City energy savings performance assessment of selected U.S. communities

Panel: 3. Local action

This is a peer-reviewed paper.

Author:
David Ribeiro, ACEEE, Utilities, State, and Local Policy Program, USA

Abstract

In the United States, leadership on energy and climate policy has largely shifted to state and local governments as many federal energy and climate efforts have languished. This along with other factors, such as increasing concern about climate change and improved understanding of the local economic impacts of energy use, has led a significant number of U.S. local governments to develop goals to improve energy efficiency, decrease greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions, and/or adapt to climate change through changes in municipal government operations and actions in their community. Some cities have adopted long-term energy goals and strategies by leveraging goal-setting frameworks from government agencies and networks of local governments, such as the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement, while others have undertaken locally-led energy and climate planning processes. Developing these goals and strategies demonstrates leadership, but many cities are struggling to achieve their objectives for carbon reduction and energy savings.

This research provides a meta-analysis of the energy performance of 51 of the largest cities in the U.S. to determine trends in city energy performance, which cities are on track to achieve their energy efficiency-related goals, and the policy drivers for city success. When evaluating city performance, we collected and analyzed energy use and/or climate data from each city at four scales, as available: 1) local governments’ municipal operations, 2) the community-at-large, 3) municipal buildings and 4) private buildings. We also collected data on energy strategies implemented at each scale. Using this data, we explored the factors contributing to successful performance toward goals in these communities with a particular focus on locally enacted policies and programs. Our analysis will be able to inform the efforts of cities both in the U.S. and Europe looking to achieve deeper energy savings or GHG emissions reductions.