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8A Paae 23 Cool CITIES/i~8Y Energy Efficiency Solutions Energy efficiency means using less energy through better technology to power buildings, light streets, and industry. Reducing energy use is one of the most cost-effective and fastest ways to save energy and reduce global warming pollution. Every city can make substantial energy effi- ciency improvements by purring policies in place to promote efEcient technologies and integrating them into planning decisions. The policies outlined below represent some of the most effective steps currently being taken on the city and local level. Solution #1-Making New Buildings More Energy Efficient Incorporating energy efficiency requirements into municipal building codes increases the overall energy efficiency of new buildings. Many cities have chosen to adopt the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards created by the United States Green Building Council (usgbc.org). LEED standards provide energy efficient design guidelines for a variety of building types and developments. Solution #2-Energy Efficiency Retrofits to Existing Buiidings In addition to improving the energy effi- ciency of new buildings, cities can make sub- stantia! energy efficiency improvements to existing buildings. Modernizing lighting, heat- ing, cooling, and other operations can reduce the energy requirements of existing buildings in a cost-effective manner, lowering energy costs and reducing pollution. The U.S. Green Building Council has also developed LEED standards for existing buildings. The standards pro- vide guidance on improving the energy efficiency of building operations and other systems without making major changes to the interior and exterior of the build- ing. Cities around the country have made major strides in improving the energy efficiency of police and fire sta- tions, city office buildings, and schools. Solution #3-Energy Efficient Street lighting Street lighting and traffic signals can use 2 significant amount of energy. By replacing traditional light fIxtures with super-efficient light emitting diode (LED) bulbs, cities are reaping energy and cost savings. Solution #4-Public Benefit Funds Cities with community-owned, local municipal utili- ties can integrate energy efficiency into the city's overall energy plan. If your city has a municipal utility, it can set up a local Public Benefits Fund (PBF), where a small surcharge on consumer energy bills is used to create a fund to finance energy efficiency projects in the utility service area, thus lowering the overall energy costs for consumers. Austin Energy (austinenergy.com) and the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (smud.org) are examples of municipal utilities that have used public benefic funds to lower energy use and COStS through energy efficiency. Solution #5-Combined Heat and Power Cities and businesses can also benefit from energy efficient combined heat and power (CHP) systems. These systems produce both electricity and steam for heating and cooling from a single power plant located near consumers. As a result, CHP systems recover heat that is normally wasted at power plants and funnel the heat into surrounding buildings. This reduces energy costS and lowers pollution by eliminating the need for separate fuel sources for electricity and heating.