For anyone interested in the new Office of Sustainability's Performance Measures:
DESCRIPTION
Our citizens have come to expect the City of Knoxville to be a good steward of federal and local tax dollars and to provide sustainable amenities such as recycling, bike lanes, greenways, and proactive zoning. The initial hurdle of showing sustainability as a means of reducing inefficiencies, avoiding costs and improving health, rather than an expensive diminishing of individual rights, has largely been overcome. The time is right to build on the federal financial foundation and embed the program as a way the City operates.
The City evaluates performance by department and individual; however, pay or funding is not tied to performance. The Office of Sustainability will continue to track and perform as if our salaries depend on it, and will evaluate office and staff roles and performance annually to insure we are the best we can be and growing in effectiveness and efficiency.
In 2009, we were established as DOE-funded staff with granted capital for established project funding. In 2010, we established our office as a top DOE performer. In 2011, we established our office as a national leader. In 2012, we were established and recognized as an office with official salaried City staff, with project funding to be obtained through an innovative financing portfolio.
GOAL STATEMENT
The goal of the Office of Sustainability is to grow economic prosperity through environmental and social responsibility.
OBJECTIVES
To excel both locally and nationally as outlined in the City’s Energy and Sustainability Work Plan and as opportunities arise, in the following categories:
1.) Community Involvement – citizen input and city accountability
2.) Energy – efficiency and renewable energy for all sectors
3.) Goods and Services – responsible purchasing, waste avoidance, and city land management
4.) Infrastructure – making complete streets a priority in retrofits and new construction
5.) Sustainable Growth – ensuring our policies enable sustainable best practices
6.) Transportation – fostering commuting options that suit our community dynamics
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1.) Community Involvement – citizen input and city accountability
a.) Publically vetted, created, and distributed the Energy and Sustainability Work Plan; and began implementation of 12 new activities for 2012
b.) Completed public campaigns for the recycling and green building incentive programs
c.) Gave 47 presentations to classes, community groups, state and national audiences
d.) Coordinated 25 workshops and 2 solar tours / fairs to educate 1,163 on solar viability
e.) Developed a Citizen’s How-To Guide for Sustainability (posted online)
2.) Energy – efficiency and renewable energy for all sectors
a.) Completed the Solar America Cities grant on time and in budget: solar capacity in Knoxville/Knox Co. grew from 30 kilowatts (kW) to over 1 megawatt (1,000 kW)
b.) Continued energy data collection partnerships with ORNL and KUB to obtain and use spatial data for energy consumption monitoring
c.) Installed 5 city-owned Solar PV systems for a total of almost 150 kW
d.) Completed all 7 activities in the Department of Energy’s Conservation Block Grant on time, in budget, and cited as a national leader in energy best practice by DOE
f.) Energy retrofits from Ameresco / Energy Savings Performance Contract Phase I completed, measuring results and prepping Phase II
g.) Selected as a Department Of Energy Better Buildings Challenge Partner/City
3.) Goods and Services – responsible purchasing, waste avoidance, and city land management
a.) Reached initial goal of 20,000 in recycling program participants, averaging 673 tons / month diverted waste (including downtown and drop off centers)
b.) Continued to push community garden legislation and programming (for 2013 season)
c.) Started recycling in some parks as budget allows, and at special events
d.) Completed an Employee Purchasing Guide
e.) Developed and rolled out a City Disposables Policy
f.) Recycling Services Contractual Framework developed for joint purchasing
g.) Established permanent downtown recycling for residents
4.) Infrastructure – making complete streets a priority in retrofits and new construction
a.) Installed 14 non-solar and 10 solar charging stations through the EV project
b.) In the process of modifying ordinances to legalize Car sharing program
5.) Sustainable Growth – ensuring our policies enable sustainable best practice
a.) Collaborated with National Academies on sustainability guide: US EPA Green Book
b.) Collaborated with Environmental Law Institute on book Acting as if Tomorrow Matters
c.) In the process of updating Energy Code to 2012 and State standard
d.) Co-founded the Southeast Sustainability Network
6.) Transportation – fostering commuting options that suit our community dynamics
a.) Partnered with TPO on a car sharing program for 2013 program start
b.) Designated part of a city employee’s time to bicycle commuting in ROW
c.) Developed and rolled out new No-Idling Policy with Director enforcement
d.) Developed and rolled out Green Fleet Policy with Fleet Department
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Better Buildings Challenge
At a July 11, 2012 event celebrating the installation of solar panels on the Knoxville Convention Center, Mayor Madeline Rogero announced the city of Knoxville's participation in the U.S. Department of Energy's Better Buildings Challenge.
