U.S. Department of Energy partnering with the University of Houston to research wind power technology. Photo courtesy of cleantechnica.com.
In working to make the U.S. a more sustainably green country, the way that seems to be producing the most visible and effective results is by doing it at the city level.
In recognition, the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Walmart jointly honor two cities every year – both large and small, with populations over and under 100,000 – for their green sustainability achievements.
This year’s newly announced honors go to Houston, Texas and Evanston, Ill. with both receiving the 2011 Mayors’ Climate Protection Award.
Houston received its award because of achievements in both the public and private sector, largely through working with the city’s green office challenge, which works in conjunction with the city’s energy efficiency incentive program and municipal energy efficiency program.
These programs also incorporate free technology, software training, environmental, and energy efficiency consulting from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
There are currently about 330 private companies that have already taken part in the challenge. As part of this green challenge, the city offers eligible businesses and building owners the ability to apply for funding to make permanent energy efficiency improvements to reduce utility expenses and greenhouse gases.
As part of the eligibility requirements for the program, a certified energy manager must perform an energy audit and make energy conservation recommendations that will project (at minimum) a 15 percent energy savings, though the city is encouraging a stretch to 30 percent energy savings.
The Houston mayor’s office says that “the city will provide incentives to offset 20 percent of the up-front implementation costs (labor and materials), with the incentives ranging from $20,000 to $200,000 maximum per building upon completion of the project.”
To be considered for the challenge, an applicant’s building must be a minimum of 7,500 square feet of commercial office space, and the minimum amount of work to qualify for the program must be estimated at $100,000.
At least 50 percent of the grant incentives will be awarded to ‘Class B’ and ‘Class C’ buildings. Houston has committed about $3 million from its Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant as seed funding for the program.
On the other side of the spectrum, while Evanston certainly doesn’t have Houston’s budget, the smaller city shows that size doesn’t inhibit its ability to make efficient, environmentally friendly changes.
Evanston has received recognition for its climate action plan, and the efforts of its office of sustainability, which focus on the areas of: energy efficiency; renewable energy; transportation; land use and development; waste reduction and recycling; water conservation; and the food cycle.
Among its accomplishments in energy efficiency, Evanston has an ordinance that requires all new commercial and municipal constructions over 10,000 square feet to meet U.S. Green Building Council LEED Silver certifications. Mandatory green requirements are also required for buildings undergoing renovations.
Evanston has also installed a 25 kW photovoltaic solar panel system on the roof of its water pumping station to reduce the city’s electricity usage.
The city is also looking into developing an offshore wind energy facility off Evanston’s northern shore in Lake Michigan, though this plan is receiving much criticism from both the mayor’s review committee and city residents.
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