Local Policy Case Studies
These cases describe efforts by local communities across the United States to improve their energy efficiency. Included are examples of notable initiatives across a variety of policy approaches, economic sectors, regions of the country, and community types. This collection is a work in progress and will continue to expand over time as we highlight additional efforts from around the country.
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Location: Arlington County, Virginia
Start Date: 2007
Sectors: Commercial, Transportation
Policy Types: Climate Change Policy, Energy Efficiency Financing, Government Lead by Example Initiatives, Green Vehicle Market, Public Buildings, Retrofits, Utilities
Summary: A comprehensive initiative to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in county operations and to encourage more energy-efficient behavior and technology among businesses and residents
Start Date: 2007
Sectors: Commercial, Transportation
Policy Types: Climate Change Policy, Energy Efficiency Financing, Government Lead by Example Initiatives, Green Vehicle Market, Public Buildings, Retrofits, Utilities
Summary: A comprehensive initiative to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions in county operations and to encourage more energy-efficient behavior and technology among businesses and residents
Location: Austin, Texas
Start Date: 2009
Sectors: Residential, Commercial
Policy Types: Building Codes, Building Rating & Disclosure, Multi-Family Homes, Retrofits, Utility Regulation & Policy
Summary: ECAD requires properties within Austin or served by Austin Energy to undergo energy audits before the sale of the property. This ordinance applies to single-family, multi-family, and commercial properties ten years or older.
Start Date: 2009
Sectors: Residential, Commercial
Policy Types: Building Codes, Building Rating & Disclosure, Multi-Family Homes, Retrofits, Utility Regulation & Policy
Summary: ECAD requires properties within Austin or served by Austin Energy to undergo energy audits before the sale of the property. This ordinance applies to single-family, multi-family, and commercial properties ten years or older.
Location: Berkeley, California
Start Date: 1987
Sectors: Local Policy, Residential
Policy Types: Building Codes, Building Rating & Disclosure, Multi-Family Homes, Retrofits
Summary: RECO requires residential property owners to increase energy efficiency in their buildings upon the transfer of property ownership or at the time of renovations. This ordinance contributes to the Berkeley Climate Action plan goal of reducing Berkeley’s overall greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by the year 2050 and toward protecting residents from high energy prices.
Start Date: 1987
Sectors: Local Policy, Residential
Policy Types: Building Codes, Building Rating & Disclosure, Multi-Family Homes, Retrofits
Summary: RECO requires residential property owners to increase energy efficiency in their buildings upon the transfer of property ownership or at the time of renovations. This ordinance contributes to the Berkeley Climate Action plan goal of reducing Berkeley’s overall greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by the year 2050 and toward protecting residents from high energy prices.
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Start Date: 1992
Sectors: Transportation
Policy Types: Land Use, Transportation System Efficiency
Summary: The city’s bicycle program has a successful history of providing bicycle-related education and integrating improvements in bicycle infrastructure into the city’s existing planned capital activities and land use processes at minimal additional cost.
Start Date: 1992
Sectors: Transportation
Policy Types: Land Use, Transportation System Efficiency
Summary: The city’s bicycle program has a successful history of providing bicycle-related education and integrating improvements in bicycle infrastructure into the city’s existing planned capital activities and land use processes at minimal additional cost.
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Start Date: 1999
Sectors: Commercial, Industrial
Policy Types: Energy Efficiency Financing, Industrial Energy Efficiency Programs, Retrofits
Summary: This program uses revenue from tax increment financing (TIF) districts to provide grants to small commercial and industrial businesses (property owners or tenants) to be used for permanent building improvements, including energy efficiency investments.
Start Date: 1999
Sectors: Commercial, Industrial
Policy Types: Energy Efficiency Financing, Industrial Energy Efficiency Programs, Retrofits
Summary: This program uses revenue from tax increment financing (TIF) districts to provide grants to small commercial and industrial businesses (property owners or tenants) to be used for permanent building improvements, including energy efficiency investments.