Knoxville is the first city in Tennessee to join the challenge, Rogero said. Also in Tennessee, Nissan North America has joined the challenge as an industrial partner. It has committed three plants to a goal of 25 percent improvement, including its new paint plant in Smyrna, Tenn.
The program asks community leaders -- including those in corporate, government and education positions -- to reduce their portfolio-wide energy use by 20 percent by 2020 and showcase the solutions they use and the results they achieve.
"By accepting the Better Buildings Challenge, Knoxville is leading by example," said Susanna Sutherland, manager of the City's Office of Sustainability. "This is an important step toward a sustainable future for the City and the region."
The city's goal under the program is to improve energy efficiency in more than 2 million square feet of its public buildings by 2020. City Council approved the City's participation in the program last month.
Another key part of the project involves sharing implementation successes and challenges with the community. Knoxville is already working on energy efficiency as part of its contract with energy-services company Ameresco. The company develped an energy efficiency plan for 99 of the city's public buildings and other facilities, including the installation of the convention center's solar array.
Knoxville is the first city in Tennessee to join the challenge, Rogero said. Also in Tennessee, Nissan North America has joined the challenge as an industrial partner. It has committed three plants to a goal of 25 percent improvement, including its new paint plant in Smyrna, Tenn.
The program asks community leaders -- including those in corporate, government and education positions -- to reduce their portfolio-wide energy use by 20 percent by 2020 and showcase the solutions they use and the results they achieve.
"By accepting the Better Buildings Challenge, Knoxville is leading by example," said Susanna Sutherland, manager of the City's Office of Sustainability. "This is an important step toward a sustainable future for the City and the region."
The city's goal under the program is to improve energy efficiency in more than 2 million square feet of its public buildings by 2020. City Council approved the City's participation in the program last month.
Another key part of the project involves sharing implementation successes and challenges with the community. Knoxville is already working on energy efficiency as part of its contract with energy-services company Ameresco. The company develped an energy efficiency plan for 99 of the city's public buildings and other facilities, including the installation of the convention center's solar array.
Friday, March 30, 2012
Earth Hour 2012 and General Savings Update
The City is pleased to partner with the University of Tennessee to participate in Earth Hour 2012. We are turning off all of the lights on floors 1-6 of the City County Building and the decorative lights on the cascade at World’s Fair Park along Cumberland Ave. from 8:30-9:30 on Saturday March 31st (Earth Hour).
The University of Tennessee will be turning off lights at Ayres Hall and Pendergrass Library. They are also working with students in the dormitories to turn individual room lights off during this time.
Independent of Earth Hour activities, the City of Knoxville has an energy savings performance contract with Ameresco. The contract is a $19 million, 13 year contract to upgrade 99 of the city’s buildings and most of the city’s parks and parking lots. The City will save at least $1.1 million annually for the next thirteen years. Because of this contract, for which construction is almost complete, the City will conserve 11.8 million kilowatt hours, 59,950 therms of natural gas, and 54 million gallons of water each and every year.
In addition to the Ameresco contract, the City has upgraded HVAC systems at 12 fire stations, recycled over 4,000 tons of curbside waste since September, 2011, and installed nearly 125 kW of solar energy.
The City is a participant in the EV Project and will be installating nearly 30 electric vehicle charging stations and two more solar arrays. Our Green Rebate Incentive Program provided rebates to home, business and non-profit owners who purchased energy star appliances or installed solar on their facilities. That program finishes April 2. Our focus this year lies in policy changes at the city-level and upgrading the building codes.
We are proud to be a participant in this year’s Earth Hour and are looking forward to another year of reducing our City’s energy use and improving livability.
The University of Tennessee will be turning off lights at Ayres Hall and Pendergrass Library. They are also working with students in the dormitories to turn individual room lights off during this time.
Independent of Earth Hour activities, the City of Knoxville has an energy savings performance contract with Ameresco. The contract is a $19 million, 13 year contract to upgrade 99 of the city’s buildings and most of the city’s parks and parking lots. The City will save at least $1.1 million annually for the next thirteen years. Because of this contract, for which construction is almost complete, the City will conserve 11.8 million kilowatt hours, 59,950 therms of natural gas, and 54 million gallons of water each and every year.
In addition to the Ameresco contract, the City has upgraded HVAC systems at 12 fire stations, recycled over 4,000 tons of curbside waste since September, 2011, and installed nearly 125 kW of solar energy.
