Getting Started
October
Sub-archives
San Francisco, CA, provides payments for residential and commercial solar installations
by Rena Ragimova Oct 31, 2008
The Achievement
In December, 2007 the San Francisco Solar Task Force recommended a
direct incentive process and a multi-year funding stream to support
solar incentive payments. The city’s Public Utility Commission’s
renewable energy and energy efficiency funds are used to provide
payments ranging from $3,000 to $5,000 for residential installations and
up to $10,000 for commercial installations. San Francisco also has the
first solar mapping web portal for use by residents at
www.sf.solarmap.org.
Read more »
Newark, N.J., plants 500 trees to reduce energy use and pollution
by Rena Ragimova Oct 31, 2008
In 2004, Newark, NJ, undertook a new project to create a more
attractive, healthier, energy efficient city with one simple tool:
trees. Utilizing funding from a statewide urban forest energy efficiency
initiative called “Cool Cities,” Newark planted 500 trees in strategic
areas to employ the trees’ energy efficiency and air pollution reduction
benefits.The Achievement
The Benefits
The City anticipates each tree will reduce heating and cooling costs
by up to 12% for buildings that are shaded by the trees, which will
in-turn, reduce energy use and global warming pollution.
Read more »
Boise, ID, heats 366 buildings with geothermal energy
by Rena Ragimova Oct 05, 2008
Boise, ID, uses geothermal resources underlying the downtown area to
heat a total of 366 homes, businesses, and public buildings using four
geothermal systems. Boise also has the only state capitol building in
the U.S. that is heated by geothermal water.The Achievement
Greensboro, NC, produces $30,000 worth of landfill methane per year
by Rena Ragimova Oct 05, 2008
In 1995, the City of Greensboro, NC, entered into an agreement with
Duke Energy to develop a renewable energy recovery system. This system
collects and transports methane gas that is created by the decomposition
of organic materials found in the landfill. The gas is collected from
the landfill through a series of pipes that have been placed below the
surface of the waste. The gas is then transported to the program’s
industrial partner, Cone Mills, by way of a three-mile pipeline. The gas
is burned in boilers to generate steam in order to operate machinery in
the Cone Mills’ textile plant. The methane is sold to Cone Mills at a
lower cost than other natural gases, thereby lowering their utility
costs. Historically, the City of Greensboro has received around $30,000
annually from the sale of the landfill gas.The Achievement
The Benefit
West Hollywood, CA, implements green building point system
by Rena Ragimova Oct 05, 2008
The Achievement
In 2007 the City of West Hollywood, CA began implementing a locally
made green building point system by installing a green resources center
at city hall to make education simple. The point system works so that
once developers reach a point threshold (by planting more trees, using
bamboo or other renewable building materials, using exposed concrete
floors, etc.) they can choose between eight incentives, including
expedited permitting and variances.
Read more »
Chicago, IL, leads the way on green roofs
by Rena Ragimova Oct 05, 2008
The Achievements
In Chicago, IL surfacing the roofs of municipal buildings with
greenery has not only reduce storm water runoff, but has also created
large energy savings. While the degree of savings depends on the type of
roof and the climate, the City found that installing a green roof on
city hall lowered the temperature by 3 to 7 degrees Fahrenheit, which
translated into a 10 percent reduction in air conditioning requirements.
While the city’s green roof was 90 degrees on the summer’s hottest
days, neighboring roofs measured over 160 degrees Fahrenheit.
Read more »
Greensboro, NC, coliseum gets efficiency upgrades
by Rena Ragimova Oct 05, 2008
The city coliseum in Greensboro, NC received energy-efficient
lighting system retrofits, water conserving plumbing fixtures and major
upgrades to its HVAC system in 2007. The Achievement
The Benefits
These measures will reduce electricity consumption by a quarter, cut
natural gas use in half and cut emissions by more than 1,700 tons a
year. The cost of these changes will be paid for by the net energy
savings of the facility.
Read more »
Santa Barbara, CA, first in nation to adopt 2030 Challenge for all buildings
by Rena Ragimova Oct 05, 2008
The Achievement
In 2007, the City of Santa Barbara, CA, took a historic step by
passing an ordinance to become the first U.S. city to adopt the 2030
Challenge for all buildings within the city limits. The legislation
seeks to reduce the fossil fuel standard for all new buildings in order
to accomplish carbon neutrality by 2030. The ordinance will enact
building regulations exceeding state standards for energy use by 20% for
low-rise residential buildings, 15% for high-rise residential buildings
and 10% for nonresidential buildings, among other measures.
Read more »
Houston, TX, launches Residential Energy Efficiency Program
by Rena Ragimova Oct 05, 2008
In 2006, Houston, TX launched its Residential Energy Efficiency
Program to weatherize homes in the neighborhood of Pleasantville.The Achievement
Seattle, WA, develops incentives for LEED-certified construction
by Rena Ragimova Sep 30, 2008
The Achievement
Seattle, WA was the first city in the nation to formally adopt LEED
as the design and performance standard for all city projects and today
Seattle has also developed strong incentives for the private sector.
Developers who pursue and achieve certification at the silver, gold and
platinum levels for new projects receive financial incentives and
technical assistance. In order to get significant bonuses to increase
building height and density, developers building New Construction
(LEED-NC) or Core & Shell (LEED-CS) projects in the central city
core and adjoining areas must contribute to affordable housing and other
public amenities and achieve at least LEED silver certification. The
City also offers financial incentives and provides technical assistance
on a case-by-case basis.
Read more »
