Local Governments: An Overview of Energy
Use and Energy Efficiency Opportunities
Energy Use in Local Governments
Government agencies spend more than $10 billion a year on energy to provide public services and meet constituent needs. Local
governments grapple with tightening budgets, but nearly one-third of the energy used to run typical government buildings goes to
waste. EPA provides local governments a proven energy management strategy and tools to save energy and money and demonstrate
their environmental leadership.
For any local government looking to reduce greenhouse gas emissions within its jurisdiction, it is imperative that officials pay special
attention to the buildings in the community. Opportunities to reduce the emissions in buildings are significant, since as much as 30
percent of the energy consumed in commercial buildings is often used unnecessarily or inefficiently.
Energy Efficiency Opportunities
Local governments can find energy savings through multiple efforts.
Low-Cost Measures
> Measure and track energy performance.
> Turn off lights when not in use or when natural daylight can be used.
> Set back the thermostat in the evenings and other times when a building is unoccupied.
> Perform monthly maintenance of heating and cooling equipment to guarantee efficient
operation throughouttheyear.
> Educate staff about how their behaviors affect energy use.
Local Governments Making a Difference:
Arlington County, Virginia, has been actively
participating in the ENERGY STAR program since
1998. County officials view energy efficiency as
the path to Green Buildings and have leveraged
ENERGY STAR to achieve its efficiency goals.
Arlington educates all community members —
from developers to residents — about the
importance of saving energy. Arlington has also
hosted events to promote ENERGY STAR qualified
products to help residents be more
energy-efficient.
FortWayne, Indiana, is using Portfolio Managerto
benchmark all of its facilities. For example, the city
benchmarked all of its fire stations to help them
understand energy use patterns in order to reduce
energy waste.
Cost-Effective Investments
> Install energy-efficient lighting systems and controls that improve light quality and
reduce heatgain.
> Upgrade and maintain heating and cooling equipment. Replace chlorofluorocarbon
chillers, retrofit or install energy-efficient models to meet a building's reduced cooling
loads, and upgrade boilers and other central plant systems to energy-efficient standards.
> Use a performance contract to guarantee energy savings from upgrades made.
> Work with an energy services provider to help manage and improve energy performance.
> Purchase energy-efficient products like ENERGY STAR qualified office equipment.
> Install window films and add insulation or reflective roof coating to reduce energy consumption.
How to Talk to Local Governments About Energy Efficiency
When talking to local government officials about energy efficiency, it is important to recognize the many different needs they must
address for both their constituents and their own operations. Improving energy efficiency and spending less on utility bills can help free
up resources so that local governments can more effectively provide the public services that their constituents expect while still
operating efficiently themselves.
If you are seeking to engage local governments in improving their energy efficiency, the people to talk to are the county executive or
mayor, director of management and budget, or energy manager. A local government's environmental board or sustainability council is
also an important audience to engage.
ENERGY STAR® is a government-backed program helping businesses
and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.
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Local Governments: An Overview of Energy
Use and Energy Efficiency Opportunities
ENERGY STAR Offers
- Guides and manuals
- Facility benchmarking
- Training
- Institutional purchasing
- Technical support
- Financing resources
- Emissions reporting
- Third-party recognition
- Motivational campaigns
How to Talk to Local Governments About Energy Efficiency (cont.)
Securing a commitment from a high-ranking official helps ensure that their efforts have as broad and effective
an impact as possible. Local governments must work with many different departments or agencies, each with
their own unique set of challenges when it comes to implementing energy efficiency improvements.
The Dual Role of Local Governments: Leading by example and improving the energy efficiency of their own
buildings is only part of what local governments can do to better their community through superior energy
performance. It is important to illustrate to local government officials thatthey are in a unique position to
educate their constituents about the benefits of energy efficiency. Local governments can also leverage their
relationships with private sector organizations to motivate these groups to make energy efficiency improvements.
Join the ENERGY STAR Challenge: Encourage local governments to get started by joining the ENERGY STAR Challenge, which
encourages building owners across the country to improve their energy efficiency by 10 percenter more. Local governments can join
by visiting www.energystar.gov/challenge.
ENERGY STAR Resources
Guidelines for Energy Management: Based on the successful practices of ENERGY STAR
partners, these guidelines can assist local governments in improving their energy and
financial performance while establishing themselves as environmental leaders.
Portfolio Manager — Measure and Track Energy Performance: By measuring, setting
goals, and tracking energy use, local governments can gain control of energy expenses.
They can rate their energy performance on a scale of 1 to 100 relative to similar buildings
nationwide.
www.energystar.gov/benchmark
Perform Cost-effective Building Upgrades: Plan systematic building upgrades using the
5-stage approach in EPA's Building Upgrade Manual. This online handbook offers guidance
for each stage, from commissioning to plant upgrades.
www.energystar.gov/bldgmanual
Recognition for Achievements
Earn the ENERGY STAR: Buildings that rate in the top 25 percent of energy-efficient
buildings in the nation may qualify for the ENERGY STAR.
www.energystar.gov/eslabel
ENERGY STAR Awards: Organizations that continuously achieve and promote superior
energy management can apply to be recognized as part of the annual ENERGY STAR Awards.
www.energystar.gov/awards
Visitwww.energystar.gov/governmentfor more information on ENERGY STAR resources and recognition.
Other Resources for Local Governments:
The U.S. Conference of Mayors
(www.usmayors.org): The U.S. Conference of
Mayors helps mayors reduce greenhouse gas
emissions in cities through outreach, education,
and technical assistance.
The National Association of Counties
(www.naco.org): NACo helps county officials to
improve the energy performance of their buildings,
specifically through the ENERGY STAR Courthouse
Campaign.
Public Technology Institute (www.pti.org): PTI is
working with EPA to help cities and counties meet
their climate change goals and to support other
green and sustainable efforts.
International City/County Management
Association (www.icma.org): ICMA's Local
Government Environmental Assistance Network
(LGEAN) is an information clearinghouse that
provides relevant energy efficiency and
environmental management information for local
government officials and their staffs.
ICLEI — Local Governments for Sustainability
(www.iclei.org): ICLEI helps local authorities
worldwide move from agenda to action and
ensure an accelerated implementation of
sustainable development.
ENERGY STAR® is a government-backed program helping businesses
and individuals protect the environment through superior energy efficiency.
LEARN MORE AT
energystar.gov
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