Climate Showcase
Communities Program
EPA's Climate Showcase Communities Program helps local and tribal
governments pilot innovative, cost-effective, and replicable community-based
greenhouse gas reduction projects. Your community can learn from these pilot
projects and replicate their successes.
There are 50 Climate Showcase Communities across the U.S. that represent a
range of cities, towns, counties, regional governments, and tribal nations. These
projects can help communities become more energy efficient and save consumers
money through creative energy production, residential and commercial energy
efficiency, waste management, transportation, and land use projects.
Each community is testing an innovative climate mitigation strategy. EPA
awarded $20 million in grant funding to these 50 pilot communities, and provides
peer exchange, training, and technical support to all communities interested in
replicating Climate Showcase Community projects.
Community climate change projects don't just reduce greenhouse gas emissions:
they can also lower air pollution, cut energy costs and create jobs, and improve
people's health and quality of life.
EPA's 50 Climate Showcase Communities
1
Interested in learning more and taking action?
Contact us at epa.gov/climateshowcase
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The Student
Conservation Corps
West Chester, PA
The West Chester Area School District
started an efficiency campaign (both
equipment and behavioral) in their
16 schools - and reduced electricity
consumption by 16% and utility costs
by 11%. To share their campaign model
with the local business community,
they formed the Student Conservation
Corps (SCC). This group of high school
students completed energy audits of
five area businesses, and presented their
recommendations to community leaders
and other school districts.
Results: These efforts have saved the
district nearly $300,000 while reducing
CO2 emissions by over 6 million pounds
each year (equivalent to annual emissions
from 550 cars or 245 homes). The
students received Congressional and local
awards, were invited to speak at several
conferences, and even received college
scholarships based on their involvement.
Sustainability & Replication: The school
district will invest $150,000 of the annual
energy savings into further conservation
efforts, and the Pennsylvania Department
of Environmental Protection is providing
funding to continue the SCC. Several
other high schools have started their own
efficiency campaigns after seeing West
Chester present on the idea.
Six members of West Chester's Student
Conservation Corps.
Clear the Air Challenge
Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake City faces an air quality
challenge: daily emissions from
commuter and freight traffic. To
reduce both air and greenhouse
gas pollution, Salt Lake City is using
community-based social marketing
to encourage commuters to try
alternatives to driving solo. They
researched the barriers to changing
commuter behavior, and tweaked their
programs to address those barriers.
The resulting Clear the Air Challenge
emphasized public transportation,
walking, and carpooling.
Results: The Clear the Air Challenge
prevented 1,783 metric tons of CO2
emissions, and saved over $400,000 in
fuel costs in 2011.
Top: Community leaders kick off the 2010 Clear the Air
Challenge at the Salt Lake City Intermodal Hub.
Above: Mommy bloggers kick off the 2012 Clearthe Air
Challenge at Hogle Zoo.
Choctaw Healthy Living Energy Project
Durant, OK
The Choctaw Nation Indian Hospital is
the hub of health care services for 10
counties in southeastern Oklahoma.
It serves a large, rural population.
Like hospitals everywhere, it faces
the challenge of reducing energy
consumption and providing healthier
lighting for patients and employees.
The Choctaw Healthy Energy Living
Project (Project HELP) is tackling
this challenge with a comprehensive
lighting retrofit and education initiative.
New efficient lighting fixtures are being
installed in the hospital, as well as in
four facilities providing outpatient
services, substance abuse treatment
and diabetic care. These retrofits are
coupled with an intensive employee
and patient education program about
sustainable energy habits.
Results: These retrofits have saved
nearly 400,000 kWh of electricity
and reduced 292 metric tons of
CC>2 emissions to date, while
promoting healthy living and
sustainable energy habits.
Replacing inefficient lights as part of the
Choctaw Nation's lighting retrofit project taking
place throughout its hospital system.
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Projected Benefits
Cumulative Savings vs. Investment
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Year
^» Federal Investment ^« Cumulative Savings
2015
Financial savings from the Climate Showcase Community projects accrue overtime, with projected
cumulative savings of $61.5 million by 2015more than three times the initial federal investment.
