Here is an itemization of energy Best Bets from the Natural Capitalism Climate Protection Manual for Cities, prepared by John Ware for your consideration. John has also made suggestions re which Best Bets are appropriate for consideration as Phase 1 recommendations or Phase 2 recommendations.
Best Bets
The following was gleaned from Best Bets DRAFT and could serve as a start for Climate Protection Plan recommendations.
Municipal Buildings
Phase One: Low Hanging Fruit
CFL and T-8 with electronic ballast conversion. [Also analyze benefits of T-5 which are the new generation of linear fluorescent lamps.]
Step One: tabulation of fixture types in all municipal buildings
Step Two: select investigatory upgrades to establish labor and materials cost. Choose locations that represent the range of conditions that will be faced (circuiting, access, etc.).
Payback typically equals $12 annual savings/installation cost. If acceptable, create plan to retrofit all municipal fixtures as quickly as possible. Contract with an electricians or identify staff to convert all municipal buildings.
Occupancy sensors and timer switches: same three-step process.
LED exit lights: same three-step process.
Phase Two: Leadership, Analysis and Retrofit
Identify an Energy Manager for the City
Conduct Energy Audits of municipal buildings on a prioritized basis.
Walk though audit conducted quickly to tabulate priorities
Comprehensive audit conducted per priority order
Predictive modeling of energy efficiency and financial outcomes
Prioritize Energy Upgrade Plans of each building.
High efficiency electrical fixtures, motors, pumps and controls
Windows
HVAC
Energy management sub-metering, controls and ESCO agreements
Cool roofing
Conduct post-Upgrade audit to confirm assumptions and document improvements.
Establish a comprehensive building maintenance plan and fund its budget.
Architectural and Engineering Process: set expectations and requirements
Integrated design process and green design charette early in schematic phase
Life cycle cost analysis of schematic alternatives: create model and protocol
Life cycle environmental analysis of schematic alternatives
City provided methodology and database for predictive modeling in design development phase, confirmation in the construction document phase
Building Standards
LEED Silver goal for regularly occupied buildings:
KC Requirements: not optional
Stormwater best management practices
Cool paving 100%.
Water efficiency of at least 30%.
At least 50% energy efficiency improvement over code required.
Construction waste diversion of at least 75%.
Local materials use of at least 20% of materials cost.
Post-occupancy satisfaction and productivity survey.
Property Management
Confirmation of predictive Life cycle cost analysis after one year occupancy.
LEED – EB for Existing Buildings after five years occupancy and thereafter.
Energy Star purchasing requirement for appliances and office equipment.
Maintenance and Operations
Create a ReCommissioning Plan in partnership with facilities staff.
Establish maintenance endowment for each upgrade project based on cost projections of the ReCommissioning Plan.
Establish protocols and green building orientation for building occupants.
Best Bets
Businesses
Phase One: Low Hanging Fruit
Require a carbon emissions analysis with each building permit.
Enforce the currently adopted IBC Energy Code for commercial construction.
With each commercial building permit, require submittal of a LEED Checklist authored by a LEED AP on the design team.
Require a construction waste diversion plan with each commercial building permit and with demolition permits of any kind.
Priority permit processing for builders and developers who propose low-carbon projects; quicker review and reduced permit fees
Climate Protection Awards; recognition for developers who use energy efficient or renewable energy technologies.
For builders incorporating solar energy into their projects; eliminate all City fees and provide next week turn around of submittals from Planning to Permitting. In addition, the city will provide signs to go up at the job site to let the surrounding community know of the project’s environmental benefits.
Free promotional space on the city website and in green building information packets that are distributed at various events and through the mail to participating architects, engineers and builders.
Advocate with PSC for inclusion of energy conservation profit center for Missouri energy providers. Get them into the energy conservation business.
Advocate with PSC for net metering on a sliding scale relative to the customer’s GHG emissions from energy production relative to the energy provider’s emissions.
Phase Two:
Establish a KC Energy Auditor certification process.
Require submittal of a certified energy audit with each major renovation/addition; both residential and commercial.
Establish a consulting arrangement with all building permit applicants.
Require LEED Certification to be undertaken on all regularly occupied buildings.
Phase Three Infrastructure:
Install a municipal gray water system
Identify pilot project
Grow the system to include all properties
Market to outlying jurisdictions
Best Bets
Infrastructure
Phase One: Low Hanging Fruit
Remote streetlight control pilot program safety, acceptance and financial analysis
Water department energy audit: process energy
Analyze potential of cogen at wastewater treatment plants (ala San Diego).
Aggressive demand-side management policy and consumer education effort to minimize the total water consumed by the city.
Determine City leverage for landfill gas to energy.
Phase Two:
Upgrade to LED traffic lights throughout City.
Best Bets
Utility Green Power Programs
Phase One: Low Hanging Fruit
Resolve to purchase 10% of City power from renewable sources (Green-e certificates). Consider other energy saving measures as cost offsets.
Challenge the community to increase its renewable energy purchases.
Phase Two:
Analyze City owned renewable energy generating system.
Best Bets
Residents
Phase One: Low Hanging Fruit
Free energy audit for low income households.
Establish a KC Energy Auditor Certification.
Energy Award; recognition for super energy efficient households.
Permitting; priority review and reduced fees for green strategy projects. Eliminate all fees and offer next week reviews from Planning to Permitting for low-carbon/renewable energy projects.
Utility bills; eliminate wastewater bill for stormwater best management projects.
Split incentives for renters.
Set up a micro-ESCO program for carbon reduction upgrades.
Penalize large homes with water bill rate or property tax rate.
Track carbon emissions benefits of the low income weatherization, energy upgrade, insulation program and IAQ program.
Offer the opportunity for water customers to help fund energy efficiency programs for low income families.
Phase Two:
Rebate water and energy efficiency upgrades and efficient appliance purchases.
Incentivise smart metering.