Energy Usage Of The Annapolis City Government

To improve upon these figures, Resolution 20140410-024 was supported in 2015 with Austin’s community climate plan “Net-Zero.” Spearheaded by the Community Climate Steering Committee, “Net-Zero” lays the framework for both the local government and community to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to near zero. Up to this point all city owned buildings and facilities are 100% reliant on renewable energies such as solar and wind energy. Pending projects will increase solar energy by 149 MW and wind energy by 400 MW. Figure shows Austin’s energy generation goals achieved by 2020.

Author Lawrence M. Ling is a Project Pull Mentor’s Assistant in the Policy and Government Affairs Team of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. He is an undergraduate student at the University of California: Los Angeles who majors in Political Science, and he strongly believes that CleanPowerSF is the best solution to the growing trend of global warming.

The city’s top three energy goals include increasing overall city energy efficiency by 5%, city building energy efficiency by 10%, and the renewable energy usage by 20 megawatts (City of Chicago, 2015a). Further, since 71% of carbon emissions come from the energy used by buildings in the city (City of Chicago, 2015a), it is unsurprising that government has taken notice. As stated by the City of Chicago (2015a), a goal has been set to increase renewable energy use 25% by the year 2026. Reductions in carbon emissions are not only beneficial in terms of energy efficiency, but they also reduce harm to the environment that can lead to climate change (City of Chicago, 2015a). It is also important to note that increasing energy efficiency can include building new, costly infrastructure that will pay off long-term, or can be as easy as replacing all street lights with energy efficient bulbs. In fact, updating street light energy efficiency is such a simple and cost-effective energy usage reduction tactic, it used in many of the cities we have studied this semester, such as Portland (Bureau of Planning and Sustainability, 2011). It is evident that the City of Chicago (2015a) believes that no sustainable effort is insignificant.

Pursuant to energy efficiency policies, controversy swirls as climate changes are experienced in the U.S. and around the globe. When energy efficiency steps are put into place, economic outlooks turn positive. Obama’s policymaking in this arena makes “critical investments in advanced vehicle and fuel technologies, public transit, and high speed rail” (United Press International). With new fuel efficiency standards that will improve fuel economy by 2025, and other initiatives that he enacted, “12 billion barrels of oil will be saved and American consumers will save $1.7 trillion at the pump, and greenhouse gas emission standards for commercial trucks, vans, and buses for are projected to save over 500 million barrels of oil and save vehicle owners and operators an estimated $50 billion in fuel costs” (United Press

As technology increases through massive changes it becomes apparent that the individual user must also make changes that are environmentally safe. Green IT, also known as Green Computing, is the movement towards a more environmentally friendly and cost-effective use of power and production in technology. The crux of Green IT is to double or triple the bottom line investment costs by converting existing structures and systems to this more conservative mode of operation in green computing (eweek.com, 2012). The greening of information technology (IT) offers numerous ways for companies to

The environment is important to protect considering that people live and breathe in the atmosphere it provides. Investing time in activities that protect the environment hasn’t always been a priority, but as greenhouse gas emissions, the use of energy, and other harmful impacts on the environment increased, individuals began to speak up on what should be done. As the world’s population continues to grow exponentially, the impacts society produces will in turn continue to increase unless something is done about it. Although the idea of an environmentally sustainable community has remained on the minds of the concerned public throughout the past decade, as companies and universities became more invested in the idea, new ways of taking action and implementing policies were developed and pursued.

I have always admired my Grandfather, Harold Miller who, for as long as I can remember has taught me the meaning of environmental sustainability. He played an active role in establishing the electric vehicle car program across North Carolina. His goal of educating students and improving the environment was fulfilled by establishing an electric vehicle program in high school. He did so because he believed that the younger generation needed to be shown an alternative way of transportation before the environment is irrevocably destroyed. The book Electric Dreams, details the story about Harold and Douglas Miller (my father) and how they made a difference. It show-cases how a determined group can make a positive impact on the environment

To obtain the goal of becoming a low carbon city by 2050 will require long-term changes and increased cooperation and collaboration between the city’s government, businesses, community organizations, and

The Action Plan contains some excellent proposals, which is supposed to, eventually, reduce Ontario's emissions. For example, the ECO supports the Action Plan's proposed Investments In low-carbon transportation and in clean technology innovations. The proposed green bank (now called the Low Carbon Solutions Deployment Corporation) should help individuals and businesses to improve energy efficiency in buildings, and be a helpful intermediary between building owners/operators and energy efficiency service providers.

For example, the government claimed that using Greenhouse Gas Reduction Account funds to subsidize electricity prices would produce 3 Mt in emission reductions. We found no evidence to support this claim and concluded that subsidizing electricity rates is not an acceptable use of these funds. Fortunately, the government is no longer proposing to divert Greenhouse Gas Reduction Account funds in this way.

In July 2017, “Toronto City Council unanimously approved City’s long-term path to reduce city-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80% by 2050”. A performance goal of 20% per capita GHG emissions reduction by 2035 from 2014 levels was put into effect, based on feasible energy saving opportunities at each facility. Initiatives used to achieve this goal include reducing energy consumption (electricity and natural gas) and increasing the use of renewable energy.

To obtain the goal of becoming a low carbon city by 2050 will require long-term changes and increased cooperation and collaboration between the city’s government, businesses, community organizations, and citizens (Citizens’ Panel on Edmonton’s Energy and Climate changes, 2013, pg. 14). From a local government perspective, there are

The University of Montana's carbon neutrality goal by 2020 is fast approaching. The purpose of our class project is to help the university discover potential ways to move towards its goals at a more accelerated pace. Since our campus is a large establishment naturally we have a large carbon-footprint as well as a larger consumption of energy. As it stands, the general campus is somewhat concerned with the sustainability goals of the university. However the primary concern is within the environmental related departments.

6: Increases in energy efficiency do not necessarily lead to decreases in energy use or CO2 emissions.

Virginia Beach, Virginia is making strides toward cleaner energy production, despite the threat of a coal-fired power plant. Coal-fired power plants, such as the Cypress Creek Power Station intended to be built in Surry County, Virginia, are environmentally harmful yet most cities are continuing to depend on them for a reliable and steady output of energy. This local environmental issue is a dilemma that many cities throughout the world are also experiencing. My study demonstrates how cities faced with these predicaments can find practical solutions for providing energy while being environmentally friendly. Scientific research along with the analysis of two scholarly articles explain the threats of coal-fired power plants on humans’ health and the environment as well as the advantages and disadvantages of practical solutions. Based upon proven facts and research, I have provided my opinion that Virginia Beach’s offshore wind farm solution is a suitable choice for that specific geographic region. What is not a suitable solution is the natural gas-fueled power plant that is currently in the process of being constructed. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to providing energy.