Local Government
Sector: Local Government
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Local government buildings account for 64% of all government floor space, and have a savings potential of 260 trillion Btus. Through policies, regulations, and programs, local governments spur innovative energy efficiency solutions, and by adopting best practices in public buildings they lead by example. Their efforts are saving taxpayer dollars, freeing up funding for other public priorities, and driving energy efficiency across their communities. |
Better Communities Alliance
Collaborate with DOE's Better Communities Alliance to demonstrate successful models for furthering energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, and renewable energy in their communities.
Register for a Webinar
Better Buildings programs host interactive webinars featuring a variety of topics exploring cost-effective ways to integrate energy savings into their daily building operations.
Better Buildings Challenge SWAP
Hilton Worldwide and Whole Foods Market swapped energy teams (and buildings) in San Francisco, CA, in this reality-style, three-episode web series.
Featured Solutions
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There are many ways to finance energy efficiency projects in buildings you own or occupy. The Navigator helps you cut through this complexity to secure financing that works for you. |
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Street Light Upgrade Project Showcase Project West Palm Beach retrofitted 6,800 streetlights to more efficient LED and induction technologies, reducing energy use 54% and helping achieve both their Better Buildings Challenge goal and reduce municipal GHG emissions 11%.
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Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program Implementation Model Milwaukee, WI created a PACE financing option that allows building owners to pay for energy improvements through a voluntary municipal special charge which is attached to the property, not the owner.
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Boston Public Library – Central Library in Copley Square Showcase Project The Central Library was selected to undergo improvements to its energy management system which was significantly outdated and inefficient. As a result of these efforts, the facility has realized an annual energy savings of 25% and annual cost savings of 11% in less than one year.
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Technology Square Research Building Showcase Project On the Georgia Tech Research Institute campus, the TSRB building team implemented a continuous commissioning program in June 2011 to maintain optimum HVAC performance. TSRB reduced it's annual energy cost by 23.5% and water costs by 8.5% compared to baseline years, saving more than $123,000.
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Other Resources
Additional Information
U.S. DOE State and Local Solution Center
The State and Local Solution Center provides resources to advance successful, high-impact clean energy policies, programs, and projects. By championing state and local leadership, addressing specific market barriers, and promoting standardized approaches, the Solution Center aims to help states, local governments, and K-12 schools take clean energy to scale in their communities.
The State and Local Energy Efficiency Action Network (SEE Action)
SEE Action offers resources, discussion forums, and technical assistance to state and local decision makers as they provide low-cost, reliable energy to their communities through energy efficiency. Developed collaboratively by state and local officials, energy efficiency experts, and real estate practitioners, the 2020 Leadership Agenda for Existing Commercial and Multifamily Buildings defines the baseline actions that states and communities can take by 2020 to demonstrate national energy efficiency leadership.
Accelerators demonstrate specific innovative policies and approaches, which will accelerate investment in
energy efficiency upon successful demonstration. Each Accelerator is a targeted, shortterm, partner-focused activity designed to address persistent barriers that stand in the way of greater efficiency. The most recent accerators especially pertinent to local governments include: Zero Energy Districts, Wastewater Infrastructure , Clean Energy for Low Income Communities, and Combined Heat and Power (CHP) for Resiliency.
Energy Data Accelerator Toolkit
Through the Better Buildings Energy Data Accelerator local governments joined forces with their local utilities to make it easier for building owners to get access to whole-building energy usage data for the purposes of benchmarking their buildings. Visit the Toolkit for a suite of case studies and guides on how cities, states, real estate organizations, and utility leaders continue to develop innovative solutions.