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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-2012 Climate Action Report 2011-2012 | City of Bozeman CLIMATE ACTION REPORT 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS Message from Climate Action Coordinator .................................................................................... 3 BACKGROUND .......................................................................................................................................... 4 Municipal Climate Action Plan ........................................................................................................ 5 Community Climate Action Plan .................................................................................................... 6 GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS ................................................................................................................. 6 Municipal Greenhouse Gas Emissions ........................................................................................... 7 Emission Sources ............................................................................................................................... 7 Municipal Buildings ........................................................................................................................ 10 Water & Wastewater Treatment ................................................................................................ 15 Solid Waste ...................................................................................................................................... 17 Vehicle Fleet.................................................................................................................................... 19 Street & Traffic Lights ..................................................................................................................... 21 Water Efficiency ............................................................................................................................. 23 Carbon Sequestration .................................................................................................................. 24 Sustainable Purchasing ................................................................................................................ 24 COMMUNITY TAKING ACTION ............................................................................................................ 25 Community Engagement............................................................................................................ 25 Residential & Commercial Buildings ......................................................................................... 26 Transportation ................................................................................................................................. 27 Waste, Water, & Recycling ......................................................................................................... 29 Energy Production ......................................................................................................................... 31 FUTURE PRIORITIES ................................................................................................................................... 33 GLOSSARY OF TERMS ............................................................................................................................ 35 3 Message from Climate Action Coordinator After the Mayor and City Commission signed the Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement in 2006, the City moved forward with an ambitious goal for municipal greenhouse gas reductions that was unprecedented in the rural state of Montana. In 2011, we took yet another important step by adopting a Community Climate Action Plan, which outlines strategies to engage Bozeman residents in the fight to minimize the impact of global climate change. I’m proud that our City Manager and Commission recognize that it makes good management sense to consume less energy, water, and resources. We have taken a critical step by acknowledging that climate change is, at its core, a simple question of risk management and when it comes to public safety, all evident risks are taken seriously. We are asking the hard questions about energy security, fire protection, access to water and clean air, as well as protecting our highly cherished natural environment. Through our Climate Action Program, we can provide centralized leadership, oversight and coordination of the City’s climate and sustainability policies, practices, and programs. In conjunction with these efforts, the City is also implementing many other long-range plans, such as the Community Plan, the Transportation Plan, the Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails Plan, as well as a Capital Improvement Plan. All of these help the City make smart investments, and promote a livable, sustainable community. To fulfill our obligations under the Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement, we have developed action plans, focused on energy efficiency in our buildings and expanding renewable energy capacity. We have reduced waste, increased recycling rates, and promoted sustainable purchasing policies. In the last eight months, we have started to work side-by-side with community members to form a group known as the Bozeman Climate Partners with the aim of increasing citizen participation in finding solutions to reduce Bozeman’s contribution to climate change. We are ready to collaborate as a community to address this critical issue and make sure our children and grandchildren have the same opportunities we enjoy in Bozeman today. Chris Kukulski City Manager Chuck Winn Assistant City Manager Anna Rosenberry Director of Administrative Services Natalie Meyer Climate Action Coordinator Emily Baker Energy Corps Member Technical Advisers Facility Services James Goehrung Sid Bush Lonnie Wirtz Information Technology Mike Haddock Parks & Recreation Dan McCarthy Ryon Stover Public Works Debbie Arkell Tom Adams John Alston Brian Heaston Dustin Johnson Wade Johnson Andy Kerr Jill Miller Bob Murray Al Rominger John Van Delinder Solid Waste Kevin Handelin Rob Green Climate Action Program Contact: nmeyer@bozeman.net www.bozeman.net Cover Photo: MSU 4 BACKGROUND Today there is clear global scientific consensus that the earth is warming and the warming is caused primarily by the burning of fossil fuels. Earth’s average surface temperature is warmer today than it was when record keeping began in the late 1800s, an indicator of long-term, global-scale climate warming1. The change is evident, as we witness extreme weather events and record breaking temperatures around the globe. In the Greater Yellowstone region, weather monitoring stations dating back to1910 indicate that the last decade was the hottest on record, averaging 1.4˚F above the region’s 20th century average and summers in the past decade averaged 2.3˚F hotter. Regional snowpack in recent decades has been the lowest since the middle of the 13th century2. Mountain Pine Beetle tree mortality in the Tobacco Root Mountains. With a reduced snowpack and warming temperatures, we can anticipate lower river flows, earlier and more severe spring run-off, and longer and more intense fire seasons. The expanded range and severity of Mountain Pine Beetle infestations have also been linked to climate change. Large expanses of standing dead timber further increase the risk of intense wildfire in our region. All of these factors could impact the quality of life, as well as the thriving fishing and skiing tourist economy in Bozeman. Recognizing a responsibility to help limit the risks and impacts of climate change, in November 2006, then-Mayor Jeff Krauss and the Bozeman City Commission signed the 1 Sánchez-lugo, A., J. J. Kennedy, and P. Berrisford: 2012: [Global climate] Surface temperature [in “State of the Climate in 2011”]. