This installment of the Local Government Leading blog series highlights the City of Orlando, Florida.
In addition to being a Better Buildings Challenge partner, Orlando was recently selected as a winner of Bloomberg Philanthropies’ American Cities Climate Challenge. Orlando was selected because of its innovative and ambitious sustainability initiative, Green Works Orlando, which includes a Municipal Operations Sustainability Plan and Community Action Plan. Green Works Orlando houses the programs and plans designed to achieve the city’s specific 2030 municipal goals and 2040 city-wide goals, which support the city’s overall goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 80% by 2050.
Transition more city fleet, including passenger vehicles and downtown buses, to electric.
Increase the use of EVs and alternative fuel vehicles throughout the city by 2040.
Through a separate, voluntary commitment to the Better Buildings Challenge, the City of Orlando also set a goal of a 20% energy use reduction across its 6.8 million square foot municipal portfolio by 2022. Since 2011, Orlando has improved energy performance by 10%, including both city buildings and energy intensive water and wastewater treatment facilities.
As part of the city’s participation in the Better Buildings Challenge, Orlando is undergoing $17.5M of energy efficiency upgrades in 56 city-owned buildings, which will save the city up to $2.5M per year in energy costs. The projects were funded in part by a Revolving Energy Fund (REF), which finances energy efficiency projects and revolves the cost savings back to the REF to fund future projects – all without ever using outside funding sources. The REF helped finance deep energy retrofits in 27 of these facilities that have since produced an average 31% efficiency improvement.
Through innovative programs and ambitious goal-setting, the City of Orlando continues to establish itself as a leader in sustainability and energy efficiency as it secures a healthier environment and economy for its citizens.
Be sure to check out our previous Local Government Leading installments featuring the City of Seattle, District of Columbia, City of Philadelphia, City of Los Angeles, City of Boston, City of San Diego, City of Pittsburgh, City of Chicago, City of Atlanta and City of Denver.