Energy efficiency is the most affordable way to lower our carbon footprint and reduce our consumption of non-renewable energy resources. While the federal government continues to struggle with developing any kind of energy efficiency policy, at the local level, there is plenty going on.
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy has recently released the first edition of the City Energy Efficiency Scorecard, which ranks the 34 most populous U.S. cites on policies and other actions to advance energy efficiency.
Topping the list was Boston, which scored 77 out a possible 100 points. The analysis evaluated cities according to their transportation policies, buildings policies, local government operations, community-side initiatives, energy and water utilities and public benefits programs.
Other top-scoring cities included Portland, New York, San Francisco, Seattle and Austin. All of these cities scored about 60, commensurate with their leadership in energy efficiency in all areas of their economy. A total of eleven out of the 34 cities in the ranking scored above 50%.
Apart from the ranking data, the report suggests strategies and policies for improving energy efficiency in each of the areas covered. It provides examples of the best practices adopted by the leading cities. Overall, it seeks to provide a roadmap that any local government can adopt in order to improve its own energy efficiency.
Energy-use efficiency is available to any city. It is up to all local communities to go after this low-hanging fruit to enhance their quality of life and economic development.
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Web Links
2013 City Energy Efficiency Scorecard
http://aceee.org/files/pdf/summary/e13g-summary.pdf
Photo, taken on July 24, 2013, courtesy of Alan Kotok via Flickr.
Earth Wise is a production of WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Support for Earth Wise comes from the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, NY.