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 93 (7), S14–S15. 2 Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Greater Yellowstone in Peril: Threats of Climate Disruption, 2011 Photo: Emily Baker 5 US Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement. The Agreement declares that the City will strive to meet or exceed Kyoto Protocol targets for reduction of global warming pollution. As of March 2012, 1,054 mayors from 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, representing a population of nearly 88.5 million citizens, have signed the US Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement. Municipal Climate Action Plan Following adoption of the Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement (MCPA), the City hired a one-year Sustainability Coordinator in 2007 to jumpstart the program by completing a greenhouse gas emissions inventory for government operations and organizing citizens to help develop a plan of action. The citizen group was called the Municipal Climate Task Force because they were specifically focused on city operations. After a year-long planning effort, the Municipal Climate Task Force identified the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions 15 percent below 2000 levels by the year 2020. To achieve this goal, the Municipal Climate Action Plan outlined 40-recommendations covering the following areas: Planning, Building, and Energy Transportation and Land Use Waste, Water, and Recycling Education & Outreach The Municipal Climate Action Plan was formerly accepted by the Bozeman City Commission in 2008 and they hired a part-time Climate Action Coordinator to help implement the plan. To bring focus to sustainability issues within the organization, the Climate Action Coordinator formed a City Sustainability Team, a cross-departmental group of 13 City of Bozeman staff. The Team meets monthly to work on issues such as environmentally preferred purchasing, energy conservation, reducing waste and promoting recycling, eliminating bottled water, and reducing vehicle idling. 2006 Mayors Climate Protection Agreement signed 2008 Municipal Climate Action Plan accepted 2011 Community Climate Action Plan adopted 6 Community Climate Action Plan With implementation of the Municipal Climate Action Plan underway, the City of Bozeman started work developing a community-wide Climate Action Plan to address residential homes, businesses, organizations, and visitors. With the assistance of a grant from New Priorities Foundation, the City hired Sustainable Planet Solutions to complete a community greenhouse gas emissions inventory and lead a community-wide planning effort. A 15-member Community Climate Task Force was appointed by the Commission representing diverse interests within the Bozeman community. The Task Force worked over a year to develop 39 recommendations to help the community curb its greenhouse gas emissions and they outlined the goal of reducing emissions ten percent below 2008 levels by 2025. The Community Climate Action Plan covers the following topics: Community Engagement & Implementation Residential & Commercial Buildings Transportation Waste, Water, & Recycling Energy Production In 2011, the Bozeman City Commission formally adopted the Community Climate Action Plan. Recognizing that the City now had two plans to implement, City Manager Kukulski, created a full time position for the Climate Action Coordinator to help build the community relationships needed to implement a community-wide plan. In April 2012, a full-time Energy Corps Member was brought on board for an 11-month appointment to assist with a street light inventory and the Climate Action Program. GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS A 13-member cross-departmental known as the City Sustainability Team was created in 2009. The group is chaired by the Climate Action Coordinator and consists of staff who advise on energy reduction and conservation efforts throughout all departments. The City Sustainability Team works to assess the needs, priorities, policies, and initiatives to minimize the environmental impact of City operations. Participants often go above and beyond their regular job descriptions to help drive incremental change within our organization. Current members include: Emily Baker (Energy Corps Member), Sid Bush (Facility Services), Ginny Cowan (Library), Paula Frojae (Building Division), Rob Green (Solid Waste), Mike Haddock (IT), Dustin Johnson (Engineering), Mark Johnson (Police Department), Brian Krueger (Planning), Al Rominger (Water Department), & Ryon Stover (Forestry). 7 Carbon Dioxide Equivalent (CO2e) = The universal unit for comparing emissions of different greenhouse gases expressed in terms of the Global Warming Potential of one unit of carbon dioxide. Examples of other such greenhouse gases are methane (CH4), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and nitrous oxide (N2O). Municipal Greenhouse Gas Emissions The City of Bozeman inventories the greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from operations to ensure that our actions successfully reduce emissions. Complete and accurate measurements enable the City to assess risks and opportunities, track progress, and develop strategies to reduce emissions in a quantifiable and transparent way. Our updated greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) inventory for 2011 is based on the 2010 Local Government Operations Protocol for the quantification and reporting of greenhouse gas emissions as adopted by the California Air Resources Board, California Climate Action Registry, ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, and the Climate Registry. The majority of data were collected and summarized from the software program ResourceOne, developed by Gradient Systems. ResourceOne compiles all City of Bozeman utility accounts from electricity, natural gas, and vehicle fuel and is updated quarterly. The first GHG inventory for municipal operations took place in 2007. At this time, the year 2000 was identified as the baseline year for our target reduction goal and an interim inventory for 2006 was also completed. These inventories served as the foundation for the development of the Municipal Climate Action Plan. Since 2007, the City has gradually improved our utility tracking and the Local Government Operations Protocol for completing a GHG inventory has been refined and updated. As a result, a GHG inventory completed today is likely to be more accurate than previous years. Data from 2008 to the present is the most reliable available. Emission Sources Figure 1 displays a detailed summary breakdown of our GHG emissions for the year 2011. Our emissions totaled 10,175 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (MTCO2e). This inventory suggests that our top five emission sources include: municipal buildings (29%), water treatment, reclamation, and distribution (27%), solid waste operations (20%), vehicle fleet (19%), and street and traffic lights (5%). Table 1 details the GHG emissions, consumption, and cost for each of these sectors. 