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Facilities and Infrastructure
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Make Building Energy Improvements Municipal buildings represent a substantial opportunity to achieve cost-effective reductions in local greenhouse gas emissions. Taking this kind of initiative is a way for city governments to lead by example. Municipal building retrofits in Chicago are reducing CO2 emissions by 7,602 tons a year and saving the city budget almost $1 million annually. Likewise, Minneapolis' Public Housing Agency made efficiency improvements that save $981,201 per year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 5,144 tons annually.
Replace Motors in City Operations With More Efficient ModelsEnergy-efficient motors can slash energy consumption, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollution, and save money. Long Beach, California, improved the efficiency of its recycling and solid waste-to-energy plant by installing variable frequency drives, saving $329,508 per year in energy costs and reducing annual CO2 emissions by more than three million pounds.
Buy ENERGY STAR® Equipment for Municipal OfficesCopiers, fax machines, computers, scanners, exit signs, heating and cooling products, windows, and other equipment with the ENERGY STAR® label save money while reducing energy-related greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollution. Portland, Oregon, has written ENERGY STAR® office equipment into its standard specifications for all city purchasing. The city operates more than 2,000 computers. Assuming that 30 to 40 percent of users leave their equipment running 24 hours a day and on weekends, Portland's energy savings from using ENERGY STAR¨ equipment could approach $35,000 per year.
Change Traffic Lights to Light-emitting Diode (LED) FixturesLEDs are 80-90 percent more efficient and last 10 times longer than ordinary lights, reducing energy and maintenance costs. Saint Paul, Minnesota, is installing red LEDs and red arrows at more than 200 intersections citywide, for a projected annual savings of more than $135,000 and 1,250 tons of CO2. When Denver has finished converting its traffic signals to LEDs, it expects to save $357,000 annually in energy, labor, and materials costs while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 8,894 tons per year.
Use Renewable Energy Systems to Improve Air QualitySwitching from fossil fuel-generated electricity to renewable-based power is an effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other air pollution. The City of Austin, Texas, which has a municipal electric utility, plans to meet 50 percent of all new electricity demand with renewable energy by 2010. Achieving this goal would reduce CO2 emissions by 1.9 million tons per year.
Purchase Green Power to Improve Air QualityIn states where competitive electricity markets exist, utilities and other electricity retailers may offer customers the option to purchase "green" renewable-generated power. Santa Monica, California, has decided to purchase five megawatts of green electricity, enough to power all its municipal facilities. The $2.3 million that the city spends annually for electricity will now go to companies that contract directly with renewable generators.
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