The City is a participant in the EV Project and will be installating nearly 30 electric vehicle charging stations and two more solar arrays. Our Green Rebate Incentive Program provided rebates to home, business and non-profit owners who purchased energy star appliances or installed solar on their facilities. That program finishes April 2. Our focus this year lies in policy changes at the city-level and upgrading the building codes.
We are proud to be a participant in this year’s Earth Hour and are looking forward to another year of reducing our City’s energy use and improving livability.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
2012 Update
All,
Happy 2012! During the elections of late 2011, we focused attention on the last items in our federal grants, on building a Southeastern City Sustainability Network, and on Work Plan items not requiring funds. Just wanted to give you a brief hello and some updates:
- Our Appliance and Solar Rebate Program still has over $100,000 left. If you live in City limits and haven't considered applying, please do as we need to spend this grant by July;
- We are 70% complete with our DOE funded activities, with only the rebate program and solar installation remaining;
- The design phase for the 90 kW third party financed system is wrapping up and goes on the Convention Center roof this spring;
- The City's Energy Performance Contract is 100% complete with construction as of this month, and is moving into the measurement and verification stage;
- The electric vehicle contracts (10 solar powered stations with ORNL and up to 38 non-solar charging stations with ECOtality) have both been executed and are awaiting notice to proceed from each entity;
- Zipcar was deemed most qualified in the bidding process for the car share program, and that contract is being negotiated currently by TPO, UTK, and the City;
- The single stream curbside recycling program hit the initial goal of 20,000 participants, and over 2,200 tons were recycled in the first 3 months of that program;
- With the State of TN, the TN Solar Institute, Memphis, and Nashville, we applied for and received the DOE SunShot Grant, which builds on efforts from the Solar America Cities grant of 2009;
- We applied for the 2012 Siemens Sustainable Community award, and are applying for a 2012 Urban Sustainability Directors Network Innovation Grant to explore funding mechanisms with partner cities;
- We have partnered with UTK on a 2012 NSF grant application to develop solar fiber technology; and
- We plan to apply for the new TDEC grants, which are due March 30th and open to all sectors for energy related projects up to $250,000.
Also of note:
- PlanET's next meeting is Feb. 2nd at 10 AM at the East TN History Center
- LightWave Solar is hiring for a consulting position in middle TN
Happy 2012! During the elections of late 2011, we focused attention on the last items in our federal grants, on building a Southeastern City Sustainability Network, and on Work Plan items not requiring funds. Just wanted to give you a brief hello and some updates:
- Our Appliance and Solar Rebate Program still has over $100,000 left. If you live in City limits and haven't considered applying, please do as we need to spend this grant by July;
- We are 70% complete with our DOE funded activities, with only the rebate program and solar installation remaining;
- The design phase for the 90 kW third party financed system is wrapping up and goes on the Convention Center roof this spring;
- The City's Energy Performance Contract is 100% complete with construction as of this month, and is moving into the measurement and verification stage;
- The electric vehicle contracts (10 solar powered stations with ORNL and up to 38 non-solar charging stations with ECOtality) have both been executed and are awaiting notice to proceed from each entity;
- Zipcar was deemed most qualified in the bidding process for the car share program, and that contract is being negotiated currently by TPO, UTK, and the City;
- The single stream curbside recycling program hit the initial goal of 20,000 participants, and over 2,200 tons were recycled in the first 3 months of that program;
- With the State of TN, the TN Solar Institute, Memphis, and Nashville, we applied for and received the DOE SunShot Grant, which builds on efforts from the Solar America Cities grant of 2009;
- We applied for the 2012 Siemens Sustainable Community award, and are applying for a 2012 Urban Sustainability Directors Network Innovation Grant to explore funding mechanisms with partner cities;
- We have partnered with UTK on a 2012 NSF grant application to develop solar fiber technology; and
- We plan to apply for the new TDEC grants, which are due March 30th and open to all sectors for energy related projects up to $250,000.
Also of note:
- PlanET's next meeting is Feb. 2nd at 10 AM at the East TN History Center
- LightWave Solar is hiring for a consulting position in middle TN
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Knoxville Wins DOE Solar Rooftop Challenge Award with Nashville and Memphis
As part of the U.S. Department of Energy's SunShot Initiative, today Energy Secretary Steven Chu was joined by Lynn Jurich, the president and co-founder of the solar power company SunRun, and Saint Paul Mayor Chris Coleman to announce $12 million in funding for the awardees of the Rooftop Solar Challenge. The Challenge supports 22 regional teams to spur solar power deployment by cutting red tape—streamlining and standardizing permitting, zoning, metering, and connection processes—and improving finance options to reduce barriers and lower costs for residential and small commercial rooftop solar systems. This project is part of the Department's larger effort to make solar energy more accessible and affordable, increase domestic solar deployment, and position the United States as a leader in the rapidly-growing global solar market.