8 TABLE 1: 2011 Municipal Emissions, Consumption, and Cost by Sector. *Excludes fixed costs of $280,970 The Municipal Climate Action Plan outlines our goal to reduce emissions 15 percent below 2000 levels by 2020. This suggests we should reduce emissions to 5,172 metric tons of CO2e within the next eight years. However, with improved utility tracking and changes in GHG inventory protocols, we estimate the 2000 baseline would be substantially higher if completed today. In order to track our progress in a fair and transparent manner, our baseline needs to be recalculated. We are considering one of two approaches to accomplish this task: Buildings 29% Water & Wastewater 27% Solid Waste 20% Vehicle Fleet 19% Street- lights 5% Emissions Totaled 10,175 MTCO2e Sector Buildings Water & Wastewater Solid Waste Vehicle Fleet Street & Traffic Lights Metric Tons of CO2e 2,961 2,741 2,037 1,893 543 Electricity (kWh) 4,044,000 4,758,801 68,320 - 1,239,527 Electricity Demand (kW) 11,819 11,605 368 - - Natural Gas (Dkt) 17,920 7,678 - - - Fuel (gals) - - - 190,884 - Cost ($) 556,629 566,552 9,781 670,626 120,705* FIGURE 1: 2011 City Operations Greenhouse Gas Emissions 9 a) Recalculate our 2000 baseline using the 2010 Local Government Operations Protocol and apply the existing percent reduction goal to the revised number, or b) Revise our reduction target using the 2010 Local Government Operations Protocol using a more complete data set from the year 2008. Under this scenario, the City would establish a new goal that represents a similar commitment level as the current goal. These options will be reviewed with the City Sustainability Team and a recommendation will be presented to the City Commission. Figure 2 outlines operational emissions based on sources, such as electricity, natural gas, diesel and gasoline, and waste processing. For the City of Bozeman, waste processing includes emissions from methane and nitrous oxide at the Water Reclamation Facility and Story Landfill. FIGURE 2 2008-2011 City Operations Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Source Under the waste processing category, landfill gas emissions increased dramatically in 2009 after we improved our landfill gas collection system at the now closed Story Landfill. While the improved gas collection system has increased emissions, it is successfully reducing any localized threats to groundwater. Since the Story Landfill closed in 2008, the volume of methane biogas will begin to decline over time. 2008 2009 2010 2011 Waste Processing 1218.5 1957.6 2049.6 2141.6 Diesel/Gasoline 1760.8 1738.5 1792.8 1893.4 Natural Gas 1609.5 1526.3 1612.4 1715.5 Electricity 3791.1 3959.5 4224.2 4425.0 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 MT C O 2 e 10% Increase 5% Increase 5% Increase 10 Municipal Buildings To aid us in understanding why greenhouse gas emissions are increasing, we first examined emissions from municipal buildings, which represent 29 percent of total emissions. Figure 3 summarizes emissions from buildings. FIGURE 3 2008-2011 Municipal Buildings Greenhouse Gas Emission The City added four major buildings between 2008 and 2011. Table 2 below outlines each new building, the date it was added, and the net addition of greenhouse gases contributed by the new building. In several cases, construction was not completed in a discrete year, so the net addition is calculated for two separate inventory years. TABLE 2 Increases from New Municipal Construction Greenhouse Gas Emissions Facility Date Added 2008 2009 2010 2011 City Hall Aug-08 52.7 Parking Garage May-09 91.3 41.2 Fire Station #3 Sep-09 63.1 136.4 Kirk Park Feb-10 6.9 0.7 Vehicle Maintenance Nov-10 7.9 103.8 Net Increase from New Buildings 52.7 154.4 192.4 104.5 % Added by New Buildings 2.1% 6% 6.6% 3.5% 2008 2009 2010 2011 Natural Gas 1,203.14 1,133.11 1,201.13 1,200.91 Electricity 1,189.77 1,399.62 1,666.00 1,760.26 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 MT C O 2 e 6% Increase 13% Increase 3% Increase 11 In 2009, our building emissions increase can be attributed entirely to new construction. In 2010, half of the increase can be attributed to new construction and the balance related to the new and greatly improved, but more energy intensive, air handler at the Swim Center. In 2011, the quantity of GHG emissions contributed by new construction was actually greater than the overall emissions increase for the same year. This suggests we successfully conserved energy in other buildings. These data underscore the critical importance of building highly energy efficient buildings that incorporate renewable energy or are designed to readily incorporate renewable energy at a future date. Recent projects at the City demonstrate our commitment to conserve energy in existing buildings and construct buildings with a focus on energy efficiency. Energy Audits The City of Bozeman spends approximately $550,000 per year on electricity and natural gas in over 30 buildings which we operate and maintain. Various energy retrofits have been completed over the last ten years, but energy audits were not conducted in a comprehensive manner. Our Facilities Services Department worked with the National Center for Appropriate Technology to complete baseline energy audits at each of our major buildings. The energy audit report provided Facilities Services with a tool for prioritizing investments in energy efficiency. The Facilities Condition Inventory currently underway will greatly refine this information. Automated Utility Tracking In order to streamline utility data management, the City of Bozeman contracts with Gradient Systems to provide automated utility tracking software for electricity, natural gas, water, sewer, solid waste, and fleet fuel. The software is a tool that provides user-friendly access to recent and historical utility data for individual buildings, as well as aggregate utility information for departments. Gradient Systems also benchmarked many of our buildings with EPA’s Energy Star Portfolio Manager. This Index compares our buildings with other functionally similar buildings across the US. This information provides a great deal of perspective on the energy performance of individual buildings and helps focus our attention on the buildings with the greatest opportunity to improve building energy performance. Supports: MCAP-PBE1 Lighting Retrofits Through the Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, the City retrofitted ten facilities with energy efficient lighting and occupancy sensors. Based on actual utility data, the lighting upgrades will save at least $16,834 each year. In addition to saving money, the project has also improved lighting quality for employees. The payback period is estimated to be 8.5 years based on utility savings alone. Depending on location, the new lights are expected to last 25 to 70 percent longer than the replaced lighting, resulting in considerable labor savings. This grant-funded project required the City to pay Federal 12 Davis-Bacon wages, which increased labor costs by 8 to 11 percent and extended the expected payback period. The requirement to buy American also elevated costs for materials. Table 3 details the savings realized in each building. Several furnaces were replaced during this project and the savings will be calculated after a winter performance period. In some cases, savings were not as great as expected due to increased energy consumption in other areas. For example, offices were added to the Beall Center in conjunction with the lighting retrofit. Table 3 Lighting Retrofit Electricity Savings Facility Completion Date Annual Savings (kWh) % Decrease (kWh) Annual Savings ($) Fire Station #1 Aug-11 59,184 27% $ 5,576.29 Senior Center Nov-11 32,846 13% $ 3,529.25 Landfill Shop Mar-12 20,320 32% $ 2,266.88 Shops Complex Jan-12 13,920 8% $ 1,936.86 Shop Complex-Green Shed Mar-12 19,840 23% $ 1,638.60 Stiff Professional Building Sep-11 17,653 4% $ 1,464.72 Fire Station #2 Aug-11 2,672 4% $ 182.55 Beall Center Mar-12 3,600 19% $ 179.67 Cemetery Apr-12 486 9% $ 60.00 Lindley Center Mar-12 -203 -21% $ - Total Annual Savings 170,318 12% $ 16,834.82 Project Cost $ (153,997.84) Rebates $ 10,758.00 Revised Costs $ (143,239.84) Payback Period 8.5 years Historic T.B. Story Mansion Since managing operations at the historic T.B. Story Mansion, City Facility Services have dramatically improved the energy performance of this building. Initially, a high efficiency boiler was installed in 2009. After receiving a Montana Department of Commerce Recovery Act grant, the Story Mansion was retrofitted with cellulose insulation and the attic space was sprayed with Poly-urethane foam in February 2011. Natural gas consumption has decreased by an average of 17 percent from the insulation, saving the City of Bozeman $324 dollars per year. Figure 4 was generated by our utility tracking software, ResourceOne. 