and best practices from leaders • Calculators to track returns on energy efficiency investments • Onsite and Online Training Sessions • Materials to communicate with citizens, employees, stakeholders, and the media about energy efficiency efforts.

4. The ENERGY STAR Challenge • The ENERGY STAR Challenge encourages everyone to improve the energy efficiency of America’s buildings by 10% or more. • Off-the-shelf campaign and tools to promote energy efficiency in your community • More than 150 cities and counties have signed on • In a typical city or county, local government operations may account for only 5% of greenhouse gas emissions…engaging the private sector is critical. • Louisville, KY and Albuquerque, MN: current demonstration cities • Lead by example and improve the energy efficiency of your own buildings. • Promote energy efficiency to constituents. • Sign up online and access the toolkit at www.energystar.gov/challenge

5. Green Starts With Energy Energy is the largest subset of a building’s environmental and carbon footprint -- Commercial buildings and industrial facilities generate about 50% of U.S. carbon dioxide emissions. Energy efficiency provides financial returns -- 30% of energy consumed in commercial buildings is used unnecessarily or inefficiently! In market-driven programs, Greendoes not necessarily mean energy efficient…unless you measure and verify. Requiring new construction to be “Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR” can provide an energy efficiency “insurance policy.” Requiring benchmarking after new buildings are operating will ensure they are performing as designed.

6. EPA’s Portfolio Manager: For Existing Buildings • Benchmark for comparison • Measure and track energy use of ANY building or campus • Measure associated carbon emissions (calculated from source energy) and track emission reductions over time • 1-100 rating for select building types • Benchmark to assess portfolio performance and prioritize audit activity and upgrade investments • Recognition for Select Individual Buildings • Top 25% can qualify for the ENERGY STAR • LEED-EB: Operations and Maintenance • EA Credit 1 Optimize Energy Efficiency Performance • 2-15 Points possible (at least 2 mandatory) • Get started at www.energystar.gov/benchmark

7. Additional Resources • Target Finder: For New Construction • Cash Flow Opportunity calculator • Building Upgrade Manual • PC power management • Procurement of ENERGY STAR products • Cost Free Training opportunities (www.energystar.gov/government)

8. National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency • National Action Plan for Energy Efficiency • Recommendations • Recognize energy efficiency as a high-priority energy resource. • Make a strong, long-term commitment to implement cost-effective energy efficiency as a resource. • Broadly communicate the benefits of and opportunities for energy efficiency. • Provide sufficient, timely and stable program funding to deliver energy efficiency where cost-effective. • Modify policies to align utility incentives with the delivery of cost-effective energy efficiency and modify ratemaking practices to promote energy efficiency investments. • Public-private initiative to address utility and policy barriers to efficiency • 60 member Leadership Group sets tone and provides overall direction • US DOE and US EPA facilitated • Vision for 2025 released in Nov 2007 • Framework for implementing Leadership Group’s recommendations • Aspirational goal of achieving all cost-effective energy efficiency by 2025 • Initial approach to measure progress • Captures local government actions • 120 organizations commit to take action and endorse recommendations • Includes 11 local governments • Numerous resources available to help parties meet their commitments

9. Opportunities for Local Governments under the Action Plan • Endorse the Action Plan recommendations and commit to take action • Support Action Plan efforts • Educate others on efficiency benefits and opportunities • Support expanded efficiency program offerings • Promote energy data availability to support benchmarking • Share your ideas and issues • Use the Action Plan resources • Action Plan Report and Vision • Sector Collaborative materials • Building Codes Fact Sheet • Resource Database • How-To Guides • Communications Kit www.epa.gov/eeactionplan

10. Green Power Partnership • Green Power Partners pledge to replace a portion of electricity consumption with green power within a year • EPA offers: • credible benchmarks for green power purchases, • market information, • opportunities for recognition of leading purchasers (Top 10 list) • Green Power Communities Program • http://epa.gov/greenpower/

11. Municipal Clean Energy-Environment Network Goal: Advance clean energy in local governments and their communities: • Focus on established, cost-effective best practices • Improve access to existing resources (web, listserv) • Develop new tools, resources, and guidance • Clean Energy Strategies Guide (in progress) • Searchable online resource database • Facilitate peer to peer exchange • Free Webcast Series http://epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-programs/state-and-local/local.html

12. Clean Energy Strategy Guide • Transportation Technologies and Programs • Efficient Fleets (technology, anti-idling, etc) • Transportation Control Measures • Alt Fuels Part 1: Clean Energy Program Fundamentals Part 2: Clean Energy Best Practices for Local Governments • Energy Efficiency • Energy Efficiency in Municipal Operations • Energy Efficiency in Affordable Housing • Energy Efficiency in K-12 Schools • Energy Efficiency and Municipal Water Utilities • Building Codes – implementation and enforcement • Energy Efficient Product Procurement • Energy Supply • Green Power Procurement • Renewable Energy Installation at Municipal Buildings and Facilities • Combined Heat and Power • Landfill Methane Utilization • Urban Planning • Smart Growth • Heat Island Reduction • Part 3: Putting it All Together – Case Studies of Comprehensive Local Clean Energy Programs

13. Upcoming Opportunities • Energy Efficiency Demo Grant • Not yet appropriated, but authorizes $20 million annually for local government buildings • EPA has proposed guidelines, soliciting input • Review and Speaking Opportunities • Seeking reviewers for Clean Energy Strategy chapters • Seeking speakers for upcoming webcasts • Join EPA Partnership Programs

14. Contact Information Julie Rosenberg Branch Chief, State and Local Clean Energy Programs rosenberg.julie@epa.gov and 202-343-9154 Andrea Denny Project Manager, Clean Energy-Environment Municipal Network Denny.andrea@epa.gov and 202-343-9268 Leslie Cook Public Sector Manager, ENERGY STAR Cook.leslie@epa.gov and 202-343-9174 epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-programs/state-and-local epa.gov/climatechange/wycd/stateandlocalgov/index.html Energystar.gov