Cumulative Building Retrofits
2011
2015
By 2015, the Climate Showcase Communities plan to weatherize or retrofit 2,000 homes and
commercial buildings.
Cumulative GHG Reductions
2015
40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180
Metric Tons of GHG Emissions
Twenty Thousand Cars H Ten Thousand Metric Tons
By 2015, the Climate Showcase Community projects expect to reduce 850,000 metric tons of
greenhouse gas emissions, equivalent to the emissions from 167,000 cars.
Projected 2015 Annual
Benefits Resulting from
Grantee Projects
Greenhouse Gas
Emissions Reduced
(MtC02)
Projected 350,000
June 2012 75,973
Energy Use Saved
(MWh)
Projected 116,381
June 2012 39,918
Gasoline Saved
(gallons)
Projected 434,726
June 2012 92,087
Waste Avoided
(tons)
Projected 146,655
June 2012 354
Money Saved
(USD $)
Projected 19,000,000
June 2012 10,187,897
Because the Climate Showcase Communities projects differ
widely not all grantees are reporting on all categories.
Figures may vary due to project extensions, project
modifications, local market conditions or other factors.
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&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
United States
Environmental Protection Agency
EPA 430-F-12-034
April 2013
Resources
Climate Showcase Communities Website. Explore project profiles, get involved,
and access replication resources at http://epa.gov/climateshowcase.
State and Local Climate and Energy Program Website. EPA's State and Local
Climate and Energy Program provides technical assistance, analytical tools, and
outreach support to state, local, and tribal governments. Learn more at
http://epa.gov/statelocalclimate/.
Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series. These guides give a
straightforward overview of greenhouse gas emissions reduction strategies that local
governments can use to achieve economic, environmental, social, and human health
benefits. The series covers energy efficiency, transportation, community planning and
design, solid waste and materials management, and renewable energy. Download the
Guides here: http://epa.gov/statelocalclimate/resources/strategy-guides.html.
State and Local Climate and Energy Newsletter. The State and Local Climate and
Energy Newsletter shares important state and local developments in climate change
and clean energy policies, programs, and opportunities. Expect to receive one email
message per week with new policy developments; information on new studies,
reports, and upcoming events; and funding announcements. Subscribe at
http://www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/newsletters/index.html.
Local Climate and Energy Webcasts. EPA hosts regular webcasts to help local
governments as they explore and plan climate change and clean energy efforts. The
webcasts highlight relevant EPA resources and share examples of successful local
climate and energy programs and policies: http://www.epa.gov/statelocalclimate/web-
podcasts/local-webcasts.html.
Climate Showcase Communities
1 City of Aiken, SC
1 Alameda County Waste Management
Authority, CA
1 City of Albuquerque, NM
1 City of Baltimore, MD
1 City of Bellingham, WA
1 City of Bremerton, WA
1 Town of Gary, NC
1 Township of Cherry Hill, NJ
1 Central New York Regional Planning &
Development Board, NY
1 City of Chicago, IL
1 Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma
1 City of Cincinnati, OH
1 City of Columbia, MO
1 City of Corvallis, OR
1 Delaware Valley Regional Planning
Commission, PA
City and County of Denver, CO
City of Dubuque, IA
City of Duluth, MN
Durham City-County, NC
City of ElCerrito, CA
City of Eugene, OR
Frederick County, MD
Gila River Indian Community, AZ
Town of Greenfield, MA
City of Hailey, ID
City and County of Honolulu, HI
City of Houston, TX
Humboldt Waste Management Authority, CA
James City County, VA
City of Keene, NH
Land of Sky Regional Planning Council, NC
La Plata County, CO
Lewis and Clark County, MT
City of Little Rock, AR
City of Madison, Wl
Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission, OH
Monroe County, NY
North Central Texas Council of
Governments, TX
Northern Cheyenne Tribe, MT
Sacramento County, CA
Salt Lake City, UT
Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, CA
City of Seattle, WA
Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, OR
City of Springfield, MA
Tanana Chiefs Conference, AK
Tompkins County, NY
West Chester Area School District, PA
City of Warwick, Rl
City of West Union, IA
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