Energy Efficiency and Conservation

Contents

• Introduction
• Energy Code Information
• Energy Conservation Programs and Consumer Information
• Local Government Programs
• Energy Planning Tools and Applications
• Lighting Programs
• Policy Directives on Energy Conservation
• Related MRSC Pages
  • Climate Change
  • Planning for Energy Facilities
  • Energy Conservation, Planning, and Resources
  • Green Communities and Building Design

Introduction

Energy conservation programs can help local governments and citizens manage energy costs and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. The programs are a component of sustainability policies which address environmental issues such as renewable resources and climate change. This page includes energy conservation resources as well as illustrations of emergency measures taken during recent supply shortages.

The links to actions of local governments related to the temporary energy supply shortage of 2001 have been retained for reference should another energy crisis occur in the future. Other information on this page relates to other ongoing energy conservation programs. Jurisdictions are encouraged to provide us with additional links or documents on energy conservation, by contacting the Page Editor.

Energy Code Information

• Washington State Energy Code Ch. 51-11 WAC
• U.S. Department of Energy Building Energy Codes Program

Energy Conservation Programs and Consumer Information

Federal

• DSIRE: Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency - An ongoing project of the Interstate Renewable Energy Council (IREC), funded by the U.S. Department of Energy and managed by the North Carolina Solar Center, North Carolina State University - A comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility and selected federal incentives
• Energy Efficiency, U.S. Department of Energy
• Energy Efficiency, Bonneville Power
• Energy Star - Joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy
  • Energy Star for Local Government

State

• Washington State Energy Office, Washington State Department of Commerce
• Conservation Tips - Individual Actions, Washington State University Facility Operations
• Conserve Energy - Construction and Public Works, Washington State Enterprise Services
• Energy Program, Washington State University Cooperative Extension Programs

Local Government Programs

• Bainbridge Island Repower Bainbridge - Community-wide program dedicated to helping Islanders save energy, reduce costs, make their home more comfortable, and create a more sustainable Island. Collaborative effort between city, U.S. Department of Energy, Washington State Department of Commerce, Puget Sound Energy, and others
• Chelan County PUD Energy Conservation
• Ellensburg
  • Conservation and Renewables, Energy Services
  • Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy and Land Development Code Update, Community Development
• Issaquah Saving Energy
• King County Energy Efficiency, Conservation, and Cost Savings
• Kitsap County
  • Kitsap Green
  • Energy Plan
• Richland
  • Conservation Programs
  • Energy Saving Tips
  • Interlocal agreement between Richland and Benton Public Utilities District to support a joint area Smart Grid demonstration project for electrical distributed storage device
• Seattle
  • Seattle Energy Code
  • Building Energy Benchmarking and Reporting, Department of Planning and Development - The Energy Benchmarking and Reporting Program (Ordinance 123226and 123993) requires non-residential and multifamily building owners in Seattle to conduct annual energy performance tracking through the U.S. EPA’s Portfolio Manager, a free and secure online tool.
  • Office of Sustainability and Environment - Site is organized to help find the city's environmental programs and programs managed by the office.
• Snohomish County PUD - Conservation

Energy Planning Tools and Applications

• A Blueprint for Urban Sustainability(), Sustainable Energy Planning Office, Gas Technology Institute, 2004 via National Energy Center for Technology - A resource designed to help cities develop sustainable energy plans that will enable communities to meet their present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. It includes case study examples, technological information, and contacts.
• CALeep Workbook - California Local Energy Efficiency Program - The workbook provides a tool to be used by local officials and community activists to initiate, plan, organize, implement, and assess energy efficiency activities at the local and regional level
• Creating Energy Efficient Communities, "Community Energy," National Center for Appropriate Technology Smart Communities Network
• D. E. E. R. Database for Energy Efficient Resources - California Energy Commission and California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) - Designed to provide well-documented estimates of energy and peak demand savings values, measure costs, and effective useful life (EUL) all with one data source
• Energy Star Programs
  • Buildings and Plants
  • Energy Star for Government
  • Energy Star for Wastewater Plants and Drinking Water Systems
  • Utility and Regional Energy Efficiency Program Sponsors (EEPS) Resources
• Ensuring a Sustainable Future: An Energy Management Guidebook for Wastewater and Water Utilities (), Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Water, January 2008 - Provides water and wastewater utility managers with a step-by-step method, based on a Plan-Do-Check-Act management system approach, to identify, implement, measure, and improve energy efficiency and renewable opportunities at their utilities.
• Powering Down Zoning Regulations, by Jeffrey S. Beiswenger, Zoning Practice, 12/2012 (Available through MRSC Library Loan) - Some zoning provisions affect energy efficiency, article provides nine ways to power down zoning for energy savings.
• Toolkit for Community Energy Planning, Community Energy Association (British Columbia), rev. 2006

Lighting Programs

• Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (ESIA)(), U.S. EPA Backgrounder, Spring 2011 
• Solid State Lighting: Brilliant Solutions for America’s Energy Future (), U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
• Solid-State Lighting - U.S. Department of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)
  • Solid State Lighting (SSL) Luminaries, Energy Star
  • DOE Municipal Solid-State Street Lighting Consortium
  • Solid-State Lighting GATEWAY Demonstration Results
  • Seattle LED Street Lights
  • LED Streetlighting – Shedding Light on the Subject, MRSC Insight, posted on May 8, 2012

Policy Directives on Energy Conservation

Policy directives from the energy crisis of 2001 have been retained as examples in the event of a future energy emergency.

• Washington Governor Directives
  • Energy Alert Order No. 01-03 - To state and local governments, 01/26/2001
  • Energy Directive 01-01 - State Agency Energy Curtailment Procedures
• California Governor Executive Order D-19-01 - Relates to unnecessary outdoor lighting by retail establishments after business hours, 01/17/2001
• King County Letter to employees, 01/26/2001
• Pierce County Resolution No. R2001-24 - Calls for conservation goals, passed 02/27/2001
• Seattle City Light Conservation Initiative, 01/08/2001
• Snohomish County Memo to all employees (, 02/07/2001
• Tacoma
  • Resolution No. 35012 () - Calls for conservation power, passed 12/19/2000
  • Resolution No. 35122 () - Declares an energy alert, passed 04/03/2001
  • Ordinance No. 26796 () - Emergency curtailment of electric energy, passed 04/03/2001
• Thurston County Energy Conservation Information Provided to Employees (), 2001
• Whatcom County Executive Memorandum (), 02/09/2001
• Whitman County Energy Press Release, 02/07/2001

Related MRSC Resources
MRSC Index – Energy Resources and Conservation - General

Need more information?

Feel free to Ask MRSC. Washington cities, counties, and our contract partners can call or email MRSC for more information and advice - free of charge.