Our Cities-LEAP project, which helps deliver standardized energy data and analysis, recently launched two new resources to help cities strategically map their energy vision for the future.
Climate change is a challenge too large for any single organization or sector to tackle alone. It requires the cooperation of leaders and organizations at every level, including local communities. After all, it’s estimated that by 2030, 87% of U.S. energy will be consumed in cities, an 80% increase from 2006. Fortunately, municipal leaders and community organizations throughout the country have been stepping up to the plate with bold sustainability initiatives that can reduce carbon emissions and save money—while also improving quality of life for their citizens.
Cities can, and have made, significant progress. But with comprehensive, localized energy data, they can make even more informed energy decisions and craft more effective sustainability policies. More often than not, that data is simply unavailable, particularly when many communities are facing funding challenges.
This is where the Office of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, or EERE, has stepped in to help. Our Cities Leading through Energy Analysis and Planning (Cities-LEAP) project helps deliver standardized energy data and analysis. This information can help communities better integrate strategic energy analysis into decision making.
Cities-LEAP recently launched two new resources to help cities strategically map their vision for the future.
City Energy Profiles
The first resource is a new city energy profile for every U.S. city included on our State and Local Energy Data site. Each profile includes estimates of key energy indicators, including:
- Electricity and natural gas consumption and expenditures by sector
- On-road vehicle fuel use
- Vehicle miles traveled
- Photovoltaic (PV) generation potential on small buildings
- Building stock characterization
- The top five energy consuming industries in each city.
In addition, the profiles provide actual data on the fuel types and fuel economy of vehicles registered in 23,400 analyzed cities. Energy consumption estimates are included to help cities understand their relative emissions sources.
The new city energy profiles help illustrate the complexities of city energy use and the most strategic city pathways toward a clean energy future.
Data on Energy-Related Policy Impacts
The second resource is a new report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory that can help local leaders to determine the impact of a range of energy actions that can be taken in their communities. Entitled Estimating the National Carbon Abatement Potential of City Policies: A Data-Driven Approach, this study uses data for tens of thousands of cities to illustrate the comparative impacts of a variety of city-level energy actions in six policy areas and is the broadest and most inclusive city-level energy study to date. This data has the potential to help leaders in cities and communities of every size better understand how their particular geography and infrastructure influence the impacts of their energy actions.
This report shows that by implementing these common city actions, the average city can reduce its carbon emissions by 7%-19%, and the nationwide carbon abatement potential of these actions is a 3%-7% reduction in emissions relative to 2013 U.S. emissions. The report also shows that these city carbon abatement actions can be achieved with minimal, and even positive, economic impacts.
One example of municipal actions measured by the Cities-LEAP report can be seen in Knoxville, Tennessee. The city has taken ambitious steps to improve the energy efficiency of municipal buildings and street lighting as part of its Energy & Sustainability Initiative, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within the community by 20% by 2020 relative to 2005 levels. Actions like these got the city recognized as a Climate Action Champion, which is part of a White House initiative that supports local and tribal governments taking steps to address climate change.
EERE recognizes that communities are important partners in addressing some of the world’s biggest challenges, preventing the worst effects of climate change and transitioning to a low-carbon economy. By providing communities across the country with the most thorough and accurate information possible, EERE is working to empower sustainable and localized solutions on the front lines of clean energy. We are helping them plan for the future and accelerating the clean energy revolution.
Whether you are an elected officeholder or a concerned citizen looking to educate your neighbors about steps your community can take, you can benefit from our analysis. Find detailed data on your city from nine new datasets on the State and Local Energy Data site. You can also dig into new Cities-LEAP analysis on the comparative impact of city-level energy actions on the Cities-LEAP site.
