[Note: This template was developed to be used as a guiding document and should be used as a starting point for completion of your energy action plan. See attached for key issues to consider before embarking on preparing an energy action plan.]
City of ______ Energy Action Plan
Approved on ________
Table of Contents Executive Summary ........................................................................................................................ 4 SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 5 SECTION 2 – CITY OF ______ ENERGY USE ........................................................................... 5 SECTION 3 – CITY OF ______ TARGET REDUCTION GOALS .............................................. 6 SECTION 4 – CITY OF ______ ACTION STEPS ........................................................................ 6 SECTION 5 – CITY OF ______ IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ..................................................... 7 CONCLUSIONS ............................................................................................................................. 7
Executive Summary {Insert Summary- This community recognizes the impact on global climate change from carbon dioxide emissions arising from our activities. We recognize the need to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions and become a more sustainable community. This Energy Action Plan outlines the actions that this community will take in order to do our part on reducing greenhouse gas emissions through reductions in electricity used in agency buildings and operations.}
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SECTION 1 – INTRODUCTION {Insert purpose and scope of plan- Clearly states the aim and objectives of the Energy Action Plan, which should be to reduce the environmental impact and fiscal impact of energy usage in municipal facilities.} 1.1 History of Energy Planning in _____ {Brief description of past energy policy and energy efficiency activities of agency. This may include brief description of projects to reduce energy use in agency buildings, partnerships with local energy utilities, and energy policies or ordinances adopted by the agency (such as an energy element in the general plan, policies to require buildings to exceed the State’s Title 24 energy building code). 1.2 Other Agency Goals {Insert Federal, State and Local Goals/Regulations Affecting Energy and this EAP) 1.3 Staff and Public Involvement in the Plan {Insert how the municipal staff and public will be engaged in developing and implementing the Plan. Staff and public engagement is a critical strategy for creating the document and ensuring it is implemented accordingly. This should include who will be the main parties responsible for completing the EAP.}
SECTION 2 – CITY OF ______ ENERGY USE 2.1 City of ___ Baseline Municipal Energy Use {Insert Baseline Municipal Operations Energy Usage from 2004- Include Public Buildings over which the agency has control, Street lighting and Water and Wastewater systems (if applicable)}
2004 (or another year you would like to select) Municipal Operations Energy Usage Municipal Facility Energy Usage (kWh) Annual Cost City Hall/County Administration Building Senior Center Parks and Recreation buildings Street Lights Traffic Lights Corporation Yard Library Other building Other building Other building
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2.2 Highest Users {Which facilities are the highest energy users that the City should target?} 2.3 Current Energy Programs/Policies {Insert any current energy programs or policies the city has in place regarding energy usage}
SECTION 3 – CITY OF ______ TARGET REDUCTION GOALS {Insert Specific Reduction Goals and Milestones- For example, a goal might be to increase the energy efficiency in buildings which are the top five electricity users by 30 percent by the year 2015. Another goal could be to install energy monitoring software to monitor energy use and cost.}
SECTION 4 – CITY OF ______ ACTION STEPS {Insert how the City will be able to measure reductions in energy usage. Address who will be responsible for what, who coordinates, who owns the strategy?} 4.1 Municipal Facility Energy Efficiency Projects {Insert potential or planned projects to reduce energy usage (Air Conditioning, Lighting, HVAC, Water Pumping, etc.). Provide a timeline of the projects and when they are anticipated to be completed to impact the energy usage. Will completing the identified projects achieve the stated goal? If not, what is the remaining kWh savings that will need to be identified in order to meet goal and how will those be identified?} 4.2 Funding of Projects {How will projects be funded (low interest or no interest loans, revolving funds, agency general fund, etc.)?} 4.3 Policies {Insert any policies or procedures that the city can implement to assist in the reduction of energy usage in agency facilities. These could include a policy that new agency buildings meet certain green building and energy efficiency criteria, establishment of a revolving loan fund to finance future energy efficiency improvements, a policy to purchase Energy Star appliances or energy efficient equipment or establishing a payback period for energy efficient retrofits for agency buildings.} 4.4 Tracking and Monitoring Progress {How will the city monitor its progress to ensure that the city is reducing energy and meeting the goals included in the Energy Action Plan? How will the city know when the plan has been completed?}
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SECTION 5 – CITY OF ______ IMPLEMENTATION PLAN {Summarize what action items will be taken as a result of the plan. This should include details on how each of them will be implemented. Below is a suggested table to capture the details.}
Implementation Plan Action Steps
Goals
Timeframe
CONCLUSIONS {Insert any closing remarks.}
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Responsibility
Resources (time, money)
Key Issues to Consider Before Embarking on Preparing an Energy Action Plan Each local agency is different and thus, the elements of an energy action plan will vary from city to city or county to county. The following suggests some questions and issues an agency can consider before beginning the process of preparing an energy action plan. Does the agency own and/or operate the water and/or waste water system? Water and waste water systems may offer significant opportunities to reduce energy use, including replacing inefficient pumps and motors. Even if another agency provides water and water services (such as through a special district), opportunities to reduce energy use may still be available and worth evaluating. Does the agency provide police and fire services, or, does it contract for these services? The ability of a city or county to reduce energy use within police or fire buildings will depend upon whether or not the agency controls the facilities where the services are located. Does the agency have a system to monitor energy use in agency buildings? Having a way to track energy use is a key step in identifying which buildings use the most energy and prioritizing where it is most cost effective to install energy efficiency retrofitting equipment. Does the agency have a policy or program to incorporate energy efficient equipment and appliances as part of the agency’s capital improvement plan? Some agencies have a policy of purchasing energy efficient equipment and appliances as part of their capital improvement plans and budgets. Does the agency have a policy to require new agency buildings to meet LEED or other green building standards, or to exceed the State’s Title 24 energy efficiency standards? Such policies can help reduce agency energy use. Can the agency develop a team with representatives from each department to prepare the plan? Some local governments have found that a “green team” can be more effective with leads from each department (finance, public works, management, etc.) contributing to the plan.
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