Case Studies: New Initiatives
Cambridge, Massachusetts
The City of Cambridge has programs both old and new that are worthy of note. These include several successful transportation programs, including the Vehicle Trip Reduction Ordinance, which seeks to create a more livable community by reducing the use of single-occupancy vehicles and promoting bicycle use. The program has been a measurable success, increasing bicycle ridership by 112% between 2002 and 2008.
A new non-profit organization, the Cambridge Energy Alliance (CEA), is working to promote retrofits to residential, commercial and municipal buildings. CEA partners with energy service providers, lenders, and a local utility to provide the services and financing necessary to upgrade homes, commercial buildings, and city-owned buildings, and to install renewable and combined heat and power systems. CEA offers financing via loan options based on income level. The ultimate goal is to reduce the City of Cambridge's energy use by 10% on average and 15% of peak use over the next few years.
Elsewhere in Massachusetts, Pay-As-You-Throw (PAYT) programs have taken hold in a number of towns. Residents can only put out garbage in bags purchased from the town, while recycling is free. Ashland, Massachusetts, for example, has reduced garbage collection 38% while recycling increased 98%. ACEEE's report includes information on additional innovative materials conservation and recycling efforts.
Berkeley, California
In 2008, the City of Berkeley instituted the Berkeley FIRST initiative (Financing Initiative for Renewable and Sustainable Technology). The program works through a Clean Energy Municipal Financing plan, an innovative financing strategy that allows residential and commercial property owners to pay for the cost of installed energy-efficient equipment or solar thermal or photovoltaic systems over 20 years.
The costs show up on property tax bills, which then follow the sale of the property to its next owner. Although only in the pilot stage and working solely with solar technologies, eventually the program expects to cover a range of energy efficiency improvements. This inventive method to finance energy efficiency improvements is one that many cities could implement.
Babylon, New York
The City of Babylon's Long Island Green Homes Program appears to be a basic home retrofit program at first glance. The initiative, which provides direct financial support to participating residents, was made possible through a creative city action. By changing the solid waste code to include energy waste (as measured by carbon content), the city can now appropriate $2 million dollars from the solid-waste reserve fund to improve residential energy efficiency. More than 50 homeowners a month call the program seeking audits - the first step toward knowing how best to retrofit their homes.
Many cities and counties will soon receive stimulus funds to put new energy conservation strategies into action. For many communities, the EECBG funds will serve to enhance existing programs. For others, the ACEEE report offers examples of successful and innovative programs that can serve as models for new municipal initiatives across the country.
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