Syracuse
Sector: Municipal Government
Population:
> 147,306
TARGETS
> Syracuse municipal government set a goal of reducing its own CO2e emissions (Scope 1 and 2) from 20% below 2000 levels by 2010.
Achievements
> Combined, Syracuse’s energy management initiatives have reduced city GHG emissions by approximately 11,000 metric tonnes annually.
> A 20% reduction in energy use for city operations from 2000 to 2006.
Benefits
> The city has saved money through a 20% reduction in energy use.
Low Carbon Solutions
Background
The City of Syracuse began combating climate change in an effort to reduce city energy costs and evolved its efforts into a focus on environmental stewardship.
Syracuse’s efforts to tackle GHG emissions started with energy efficiency and have come to encompass land use planning, building infrastructure, transportation and soon, a carbon neutral energy generating facility. The city is not only a leading GHG emission reducer in New York State, but nationally and internationally.
Energy Efficiency
To meet its goal of reducing CO2e emissions 20% below 2000 levels by 2010, the city has been active in replacing inefficient mercury vapour street lighting and 10,050 incandescent traffic signals with LEDs; retrofitting municipal buildings with energy-efficient equipment; and performing comprehensive energy audits on major City facilities.
Management Systems
Syracuse has implemented a city-wide energy management system to monitor and control energy use. The Energy Coordinator post is in constant contact with the city departments working on many different initiatives to reduce energy use.
Partnerships
Much of Syracuse’s advancement on climate change is possible because the city makes use of creative financing mechanisms like ICLEI grants and the numerous consulting firms that offer municipalities energy audits for a small percentage fee of the cost savings. This tool has allowed Syracuse to analyse all of its operations and reduce energy use while saving money.
Renewable Energy
Syracuse now powers City Hall, the city ice-skating rink, part of the airport and school buildings with a mix of renewable energy. The city’s new carbon neutral energy generation facility will utilise an old industrial site to produce the 10MW of electricity required by the city government. This will then be sold back to the energy grid and allow the city to pay a fixed price for electricity, providing significant energy savings.
Sustainable Buildings
The Common Council passed a resolution that requires all renovated buildings to be LEED certified.