13 Figure 4 Monthly Energy Use at the Story Mansion Bozeman Swim Center Operating an indoor Olympic-size pool takes a lot of energy. In fact, this single facility contributes eight percent of our total GHG emissions. The installation of a new air handler in 2010 increased natural gas consumption by 16 percent, but was necessary for code compliance and to improve indoor air quality for patrons. However, more recent improvements in 2011 and 2012 are expected to improve the energy performance and user experience at this facility. Improvements include: Energy efficient lighting that doubled the output without increasing total electric use High-efficiency hot water heaters for the showers A variable frequency drive that allows the motor to operate at optimum efficiency 97 percent efficiency boilers replaced 60 to 80 percent efficiency units Vehicle Maintenance & Streamline Bus Barn The Vehicle Maintenance & Bus Barn Building was completed in November 2010. Energy performance was a priority during the design process and this is clearly reflected in the usage data. 14 The building features: EPA certified waste oil hot water boiler supplies heat for radiant floors Rainwater collection and cistern for vehicle washing Natural day lighting High efficiency lighting fixtures Super saver metal building insulation Recycled steel content Shared space with the HRDC supports Streamline public transportation Vehicle Maintenance & Streamline Bus Barn As a result, the energy consumption at this facility is 29 kBtu per square foot per year. For reference, the Department of Energy’s 2003 Commercial Buildings Energy Consumption Survey3 lists the average for Vehicle Storage & Maintenance Building as 77 kBtu per square foot per year. The Vehicle Maintenance Building is a model to emulate for future City buildings. Bozeman City Hall LEED for Existing Buildings When the City outgrew old City Hall, then Mayor Jeff Krauss and City Manager Chris Kukulski decided to renovate the old Library as a future site for City Hall. With the City Commission’s leadership, the renovated City Hall (old library) was designated as the first LEED Silver for Existing Buildings (EB) in Montana in January 2012. LEED-EB is designed to promote not only energy and water efficiency in the building, but also ongoing sustainable operations and maintenance programs. City Hall is equipped with a 7.2kW photovoltaic system that supplies a portion of the electric use. Based on other office building of similar size and temperature zone, EPA Energy Star Portfolio Manager scores this building as a 90 on a scale of 1 to 100. Bozeman City Hall joins the Bozeman Public Library as the second LEED Silver building owned and operated by the City. Supports: MCAP-PBE3 3Commercial Building Energy Consumption Survey (CBECS) was last conducted in 2003 by the Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration. The survey is used for building types that are not currently available in the EPA’s Portfolio Manager. LEED-EB Silver Certified Bozeman City Hall Photo: Sandholm Architects 15 Water & Wastewater Treatment The City of Bozeman operates a Water Treatment Plant with supporting facilities, over 400 miles of water and wastewater pipes for distribution and collection, and a Water Reclamation Facility to treat Bozeman’s wastewater. This infrastructure represents 27 percent of our total GHG emissions. Figure 5 displays recent trends in energy consumption for this extensive infrastructure. FIGURE 5 2008-2011 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Water & Wastewater Treatment Improved operational efficiencies actually reduced emissions in 2009 and 2010. However, along with other factors, energy consumption increased during construction at the Water Reclamation Facility in 2011. Recent data for 2012 suggests that energy consumption at the new Water Reclamation Facility has stabilized. With a growing population, aging infrastructure, and tightening regulatory standards, the City was compelled to replace the Water Reclamation Facility and is in the process of replacing the Sourdough Water Treatment Plant. The City has used this as an opportunity to integrate energy efficiency into both of the new plants. 2008 2009 2010 2011 Process Emissions 138.5 143.8 143.8 143.8 Natural Gas 406.4 393.2 411.2 514.5 Electricity 2052.9 2006.7 1967.1 2082.7 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 MT C O 2 e 1% Decrease 9% Increase 2% Decrease 16 Water Reclamation Facility The City of Bozeman recently completed construction on a new facility that is more than twice the size of the previous plant, increasing the capacity from 5.8 Million Gallons per Day (MGD) to 8.5 MGD. Energy Efficiency was a key consideration in the design of the new Biological Nutrient Removal (BNR) facility and includes: High-speed turbo blowers that are 30 to 50 percent more efficient than the previous blowers—the first installation designed for Montana. Biological nitrogen and phosphorous removal without the addition of chemicals. An energy efficient Administration/Lab Building that includes a waste gas boiler that beneficially uses a portion of the biogas emitted during the water reclamation process. Dewatering screwpress that can achieve 18 to 20 percent dewatered cake product using relatively little power. The City is still actively exploring cogeneration systems capable of fully utilizing the biogas generated at the Water Reclamation Facility. Supports: MCAP-WWR13 & WWR14 In conjunction with the Gallatin Solid Waste Management District, the City Water Reclamation Facility, Streets Department, and Solid Waste Division, the City of Bozeman negotiated an agreement to begin composting approximately 3,200 tons per year of dewatered biosolids and green waste from tree trimmings at the Logan Landfill. The new solids dewatering screwpress will reduce the weight and volume of the biosolids, resulting in fewer trips and diesel emissions. By removing the excess water from the treated biosolids, the end product will be a semi-dry dewatered cake material that is rich in nutrients. Rather than disposing of this nutrient-rich material at the Logan Landfill, the Water Reclamation Facility Superintendent developed a plan to compost these biosolids with green waste and tree trimmings to be used as landfill cover to support revegetation. Through this composting agreement the City will avoid paying approximately $64,000 per year in tipping fees. Supports: MCAP-WWR6 & WWR10 Water Treatment Plant The City of Bozeman Hyalite/Sourdough Water Treatment Plant replacement project was designed for energy conservation during the planning, layout and orientation of the facility and when selecting building service systems. The Plant was designed by a team that included LEED accredited professionals and is being built to LEED standards as specified in the Municipal CAP. The Water Treatment Plant will feature: Process for capturing water that would normally be wasted during the treatment process, including decanting wasted water from the dissolved air flotation treatment, gravity thickener, and lagoons and returning this decant water to the head of the treatment plant for processing 17 High efficiency lighting and occupancy sensors Premium efficiency motors on all equipment and energy recovery from the 150 HP membrane feed pumping equipment with LED lighting on controls where feasible Re-use of components from old Water Treatment Plant, including aluminum tanks Heat recovery on exhaust fans will be used to capture and reuse heat within the WTP Native grasses planted in disturbed sites and preservation of existing native vegetation, which are less water-use intensive Solid Waste In line with the Local Government Operations Protocol, the City of Bozeman’s municipal emissions report includes gas and electricity related to solid waste operations and emissions from the Story Landfill. While the Bozeman Story Landfill has been officially closed since 2008, it continues to generate methane and other greenhouse gases. Story Landfill is equipped with a system to collect and flare methane to help reduce