Energy Efficiency Sector: Commercial

~ Arizona

City-wide Energy Management

The City of Phoenix Energy Management Program (EMP) began in 1978 with the
underlying goal of eliminating inefficient energy use in government facilities in a
cost-effective manner. The program also aimed to promote renewable energy use,
provide leadership in the community, and raise awareness of energy use among
employees. Initial measures to reduce energy consumption were "no and low cost"
initiatives, such as the use of compact fluorescent lamps, and installing light
switches in individual offices rather than using master switches. In 1983, a Savings
Reinvestment Plan was adopted by the city to ensure future funding of the EMP.

The Plan requires that each year 50 percent of documented energy savings be
reinvested in additional energy efficiency improvements.

As a result of the establishment of the Savings Reinvestment Plan, the EMP had
money to spend on additional measures to improve energy efficiency. One
important activity was the development of a strategy to maximize energy efficiency, which involved 1) energy
audits of existing buildings and design advice for new construction, 2) installing/retrofitting the best and most
appropriate technology and equipment, 3) combining energy efficiency with ongoing maintenance, and 4)
promotion of state-of-the-art building management. Using the money from energy savings, the City of Phoenix
has implemented over 1000 energy efficiency projects.

Results:

The Energy Management Plan has resulted
in huge savings in electricity and natural
gas use, with 1978-94 cumulative electri-
city savings of 246,106 MWh, and cumula-
tive natural gas savings of 220,195 million
cubic feet (MCF). These electricity and
gas savings have resulted in the avoid-
ance of 101,301 metric tons (MT) of C02
emissions (or 27,655 MTCE*), For 1993-94, the EMP accounted for annual reductions of 36,769 MWh electricity,
32,898 MCF natural gas, and an estimated 15,195 MT of C02 (or 4,150 MTCE*). Additionally, the energy savings
accounted for a reduction of approximately 65 MT of NOx and 136 MT of S02.** The electricity and gas savings
also result in huge cost savings to the city. Annual energy costs have been reduced by about 10 percent,
equivalent to an estimated $4 million dollars per year. One particularly successful measure is the overall lighting
improvements, which alone are projected to account for $4 million in savings over the first ten years.

Principal Actors:

The Energy Management Program was begun by the City of Phoenix in cooperation with the Arizona State Energy
Office, using grants from the federal Department of Energy. The Urban Consortium's Energy Task Force also
provided funds for pilot projects.

Additional Information:

Dimitrios J. Laloudakis, Public Works Department, Energy/Facilities Management Division, 602-495-5826; Lera
Riley, City of Phoenix, 602-256-5600. Additional information on this case study is available from the Climate
Institute a http://wwvj.climate.org/proarams/cities/sec3/Phoenix.html

This case study is based on information from the Climate Institute.

* MTCE = Metric Tons of Carbon Equivalent. Annual emissions for 1993-94 were estimated by taking 15% of the 1978-94
cumulative total emission reductions. 1993-94 electricity and natural gas savings represented 15% of the 1978-94 cumulative.

** The following conversion factors were applied to the original data: 1.77 MT NOx / GWh and 3.69 MT S02 / GWh, MT =
metric tons.

Energy
Savings

Cost
Benefits

Greenhouse Gas
Reductions

36,769 MWh/yr
32,898 MCF/yr

(1993-94 electricity
and natural gas)

$4,000,000/yr

(city electricity and
natural gas savings)

4,150 MTCE*/yr

(1993-94)


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