CLARK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA ITEM
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Petitioner: |
Lisa Kremer, Director of Real Property Management |
Recommendation:
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Approve participation in the U.S. Department of Energy's Better Climate Challenge. (For possible action)
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FISCAL IMPACT:
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N/A |
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Funded PGM/Grant: |
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Additional Comments: |
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BACKGROUND:
In July 2012, the Board of County Commissioners approved Real Property Management's (RPM) request for participation in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Business Challenge (BBC). BBC Partners strive to decrease portfolio-wide source energy use intensity (EUI) and to increase the percent improvement compared to a set baseline. Clark County's (County) BBC portfolio consists of more than 110 buildings representing over 3.4 million square feet. RPM submits portfolio-wide energy data to the DOE annually through the EPA’s ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager online software tool to track energy consumption. Since joining the BBC, the County has improved energy performance by 12% from a 2013 baseline.
The Better Climate Challenge (BCC) is DOE’s newest opportunity for organizations to establish broad national goals to advance energy efficiency, progress towards a clean energy economy, and tackle decarbonization challenges. Through the Better Buildings Initiative, nearly 1,000 private and public sector organizations have partnered with DOE collectively saving more than 2.2 quadrillion British Thermal Units of energy resulting in savings of more than $13 billion and 130 million tons of CO2. The BCC builds on this work and leverages technical assistance from across DOE offices to support organizations in accelerating both energy efficiency and other clean energy investments.
The BCC is a voluntary leadership initiative that asks organizations and public agencies to make a public commitment to action - committing to a 50% or more reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions over 10 years. The commitment is aligned with Clark County’s Sustainability and Climate Action Plan GHG reduction targets of 50% by 2030 and zero emissions by 2050.
This BCC commitment includes the following activities:
• Develop an organization-wide plan with GHG reduction milestones.
• Share information on the GHG strategies implemented to achieve the GHG reduction commitment.
• Participate in at least one working group to discuss barriers, exchange best practices, and identify solutions.
• Make available portfolio-side energy performance and Scope 1 and 2 emissions data through Energy Star
Portfolio Manager.
• Report data annually for 10 years.
This is a great opportunity to join a network of market leaders that are stepping forward to work with the DOE to plan for future success by reducing GHG emissions and sharing replicable pathways to decarbonization. Partnering organizations will save energy and money and be leaders in the community. Partners can tap into the Better Buildings network, engage with other market leaders, access peer-to-peer exchange opportunities, and leverage technical assistance from the DOE and the national labs. Partners will also receive national recognition for their GHG emission achievements.
This item was presented to the County Long Range Planning Committee on April 12, 2023.