emissions and potential impacts to groundwater. Solid Waste fuel consumption related to collection and recycling is accounted for under Vehicle Fleet emissions. Figure 6 outlines recent GHG emissions trends within the Solid Waste Division. FIGURE 6 2008-2011 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Solid Waste The increase in 2009 can be linked to the improved landfill gas collection system completed in 2008. While an increase isn’t favorable for the City’s emission’s Inventory, it does mean that City Engineering and Solid Waste Division improved the efficiency of 2008 2009 2010 2011 Electricity 36 35 41 40 Story Landfill Gas 1080 1814 1906 1998 0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 MT C O 2 e 5% Increase 5% Increase 66% Increase 18 the system. When landfill gas is collected and flared, it means that we are converting methane to carbon dioxide, which is less harmful in terms of Global Warming Potential. In fact, methane gas is 21 times more potent a green house gas than carbon dioxide. When we efficiently collect this gas, less “fugitive” methane is emitted from the site and the groundwater is better protected. Figure 7 displays Story Landfill GHG trends since the landfill gas collection system was first installed in 2000. FIGURE 7 STORY LANDFILL GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS Employee Recycling & Waste Audit City employees are taking steps to divert waste from the landfill. Recycling was established at all City facilities beginning in 2008 and efforts are underway to communicate recycling guidelines to staff. As part of our participation in the Yellowstone Business Partnership UnCommon Sense Program, the City Sustainability Team rolled up their sleeves and completed a waste audit using Bozeman City hall as a test site. The audit uncovered that we needed to reduce the number of plastic bag liners used each day and recycling rates could be improved. Following this audit, the City Sustainability Team outlined a process for establishing several central waste disposal and recycling stations within each building. Rather than asking custodians to empty office trash cans on a daily basis, we asked employees to empty their personal garbage cans into these central disposal areas only as needed. This gives employees the opportunity to consider recycling at two points—when they first throw it away and when they empty their trash into the central waste bin. This plan 0 500 1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 2000 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 MT C O 2 e After a 2009 waste audit, the City Sustainability Team recommended centralized waste disposal, which resulted in a 27% increase in recycling. 19 was adopted city-wide by administrative order. One year after adopting the Central Office Waste Disposal & Recycling Procedure, we observed a 27 percent increase in recycling rates. We are saving approximately 18,000 plastic bag liners at a cost of $865 per year. In addition, we saved roughly five percent or $6,880 on our custodial contract as a result of this streamlined waste disposal process. Supports: MCAP PBE-5, MCAP WWR-6, & CCAP WWR-3 Vehicle Fleet The City of Bozeman’s vehicle fleet includes everything from solid waste collection trucks to police & fire vehicles to plow trucks to lawn mowers and much more. With well over 300 registered units, tracking the vehicle fleet is a considerable task. Figure 8 shows that vehicle fleet emissions decreased slightly in 2009, but increased by three percent in 2010 and increased another six percent in 2011. Several conservation measures are in place to help the City avoid excess fuel waste. FIGURE 8 2008-2011 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Vehicle Fleet 2008 2009 2010 2011 Bio-Diesel 8.1 Ethanol 24.6 14.1 26.5 27.8 Gasoline 707.7 654.8 660.3 665.8 Diesel 1020.4 1069.6 1106.0 1199.9 0 500 1000 1500 2000 MT C O 2 e 1% Decrease 3% Increase 6% Increase 20 Vehicle Purchasing Policy The City’s vehicle purchasing policy requires that departments purchase the smallest and most efficient vehicle available for a given function and hybrid vehicles must be evaluated prior to purchase. For our Capital Improvement Plan, departments must submit a written justification for the purchase of a full sized truck and provide a reason for not purchasing a hybrid vehicle. To date, no hybrids have been purchased, but the Planning Department has one scheduled for Fiscal Year 2015. Other possible candidates for hybrid or electric vehicles are being explored. Vehicles are not frequently replaced, so change in this sector may be incremental. Supports: MCAP-TLU3 Fuel Consumption Baseline With the assistance of the automated software provided by Gradient Systems, the City of Bozeman is now able to track and monitor fuel consumption on over 300 City vehicles and equipment. The average fuel economy for our fleet has not yet been established as more work needs to be done to remind employees to enter accurate odometer readings when re-fueling. We anticipate that a reasonably accurate baseline will be available within the next six months. Supports: MCAP-TLU4 Anti-idling Policy The City of Bozeman adopted an anti-idling policy for the municipal fleet in 2009. This policy encourages employees to turn off their car if they are going to be idling for 30 seconds or more. If we have 50 light-duty and heavy vehicles operating during the average business day, we estimate this measure saves $3,300 dollars each year and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 9 MTCO2e. Supports: MCAP-TLU7 Ridesharing In an effort to promote carpooling, a survey was conducted to identify the top obstacles preventing employees from carpooling, ridesharing, and using public transit. The results of this survey indicated that many City employees choose not to carpool due to concerns that an emergency or unexpected situation might arise during the day. In response to this concern, the City developed a policy known as the “Guaranteed Ride Home”, which allows employees who have carpooled or used public transit to use a City vehicle in the event of an emergency. More recently, the City is working to promote the new website www.ridesharemt.com among employees. This site allows any Montana resident the opportunity to log on and search for potential rideshare matches. The service can be used for the daily work commute or for periodic trips out of town. The website is funded and maintained by Bozeman’s Western Transportation Institute. Supports: MCAP-TLU6 21 Green Bike Program To encourage employees to walk or ride bicycles when attending off-site meetings during the work day, the City provides two bicycles at three major City buildings for employees to check out. At Bozeman City Hall, the bikes are popular during the summer months and have been ridden over 100 miles since August of 2009. This program promotes employee health, saves money, and reduces GHG emissions. Supports: MCAP-TLU8 Street & Traffic Lights Street and traffic lights in Bozeman make up five percent of our operational emissions. While it isn’t the largest source, we know this number will continue to grow with each new mile of street added. Once installed, a streetlight will likely remain in place for 60 to 100 years. Taking steps to ensure we install the most efficient piece of infrastructure available should be an important priority. Figure 9 shows recent emissions trends for street and traffic lighting. The decrease in 2011 is the result of credit we received from NorthWestern Energy after discovering that we were charged for lighting units that had been removed. While not clearly reflected in the data from 2008 to 2011, the Streets Department has taken important steps to reduce energy consumption within our extensive network of lighting infrastructure FIGURE 9 Street & Traffic Light Greenhouse Gas Emissions LED Traffic Signals The Streets Department has upgraded to energy-efficient LED bulbs as older incandescent bulbs burn out over time. At this point, only