Most Energy Efficient Cities in The United States

MOST ENERGY EFFICIENT CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES CRITERIA 1. TRANSPORTATION ENERGY EFFICIENT TRANSPORTATION AND ACCESSIBILITY AS WELL AS THE CITY'S FOCUS ON LOCATION-EFFICIENT DEVELOPMENT 2. ENERGY AND WATER UTILITES ACCESS THE COMMUNITY HAS TO ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS 3. LOCAL GOVERNMENT EFFORTS FOR ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS 4. BUILDING POLICIES REQUIREMENTS AND INCENTIVES THAT ENCOURAGE ENERGY EFFICIENCY 5. COMMUNITY-WIDE INITIATIVES COMMUNÍTY-WIDE EFFICIENCY EFFORTS AND GOALS #1 - BOSTON IN AN EFFORT TO PROMOTE ENERGY EFFICIENCY AMONG CONSUMERS, BOSTON CREATED THE RENEW BOSTON EFFORT THAT CREATED A PARTNERSHIP WITH INVESTOR-OWNED UTILITES. THE RENEW BOSTON EFFORT OFFERS FINANACIAL INCENTIVES TO BUYERS FOR USING/PURCHASING ENERGY-EFFICIENT APPLIANCES. BOSTON ALSO STOOD OUT WITH ITS ENERGY-SAVING GOALS IN THE GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND BUILDING POLICIES WHERE LARGE BUILDINGS ARE REQUIRED TO REPORT ENERGY USE. #2 - PORTLAND, OR WINNING OUT IN THE TRANSPORTATION CATEGORY, PORTLAND TOOK A CLOSE SECOND. PORTLAND STANDS OUT IN THE EFFICIENCY OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AS WELL AS TRANSPORTATION. WITH THE CLIMATE ACTION PLAN, THE CITY STAYS ON TRACK WITH THEIR GOALS TO FUND ENERGY EFFICIENCY. POLICIES HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED TO PROMOTE COMPACT DEVELOPMENT, IMPROVE ZONING AND LAND USE, AND REDUCE VEHICLE TRIPS. LIKE BOSTON, PORTLAND STOOD OUT IN TERMS OF ENERGY-SAVING GOALS AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT PRACTICES. #3 (TIE) - SAN FRANCISCO SAN FRANCISCO STOOD OUT IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT PRACTICES AS WELL AS ENERGY AND WATER UTILITIES. TO HELP SAVE ENERGY, HOMES MUST IMPROVE THEIR ENERGY EFFICIENCY BEFORE THEY CAN BE SOLD OR THEY MAY BE RENOVATED UNDER THE RESIDENTIAL ENERGY CONVERVATION ORDINANCE. POLICIES ARE ALSO IN PLACE TO PROMOTE ENERGY EFFICIENT BUILDINGS. ALTHOUGH TIED FOR #3 WITH PORTLAND, NEW YORK CITY DID NOT RISE ABOVE IN A SINGLE #3 - NEW YORK CITY CATEGORY, BUT OVERALL IT STOOD OUT. REQUIRING BUILDINGS TO GO UNDER OCCASIONAL ENERGY AUDITS AND SYSTEM TUNE-UPS IS JUST ONE PART OF THE GREEN, GREATER BUILDINGS PLAN. NEW YORK BOASTS IMPRESSIVE EFFORTS TO MAKE SURE DRINKING WATER, WASTE-WATER AND STORM WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS ARE EFFICIENT. NEW YORK ALSO HAS A VERY HIGH PERCENTAGE OF NON-CAR COMMUTERS WITH 73%. Walton EMC Natural Gas SOURCE: ACEEE.ORG