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Start Date: 2007
Sectors: Residential
Policy Types: Energy Efficiency Financing, Low-Income Programs, Multi-Family Homes, Retrofits
Summary: The Energy Savers program offers free energy audits, technical support, and retrofit financing for building owners of affordable, multi-family residential buildings in Cook and Lake Counties.
Start Date: 2007
Sectors: Residential
Policy Types: Energy Efficiency Financing, Low-Income Programs, Multi-Family Homes, Retrofits
Summary: The Energy Savers program offers free energy audits, technical support, and retrofit financing for building owners of affordable, multi-family residential buildings in Cook and Lake Counties.
Location: Minneapolis, Minnesota
Start Date: 2008
Sectors: Transportation
Policy Types: Fuel Economy, Government Lead by Example Initiatives, Vehicle Fleets
Summary: This low-cost policy restricts idling time for all vehicles within the city limits. Although the ordinance is mandatory for public and private vehicles, it has mostly been implemented through education of the public and city employees and citizen reporting.
Start Date: 2008
Sectors: Transportation
Policy Types: Fuel Economy, Government Lead by Example Initiatives, Vehicle Fleets
Summary: This low-cost policy restricts idling time for all vehicles within the city limits. Although the ordinance is mandatory for public and private vehicles, it has mostly been implemented through education of the public and city employees and citizen reporting.
Location: New York, New York
Start Date: 2008
Sectors: Residential, Commercial, Industrial
Policy Types: Building Codes, Building Rating & Disclosure, Climate Change Policy, Local & Community Initiatives, Retrofits, Water & Wastewater
Summary: A comprehensive review of city codes with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and improving environmental health. 111 recommendations were made, nearly half directly relating to energy and more than a quarter relating directly to energy efficiency.
Start Date: 2008
Sectors: Residential, Commercial, Industrial
Policy Types: Building Codes, Building Rating & Disclosure, Climate Change Policy, Local & Community Initiatives, Retrofits, Water & Wastewater
Summary: A comprehensive review of city codes with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, energy use, and improving environmental health. 111 recommendations were made, nearly half directly relating to energy and more than a quarter relating directly to energy efficiency.
Location: Portland, Oregon
Start Date: 2009
Sectors: Behavior & Human Dimensions, Residential
Policy Types: Energy Efficiency Financing, Energy Efficiency Workforce, Financial Incentives for Energy Efficiency, Local & Community Initiatives, Low-Income Programs, Retrofits, Utility Regulation & Policy
Summary: The program gives guidance and bundled services to drastically simplify the process of energy efficiency improvements and provides long-term, low-interest financing to homeowners for whole-home energy upgrades designed to reduce energy consumption between 10 and 30 percent.
Start Date: 2009
Sectors: Behavior & Human Dimensions, Residential
Policy Types: Energy Efficiency Financing, Energy Efficiency Workforce, Financial Incentives for Energy Efficiency, Local & Community Initiatives, Low-Income Programs, Retrofits, Utility Regulation & Policy
Summary: The program gives guidance and bundled services to drastically simplify the process of energy efficiency improvements and provides long-term, low-interest financing to homeowners for whole-home energy upgrades designed to reduce energy consumption between 10 and 30 percent.
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Start Date: 2010
Sectors: Commercial
Policy Types: Energy Efficiency Financing, Financial Incentives for Energy Efficiency, Retrofits, Utility Regulation & Policy
Summary: The lighting retrofit program provides meaningful financial incentives and technical assistance targeted to small businesses. It aims to reduce operating expenses for small local businesses while improving energy efficiency, quality of lighting, and lighting equipment longevity.
Start Date: 2010
Sectors: Commercial
Policy Types: Energy Efficiency Financing, Financial Incentives for Energy Efficiency, Retrofits, Utility Regulation & Policy
Summary: The lighting retrofit program provides meaningful financial incentives and technical assistance targeted to small businesses. It aims to reduce operating expenses for small local businesses while improving energy efficiency, quality of lighting, and lighting equipment longevity.