one City-owned signal with all-incandescent lights remains, at Tamarack St. and Rouse Ave., and these 2008 2009 2010 2011 Electricity 512.3 518.1 550.4 542.5 490 500 510 520 530 540 550 560 MT C 0 2 e 6% Increase 1% Decrease 1% Increase 22 are slated for an upgrade in the upcoming construction on North Rouse Ave. Records about the timing of replacement have not been kept, so precise energy savings are difficult to quantify. However, we have energy use data from 2000, definitively before any LED bulbs were installed. To look at a representative case, the traffic signal at Willson Ave. and Babcock St. uses an average of 85 percent less energy today than in 2000. That’s a reduction of 11,828 kWh of energy used at one signal, which translates to 5.18 metric tons of CO2e emissions avoided each year. LED Streetlight Pilot & Street Lighting Inventory In March of 2012, City Engineering and the Streets Department installed eight LED street lights on Durston Rd. between 11th and 7th Ave. Preliminary results show the LEDs are performing well and have reduced energy consumption by 45 percent. The pilot will help the City evaluate other potential locations where LED streetlights might be appropriate. The City hired an Energy Corps Member in March of 2012 to conduct a street lighting Inventory. This Inventory covers all street lighting paid for by the City, and will serve as the baseline in deciding how best to reduce the cost and energy use of the current street lighting infrastructure. Additionally, this information concerning ownership, number of lights, and maintenance responsibility will be very useful to departments such as Finance, Streets, and Engineering. The Inventory is now well underway. All street lights in Special Improvement Lighting Districts (SILDs) have been mapped and catalogued, and significant portions of the City’s metered lights and unmetered ‘orphan’ lights not in an SILD have been mapped. To determine whether LED upgrades could be a good fit in many specific SILDs, the Finance Department and the Energy Corps Member are working together to complete a financial model taking into account yearly energy usage and specific LED bulb costs, based on a number of specific factors like pole height and spacing. Having basic information about lighting districts and other city lighting will allow Staff to make informed decisions about lighting on many fronts. The Energy Corps Member has been networking with Montana State University, the Cities of Billings and Missoula, and lighting company representatives to learn more about the process of testing and deciding upon specific lights. Supports: MCAP-TLU9 Roundabout at College & 11th The City of Bozeman installed an urban roundabout at the intersection of College and 11th Avenue in 2011. This intersection moves traffic efficiently and greatly reduces idling compared to the four-way stop that previously existed at the intersection. Modern roundabouts create shorter delays than signalized intersections because they allow for motorists to slowly roll through the intersection rather than the typical stop and start behavior associated with stop signs and traffic signals. This saves fuel for drivers and reduces GHG emissions. In fact, delay was shown 23 to be reduced by over two minutes per vehicle for northbound traffic during the peak traffic period, 5:00 to 5:15 p.m. Supports: MCAP-TLU2 Water Efficiency Tracking Water Consumption Tracking water use is a sizable job for a City that operates buildings, parks, cemeteries, and medians throughout town. We worked with Gradient Systems to establish a regular tracking method that allows us to graphically monitor water consumption for each water account. The tracking system was only recently established, but is already being used to spot our most significant water consumers. Supports: MCAP-WWR5 Water Distribution System In most communities, the infrastructure used to deliver treated water is known to be a considerable source of water loss. Aging pipes can be cracked or damaged and may lose potable water. Over the last ten years, unaccounted water loss in Bozeman has ranged between 8 and 15 percent of total water use. The City of Bozeman uses an advanced pipeline monitoring system, known as the Pipeline Assessment Certification Program, to rate and prioritize maintenance on over 200 miles of distribution pipes throughout Bozeman. In addition, in 2011 the Bozeman City Commission identified deferred maintenance as one of their top priorities and has adopted an aggressive deferred maintenance plan to address outdated pipe infrastructure. Take Back the Tap Bottled water costs roughly 2,000 times more than tap water and more than 80 percent of plastic water bottles end up in the landfill. To highlight the many benefits of picking tap water over bottled water, the City of Bozeman Water Department partnered with ASMSU Sustainability to join the Take Back the Tap campaign, which advocates for the use of tap water over that of disposable bottled water. City employees are not allowed to purchase bottled water with City funds, except for emergencies. Many departments have equipped employees with stainless steel Take Back the Tap water bottles to encourage the use of reusable containers. Supports: MCAP-WWR3 Low Flow Toilets EPA WaterSense® labeled toilets have been installed at many City facilities, including Bozeman City Hall, the Library, Fire Station #3, the Story Mansion, and 24 the Senior Center. Other facilities are gradually switching out toilets on an on-going basis. By installing low flow toilets and water efficient fixtures at Bozeman City Hall, water consumption is nine percent below the average office building of similar size and occupancy level (EPA). Supports: MCAP-WWR5 Carbon Sequestration Quantifying the Value of Our Urban Forest The City Forestry Division is currently developing a tree Inventory and survey with two computer programs. The first Inventory, Tree Works, compiles data on trees located in the City’s boulevard trees, parks, cemetery, and open space. Based on inputs such as location, species, diameter, condition, and canopy size, the program generates information on the appraised value of these trees. While not yet complete, a recent estimate has over 26,000 trees and an appraised value of $25 million. In the last two years, 259 more trees have been planted through the City’s Tree Cost Share Program and Arbor Day grants. The most current survey, iTree Eco, is also in progress. Using random sample plots generated by the GIS Department, the Forestry Division is collecting data on species of trees and shrubs, height, percent of canopy in the sample plot, relation to any buildings, and pervious/impervious surfaces. When these data are analyzed in conjunction with hourly air pollution and meteorological data, it will give the City quantified values for urban forest structure, carbon sequestration, environmental effects, and value to City of Bozeman residents. This survey will be incorporated into the City’s new stormwater program. Supports: MCAP-ED5 Sustainable Purchasing Under the leadership of Facility Services, the City encourages sustainable choices that reduce excess packing and waste. City-wide we purchase EPA green seal certified toilet paper, paper towels, foam soaps, and cleaning products. Among the many benefits, the paper towel dispensers minimize waste and have reduced consumption by approximately 80 percent and switching to foam soaps has reduced usage by 50 percent. These purchases are made in bulk several times a year and Facilities Services is working to expand the number of bulk items we purchase. Longfellow Elementary Arbor Day Tree Planting with Bozeman Forestry Division. 