"Through this competition, the Energy Department is helping to unleash America's solar potential by investing in projects that will make it faster, easier, and cheaper to finance and deploy solar power in communities across the country," said Secretary Chu. "These awards will reduce the cost homeowners and businesses pay to install solar energy systems, while at the same time saving money and time for local governments faced with tight budgets."
The DOE SunShot Initiative is a collaborative national effort to make solar cost-competitive with other forms of energy by the end of the decade. Reducing the installed cost of solar energy systems by about 75% will drive widespread large-scale adoption of solar—fortifying U.S. leadership in the global clean energy race while spurring new industries and job creation across the nation.
Non-hardware, or "soft," costs like permitting, installation, design, and maintenance currently account for up to 40% of the total cost of installed rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems in the United States. Across the nation today, there are more than 18,000 local jurisdictions with their own PV permitting requirements, land use codes and zoning ordinances; more than 5,000 utilities that are implementing standards for connecting and selling energy back to the energy grid; and all 50 states are developing their own connection standards and processes for supplying and pricing energy sold back to the grid. According to a report released earlier this year by SunRun, local permitting and inspection processes alone add about $0.50 per watt, or $2,500 per residential installation nation-wide.
Using a "race to the top" model, the Rooftop Solar Challenge incentivizes the regional awardees to address the differing and expensive permitting, zoning, metering, and connection processes required to install and finance residential and small business solar systems. The 22 diverse teams bring together city, county, and state officials, regulatory entities, private industry, universities, local utilities, and other regional stakeholders to clear a path for rapid expansion of solar energy and serve as models for other communities across the country.
The teams will implement step-by-step actions to standardize permit processes, update planning and zoning codes, improve standards for connecting solar power to the electric grid and increase access to financing.
FULL LIST OF AWARDS
"Through this competition, the Energy Department is helping to unleash America's solar potential by investing in projects that will make it faster, easier, and cheaper to finance and deploy solar power in communities across the country," said Secretary Chu. "These awards will reduce the cost homeowners and businesses pay to install solar energy systems, while at the same time saving money and time for local governments faced with tight budgets."
The DOE SunShot Initiative is a collaborative national effort to make solar cost-competitive with other forms of energy by the end of the decade. Reducing the installed cost of solar energy systems by about 75% will drive widespread large-scale adoption of solar—fortifying U.S. leadership in the global clean energy race while spurring new industries and job creation across the nation.
Non-hardware, or "soft," costs like permitting, installation, design, and maintenance currently account for up to 40% of the total cost of installed rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems in the United States. Across the nation today, there are more than 18,000 local jurisdictions with their own PV permitting requirements, land use codes and zoning ordinances; more than 5,000 utilities that are implementing standards for connecting and selling energy back to the energy grid; and all 50 states are developing their own connection standards and processes for supplying and pricing energy sold back to the grid. According to a report released earlier this year by SunRun, local permitting and inspection processes alone add about $0.50 per watt, or $2,500 per residential installation nation-wide.
Using a "race to the top" model, the Rooftop Solar Challenge incentivizes the regional awardees to address the differing and expensive permitting, zoning, metering, and connection processes required to install and finance residential and small business solar systems. The 22 diverse teams bring together city, county, and state officials, regulatory entities, private industry, universities, local utilities, and other regional stakeholders to clear a path for rapid expansion of solar energy and serve as models for other communities across the country.
The teams will implement step-by-step actions to standardize permit processes, update planning and zoning codes, improve standards for connecting solar power to the electric grid and increase access to financing.
FULL LIST OF AWARDS
Monday, October 24, 2011
2011 ACEE Scorecard and Fall Events
The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy ranked Tennessee in the top 6 most improved states in the nation.
Also, Beadsley Farm's Fall SkillShare is Oct 29th, and Raise the Roots is Nov 7th. They are having a photo show at the Tomato Head in November, then in Maryville in December!
