CLIMATE ACTION PLAN - City of Urbana

3.2
GOAL 1:
REDUCE EMISSIONS FROM BUILDING ENERGY CONSUMPTION
Action 2: Reduce emissions from residential sector building electricity
consumption.
Electricity use in the residential sector accounts for 18 percent of emissions in
Urbana. Phase I actions focus on renewable energy through Renewable Energy
Certificates (RECs).
Renewable Energy Certificates represent and convey the environmental and other
non-power attributes of one megawatt-hour of renewable electricity generation.
See page 46 for more information on RECs.
IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGIES
Renewable Energy:
1. Facilitate the use of Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) through municipal
electric aggregation. This alone can result in a major beneficial impact by
helping Urbana achieve 32% of its 2020 emissions reduction goal.
2. Work towards maintaining purchase of clean renewable energy through
municipal electric aggregation over a long-term horizon through discussions
with utility companies, the City of Champaign and the University of Illinois.
Energy Efficiency:
3. Create programs to encourage residents to retrofit existing
buildings and purchase energy star appliances.
Financial:
4. Identify additional sources of funding to leverage existing resources.
Information and Outreach:
5. Organize education programs, create an information platform and organize
site visits to completed projects in the community to highlight best practices and
facilitate access to existing sources of technical expertise in the community.
6. Identify specific barriers through focus groups and surveys in the local
community.
Existing Programs
• SEDAC maintains a comprehensive list of Energy Incentive opportunities at http://
smartenergy.arch.uiuc.edu/energy-incentives.html.
• Information regarding Illinois Residential Incentives can be found on the U.S. Department
of Energy’s database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency at https://www.
dsireusa.org.
IMPLEMENTATION PARTNERS
• City of Urbana
• City of Urbana
• City of Urbana, Smart Energy Design
Assistance Center (SEDAC), Ameren
Illinois, Illinois Sustainable Technology
Center (ISTC)
• City of Urbana
• City of Urbana, U.S. Green Building
Council Central Illinois Branch (USGBC-IL),
Champaign County Sustainability Network
(CCNet), Illinois Sustainable Technology
Center (ISTC)
• City of Urbana
Associated Advantages
1. Annual energy cost savings
2. Improved air quality and health
3. Green jobs
4. Increased demand for renewable
energy investment
• Energy efficiency incentives for private sector are available to customers through their
subscribed utility delivery provider.
City of Urbana
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