25 The IT Department has approved MSE Printer Cartridges Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) certified copy paper. MSE Printer cartridges are made in the USA, recyclable, manufactured responsibly, and use minimal packaging. SFI paper comes with a guarantee that the trees have been harvested sustainably and no endangered or old growth trees were exploited in the process. Both products are competitively priced. COMMUNITY TAKING ACTION Beginning in September 2011, the City of Bozeman set out to begin work on the Community Climate Action Plan. To date, the City has formed two community working groups and has initiated partnerships throughout the community to help launch a variety of projects. Community Engagement Bozeman Climate Partners The Communications & Outreach Working Group was recruited to specifically focus on messaging, branding, logo and website development, and general outreach strategies for Bozeman’s Community Climate Action Plan. The group has met 18 times since January 2012 and has made great strides to develop an outreach program titled Bozeman Climate Partners. The mission statement of Bozeman Climate Partners is to collaborate with residents, businesses, and organizations to inspire action and reduce the community’s carbon footprint now and for future generations. The group is guided by the following core values: The Working Group developed the Bozeman Climate Partners logo to readily identify initiatives in the community connected to the Climate Action Plan and will be used in association with the City of Bozeman logo. Currently, work is underway to build the Bozeman Climate Partners’ website, which will help connect residents to local sustainability resources, highlight community and City Create We generate opportunities for open dialogue and participation. Connect We engage with local groups or individuals to empower their efforts no matter how big or small. Inspire We encourage positive environmental stewardship. Act We take action to protect environmental assets that won’t wait for convenience. 26 efforts to cut emissions, and challenge residents to get involved. The site will offer extensive information on sustainable energy, buildings, transportation, food, water, & waste specific to the Bozeman area. This critical outreach tool will help build awareness about the Climate Action Plan and inspire people to act. The website is set to launch in mid-September. These dedicated and focused volunteers should be applauded for their generous contribution to this effort: Cyndy Andrus (Commission Liaison), Emily Baker (Energy Corps Member), Hattie Baker (Sustainable Planet Solutions), Benjamin Bennett (Massive Studios), Nick Bentley (Bozeman Climate Alliance), Paula Beswick (Bozeman Library Foundation), Jeff Moore (Montana Weatherization Center & Gallatin College), Kathy Powell (Citizen-at-Large), Jay Sinnott (Citizen-at-Large), Kristen Walser (Bozeman Climate Alliance). Supports: CCAP-CEI5, CCAP-WWR3, CCAP-TSP3, CCAP-WWR6 Residential & Commercial Buildings Home Energy Solutions for All The MSU Extension Weatherization Training Center and the City of Bozeman are partnering on a monthly learning series on home energy savings called “Home Energy Solutions for All”. Mayor Sean Becker will be the guest speaker for the kick-off event on September 7th at the Weatherization Center. The first workshop, presented by home energy specialists and architects of the Montana Weatherization Training Center and the MSU Creative Research Lab, will focus on basic principles and goals of home energy reduction, financial incentives and opportunities, and regulatory considerations. Information will apply to existing homeowners, those planning to design & build a home, building professionals, Realtors, property managers, landlords, and renters. The workshop will include energy-saving advice ranging from low- and no-cost strategies to major improvements for those interested in undertaking rehabilitation and remodeling projects. The second workshop in the series will focus on Passive Solar Design. Workshops in the series will focus on achieving the ten percent energy reduction outlined in the Bozeman Community Climate Action Plan. Participants will receive materials to compile customized home energy plans and solutions. Supports: CCAP-RCB3 & CCAP-RCB6 10% Energy Reduction Challenge & Commercial Benchmarking One of the key recommendations in the Community Climate Action Plan is the Ten Percent Energy Reduction Challenge. Almost every household in Bozeman could easily save on their home energy bill. If everyone commits to cutting back ten percent, we would reduce our carbon dioxide emissions by 18,000 tons a year. This is enough energy to power more than 1,400 homes and save over $2.2 million a year. Add Bozeman’s commercial 27 buildings to this equation and these figures more than double. This is real money that could stay in our local economy. Everyone will win if we all cut back a little. The City is in the process of forming a team of key community players to roll out the Ten Percent Energy Reduction Challenge. Partners such as SWMBIA, the Interactive Water Use Resource Center, Montana Weatherization Center, Northern Rocky Mountain RC&D, local home improvements stores, MSU, and the Human Resource Development Council are needed to launch the program. Using City of Bozeman seed money, the group will first focus on education and awareness, while pursuing grant monies to build programs and incentives for home owners and businesses to participate. A key piece for this program will be the Energy Star Portfolio Manager Benchmarking program, which is a tool to help commercial audiences understand how their energy use compares to other buildings across the US. By combining Benchmarking with the Ten Percent Energy Reduction Challenge, we can offer businesses a useful tool and a set of solutions in a single package. Work completed over the last year, such as the Bozeman Climate Partners’ website will be a valuable communications tool to facilitate the program. This is a multi-year, multi- phased project that will require an ongoing commitment from City Staff and community partners. We are forming partnerships now and anticipate that formal planning will begin in September 2012 and the public launch will begin in December 2012. Supports: CCAP-RCB3 & CCAP-RCB1 Transportation Idle Free Bozeman Since March 2012, the Idle Free Bozeman Working Group has laid the groundwork for the Idle Free Bozeman outreach campaign. The group started by learning about local and regional idle reduction efforts underway at Emily Dickinson Elementary and through the Greater Yellowstone Clean Energy Coalition. Volunteers monitored vehicles at schools, post-offices, fast food restaurants, banks, and coffee drive-throughs in order to generate a baseline and a reference for measuring the success of the program. After extensive research, including a local survey on attitudes and beliefs, the group is in the process of developing outreach materials. Currently, working group members are exploring opportunities to partner with the Girl Scouts, Forest Service, and other groups to develop creative projects for children to learn about idling and air quality. The Working Group is also planning to partner with local businesses and schools to help spread awareness on the facts about vehicle idling. These dedicated members have committed their time and expertise to help promote an Idle Free Bozeman: Emily Baker (Energy Corps Member), Lisa Ballard (Current 28 The Bozeman City Commission voted to increase funding for Streamline public transit in FY12 and FY13 to $82,400. Transportation Solutions), Nick Bentley (Bozeman Climate Alliance), Phillip Cameron (Yellowstone-Teton Clean Energy Coalition), Elin Hert (Citizen-at-Large), Berk Knighton (MSU Chemistry & County Air Quality Board), Vance Ruff (Bozeman School District Transportation Director), Carson Taylor (Commission Liaison), and Wendy Weaver (Greenstone Consulting). Supports: CCAP-TSP4 Streamline Public Transit Supporting public transit is one important way that local governments can help reduce vehicle miles traveled in the community. To that end, the Bozeman City Commission voted to increase its annual contribution to Streamline transit from $42,000 to $82,400 in FY12 and FY13. Supports: MCAP-TLU10 & CCAP-TSP2 Bikes