Savings for the City of Atlanta
By Cyrus Bhedwar
How much does the City of Atlanta spend on
elecricity? It is a simple question, really. However, for
the City of Atlanta, with over 660 accounts ranging from
a few hundred dollars a year for small park facilities to
more than $2.5 million annually for the R.M. Clayton Wastewater
Treatment Plant, keeping track of electricity bills is nearly
a full time job. A job that, until recently, hadn’t been
filled.
Now, thanks to a unique partnership among Southface,
the Department of Energy and the state energy office—Georgia
Environmental Facilities Authority (GEFA)—the City of Atlanta
knows a great deal about its energy use. After a year of
hard work, the City has put that knowledge to good use. By
the end of 2003, the City is expected to save $455,000. Changes
at City Hall alone will save $100,000 each year.
Just as impressive—through Southface’s unique
ability to collaborate with energy policymakers and the City’s
commitment to energy conservation, these savings were achieved
without spending a dime of City funds.
That should make Atlanta’s taxpayers
smile.
The City of Atlanta’s Energy Conservation Project
began in August 2002, when Council President Cathy Woolard
approached Southface to host an energy policy charrette—a
forum where local, state and national experts in energy policy
could express their thoughts about how the City of Atlanta
could develop a Sustainable Energy Policy. The charrette
produced a long list of ideas including energy conservation
opportunities in City facilities, private buildings and transportation.
While the words “energy savings” are commonplace
for Southface friends and followers, Council President Woolard
knew that she would have to demonstrate the value of the
Energy Conservation Project to City officials and constituents.
Astutely, she chose those initiatives that could be done
at no cost to the City. With the generous financial support
of DOE and GEFA, the City was able to complete a comprehensive
rate analysis of its 660-plus electricity accounts, conduct
facility audits of two major office buildings, implement
an employee energy conservation program and host a Green
Learning Fair.
And that’s just the beginning.
The City is currently developing Sustainable
Development Design Standards for all new City facilities,
based on the United States Green Building Council’s LEED™ Rating
System. New City facilities will incorporate energy efficient
technology, environmentally friendly design and renewable
energy sources. “When we build new facilities, we’re going
to build them with an eye towards energy savings, because
[the City’s annual energy bill of] $20 million is a huge
amount,” Council President Woolard explains. Woolard’s office
is also working with the Department of Procurement & Real
Estate to implement an ENERGY STAR® purchasing policy. All
City purchases, ranging from photocopiers to traffic signals,
will be top-ranked in energy efficiency.
Council President Woolard is also excited about
the potential for the City to become a leading producer of
renewable or “green” energy. By siting technologies such
as solar panels, fuel cells and microturbines throughout
municipal buildings, Woolard hopes to make the City an example
of sustainability for businesses and residents. By deploying
these technologies before population growth outstrips the
capacity of our electric grid, Atlanta can avoid a New York-sized
blackout (like the one in late Summer 2003), reduce air pollution
and serve as a role model for sustainable development in
the Southeast and in big cities across the country.
By the end of 2003, the City is expected to
save $455,000. Changes at City Hall East alone will save
$100,000 and 1.3 million kWh each year.
Until Southface became involved, the City of
Atlanta was spending about $21 million each year on electricity.
For more information keep tuned to www.southface.org and
www.cathyatlanta.com
Southface Staff Member Cyrus Bhedwar serves
as Research Assistant to Council President Cathy Woolard. |
