Going Green: City of Phoenix Sustainability Update ACMA Winter Conference February 7, 2008 Carolyn F. Bristo Assistant Public Works Director City of Phoenix.

Going Green: City of Phoenix Sustainability Update

ACMA Winter Conference

February 7, 2008

Carolyn F. Bristo

Assistant Public Works Director

City of Phoenix

What is Sustainability?

Achieve continuing economic prosperity while protecting the natural systems of the planet and providing a high quality of life. (EPA)

Provides a framework to ensure that our actions today meet the needs of the present but do not compromise the ability of future generations to meet their needs.

Why is Sustainability Important?

U.S. – 5% of the world population– Uses 27% of the world’s oil– Limited oil reserves

1960-2000: World fossil fuel consumption rose by 700%

Need greener and renewable technologies

Sustainability Programs

Provide cost and energy savings Improve air quality Ensure long term water supplies Mitigate heat island effects Leverage natural assets (i.e., solar energy) and

support renewables Reduce City’s environmental footprint

Sustainability Task Force Mission

To highlight the City’s current environmental sustainability efforts, identify future trends, and discuss

options that hold greatest promise over the next five years.

Environmental Leadership

Land Use Parks & Open

Spaces Recycling &

Pollution Prevention Transportation

& Air Quality

Energy & Green Buildings Water Riparian Area Restoration

& Preservation Projects Historic Preservation

http://phoenix.gov/sustainability/index.html

Sustainability at City of Phoenix

Sustainability, Phoenix & Public Works

Recycling & Pollution Prevention Transportation & Air Quality Energy & Green Buildings

Recycling & Pollution Prevention– Green Waste Diversion– Recycling Marketing/ Education

Awareness up 40%, Improved quality of commodities

– Landfill Gas-to-Energy 1 contract signed, 1 pending

Sustainability, Phoenix & Public Works

Recycling & Pollution Prevention– Electronics Collection/ Recycling

44% increase from HHW collection – FY06 to date

– Integrated Pest Management (successful pilot) Insecticide down 99% at administration building Program expanding from 2 to 7 buildings

Sustainability, Phoenix & Public Works

Transportation & Air Quality– Carpooling– Green House Gas (GHG) Emission Inventory– Cleaner Vehicles (PWD Alt. Fuel Program since 1994)

1,531 bio-diesel 1,314 CNG 380-plus E85 flex fuel Successful hybrid pilot (8 in fleet)

Sustainability, Phoenix & Public Works

Energy & Green Buildings– LEED Buildings

2 LEED Certified, 5 in LEED Certification process 2006 Bond Program facilities built to basic LEED standards

Sustainability, Phoenix & Public Works

Fire Station 50 Desert Broom Library

Sustainability, Phoenix & Public Works

Energy & Green Buildings– Energy Management/ Conservation

Earth Hour 2008 (3/29) – Lights off 8 to 9 p.m.

– Energy Star purchases– SOLAR ENERGY

Phoenix—“Valley of the SUN” Earliest solar (PV) projects date back to 1990

– Infant technology ($$$) – Low load, “simple” projects– Initial educational & “demonstration” projects

Transit Canopies ‘90 Park Picnic/ Security ‘91 Preserve Restroom ‘95

Sustainability, Phoenix & Public Works

Monitored early PV projects into 2000s– Improved technology ($$)–better grasp of possibilities– Increased solar/ GREEN profile

Park-and-Ride ‘04 SW Transfer Station ‘07 Community Center ‘07

Sustainability, Phoenix & Public Works

Solar technology 2007 & beyond– Refined technology ($$)–Increased solar applications– Solar power “mainstream”, highest profile yet

Phoenix Convention Center West Building

– Improved funding & partnership opportunities for larger-scale projects

Third-party financing US Department of Energy

– Solar America Cities 2008 Grant application (Tucson 2007)

Sustainability, Phoenix & Public Works

Third-party financing RFQ (5 vendors selected) Why third-party financing?

– 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC)– Design, install, operate & maintain– City purchases power output– $/kWh (individual project basis)

Partnerships with Water & Aviation

Sustainability, Phoenix & Public Works

Solar America Cities 2008 Grant Application– $200,000 (50% match) to make solar energy price

competitive w/ conventional energy sources by 2015

Funding requested for following objectives:– Expand installed capacity & introduce large-scale solar

infrastructure – Overcome upfront financing barrier & introduce

alternative financing mechanism (3rd party financing)– Transcend knowledge/ awareness market barriers to

maximize opportunities for solar energy installations

Sustainability, Phoenix & Public Works

Arizona Corporation Commission – Renewable energy portfolio standard 15% by 2025

Phoenix Environmental Quality Commission– Support for solar & other renewable energies – Solar, landfill gas, digester gas

City’s renewable goals– 2.5% by FY2009-10– 5.0% by FY2014-15– 10% by FY2019-20– 15% by FY2024-25

Sustainability, Phoenix & Public Works

For more information, visit:

http://phoenix.gov/sustainability/index.html

[email protected]