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 ------- 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. ------- 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. ------- &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 ------- |