“Growing Healthy Communities: A Closer Look at CAC Beardsley Farm,” a photographic exhibit on display at The Tomato Head in Knoxville throughout the month of November. All photographs were taken by CAC Beardsley Community Farm staff and depict various aspects of the urban demonstration site. Prints on display were generously provided by Thompson Photo of Knoxville, TN. Additional prints of the artwork are available upon request; please contact beardsleyfarm@gmail.com for pricing and more information. The photographic exhibit will occur in conjunction with Raise the Roots benefit dinner at The Tomato Head on November 7th. For tickets and information, please see beardsleyfarm.org. All proceeds from the dinner and print sales go to benefit CAC Beardsley Community Farm. CAC Beardsley Community Farm has promoted food security and sustainable urban agriculture through practice, education, and community outreach for 13 years. Beardsley’s efforts include a large urban demonstration garden that generates produce donations for those in need, a community garden, and education programs through workshops and school field trips to the farm site.
The exhibit will also be on display at The Tomato Head in Maryville during the month of December.
Also, Beadsley Farm's Fall SkillShare is Oct 29th, and Raise the Roots is Nov 7th. They are having a photo show at the Tomato Head in November, then in Maryville in December!
“Growing Healthy Communities: A Closer Look at CAC Beardsley Farm,” a photographic exhibit on display at The Tomato Head in Knoxville throughout the month of November. All photographs were taken by CAC Beardsley Community Farm staff and depict various aspects of the urban demonstration site. Prints on display were generously provided by Thompson Photo of Knoxville, TN. Additional prints of the artwork are available upon request; please contact beardsleyfarm@gmail.com for pricing and more information. The photographic exhibit will occur in conjunction with Raise the Roots benefit dinner at The Tomato Head on November 7th. For tickets and information, please see beardsleyfarm.org. All proceeds from the dinner and print sales go to benefit CAC Beardsley Community Farm. CAC Beardsley Community Farm has promoted food security and sustainable urban agriculture through practice, education, and community outreach for 13 years. Beardsley’s efforts include a large urban demonstration garden that generates produce donations for those in need, a community garden, and education programs through workshops and school field trips to the farm site.
The exhibit will also be on display at The Tomato Head in Maryville during the month of December.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Fall Events from Beardsley Community Farm
Saturday Work Day
Saturday, October 8 from 9 AM - 12 PM at CAC Beardsley Community Farm
We will have a open volunteer work day on October 8th. Come learn about Beardsley Community Farm and urban gardening while helping us prepare the farm for winter. We depend upon community support and love to see new and old faces at the farm. As always, the whole family is welcome. Please wear closed-toed shoes and be ready to get dirty!
____________________
Fall SkillShare
Saturday, October 29 from 10 AM - 4 PM at CAC Beardsley Community Farm
We are proud to announce our first SkillShare event this coming month. SkillShare will be a day of workshops that cover a wide range of agricultural topics, such as vermicomposting, cold weather gardening, and wild foraging. The final schedule will be ready soon so please stay tuned for more information.
____________________
Raise the Roots
Monday, November 7 from 6 PM - 9 PM at The Tomato Head
Join us for our second annual Raise the Roots dinner at The Tomato Head. Food will be locally-sourced and prepared by owner Mahasti Vafaie, Tomato Head Staff, and the Beardsley Farm team. Guests will have an opportunity to learn about CAC Beardsley Community Farm, meet farm volunteers, and share their experiences gardening and cooking in Knoxville and East Tennessee. All are welcome. Tickets are $30 for adults, $10 for children, and $100 for a table of four. They can be purchased here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/200875
Saturday, October 8 from 9 AM - 12 PM at CAC Beardsley Community Farm
We will have a open volunteer work day on October 8th. Come learn about Beardsley Community Farm and urban gardening while helping us prepare the farm for winter. We depend upon community support and love to see new and old faces at the farm. As always, the whole family is welcome. Please wear closed-toed shoes and be ready to get dirty!
____________________
Fall SkillShare
Saturday, October 29 from 10 AM - 4 PM at CAC Beardsley Community Farm
We are proud to announce our first SkillShare event this coming month. SkillShare will be a day of workshops that cover a wide range of agricultural topics, such as vermicomposting, cold weather gardening, and wild foraging. The final schedule will be ready soon so please stay tuned for more information.
____________________
Raise the Roots
Monday, November 7 from 6 PM - 9 PM at The Tomato Head
Join us for our second annual Raise the Roots dinner at The Tomato Head. Food will be locally-sourced and prepared by owner Mahasti Vafaie, Tomato Head Staff, and the Beardsley Farm team. Guests will have an opportunity to learn about CAC Beardsley Community Farm, meet farm volunteers, and share their experiences gardening and cooking in Knoxville and East Tennessee. All are welcome. Tickets are $30 for adults, $10 for children, and $100 for a table of four. They can be purchased here: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/200875
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