in Lieu of Parking To encourage businesses to develop the infrastructure needed for a bicycle-friendly community, the Planning Department is requesting that the City Commission approve a code amendment allowing commercial property owners with the option of requesting the deletion of up to ten percent of the required parking spaces for non-residential uses if: a. In addition to the minimum otherwise required, two covered bicycle parking spaces are provided for each automobile space not provided; and b. For each ten or fraction of ten automobile parking stalls deleted a non- residential shower, changing area, and five clothing lockers are provided on-site. A commonly mentioned obstacle to bike commuting is the need to shower once arriving at the destination. This code amendment will provide an incentive for businesses to offer not only bike parking spaces, but the supporting showers and storage areas that will make bike commuting a more practical option for many. Supports: CCAP-TSP5 Bike Path & Sidewalk Improvements The Community Climate Action Plan advocates for an interconnected network of trails, bike lanes, safe street crossings, and transit infrastructure as part of all new development and street construction. These objectives are also supported in the Bozeman Community Plan, PROST Plan and the Bozeman Area Transportation Plan of 2007. The City will continue to pursue every opportunity to promote multi-modal transportation. Below are a few highlighted projects since 2010: 29 Bike lanes & sidewalks on Baxter Lane, 11th to near 7th Sidewalk infill on N. 7th Ave Bike lanes & sidewalks on S. 19th Ave, Babcock to Kagy Shared use path on College St to Huffine Sidewalk replacement & widening near Bogert Park on S. Church St Signed and marked bike lanes on Peach St, 7th to Rouse. New street with bike lanes on Babcock St west of Cottonwood 22 ADA bike/ped ramps throughout town Bike path & sidewalk on S. 8th Ave Supports: CCAP-TSP1 & CCAP-TSP6 Waste, Water, & Recycling Gallatin Earth Celebration This year the City of Bozeman partnered with MSU, the Tributary Fund, and other organizations to host the 5th annual Gallatin Earth Celebration. The goal of this week long event is to encourage environmental education, outreach, and service. During the Gallatin Earth Celebration, the Bozeman Beautification Advisory Board and the City hosted Bozeman Clean Up Day. This year, over 250 volunteers collected four tons of waste and recyclables from Bozeman’s parks, trails, and streets. Supports: MCAP-ED3 Recycling in Public Spaces The Bozeman Solid Waste Division has made a concerted effort this year to reach out to community event organizers to incorporate public recycling during events. Recycling at the Christmas Stroll, Music on Main, Bite of Bozeman, Sweet Pea, the Art Walk and others has continually grown and they are successfully diverting waste from the landfill. Helping the public become more conscientious about their waste during festive events can be a challenge. Future conversations with key partners, such as the Downtown Business Association, will help us identify creative ways to increase recycling rates and eliminate contamination. Supports: MCAP-WWR10 & CCAP-WWR2 30 Compost Bin Cash & Carry Sale Compost Bin Cash & Carry Sale With help from Mayor Sean Becker and the Solid Waste Division, the City and Gallatin Solid Waste Management District partnered on a two-day Compost Bin Cash & Carry Sale where the City offered backyard compost bins at the wholesale rate. A total of 120 bins were sold to residents who were either expanding their composting operation or composting for the first time. New composters had the opportunity to consult with Master Composter, Kathy Powell, during the sale for tips and tricks on successful composting. In conjunction with the sale, some residents who bought a bin also took advantage of a composting workshops offered by Broken Ground composting at Planet Natural. Among the many benefits of composting, diverting this waste from the landfill will help our community reduce emissions. Organic waste such as food scraps, wood, and yard waste sent to the landfill will decompose in an oxygen-free (anaerobic) environment and emit methane, a greenhouse gas 21 more potent than carbon dioxide. Supports: MCAP-WWR6 & CCAP-WWR3 Bozeman School District Recycling Program In partnership with Montana State University and Bozeman Public Schools, the City of Bozeman received a grant to help implement school district wide recycling in the Bozeman Public Schools. Recycling bins and totes were purchased for all the Bozeman schools and they began recycling in October 2010. Based on EPA’s Warm Model, the materials diverted in the first school year saved over 100 MTCO2e. The City has since partnered with the Gallatin Solid Waste Management District on recycling outreach efforts. The City and Gallatin Solid Waste Management District collaborated on a recycling education program for Bozeman schools and piloted the program at Irving Elementary School in September 2011. While the City no longer provides waste and recycling services to the School District, we still plan to reach more schools with the recycling education materials with the help of our Energy Corps Member in the 2012 school year. Supports: MCAP ED-6 and CCAP WWR-3 Bozeman High students film a scene for the district-wide recycling education program. Future composter and dad inspect bin at the Cash & Carry Sale. Photo: Kathy Powell 31 Toilet Rebate Program The Bozeman Toilet Rebate Program was established by the Engineering Department in 2008 to encourage City water users to replace old, inefficient toilets with new high-efficiency models that use 20 percent less water than conventional toilets. The City offers up to $250 for residents to swap out their old toilets with EPA WaterSense® labeled toilets. WaterSense® toilets can save up to 2.2 gallons of water per flush (gpf) when compared to their old 3.5 gpf counterparts, the industry flush standard for toilets produced before 1994. The City has processed over 750 rebate applications since the program was initiated with a vast majority of participants replacing older 3.5 gpf toilets. Integrated Water Resources Plan The City is in the process of developing an Integrated Water Resources Plan (IWRP) which will address the City’s long-term water needs 30 and 50 years into the future. A comprehensive array of new water supply alternatives is being evaluated, along with water conservation program development, water re-use options, and existing supply optimization. A Technical Advisory Committee consisting of dedicated water professionals working in the greater Bozeman area is assisting with plan development and review. The plan is currently scheduled for completion in March 2013. Rain Garden In an effort to build awareness of surrounding storm water best management practices, the City Neighborhoods Program partnered with the Greater Gallatin Watershed Council to install a Demonstration Rain Garden at Bozeman City Hall in the spring of 2010. The garden contains a variety of native and adapted species to help mitigate overland flow and erosion by enhancing water infiltration into the soil. The constructed catchment area is lined with cobble and finer gravel, including pulverized glass. The garden is equipped with an interpretive sign to help visitors understand the function of this attractive site amenity and the garden continues to be maintained by community volunteers. Energy Production Solar Hot Water Consumer Workshop Montana State University Extension recently completed consumer kits and a website on home renewable energy technology. In conjunction with these materials, MSU Extension offered state-wide consumer workshops this summer focused on home renewable energy technologies. The City of Bozeman co-hosted a consumer workshop in June 2012 on solar hot water. Participants learned detailed information about the importance of energy efficient appliances, The rain garden at City Hall is planted with native & adapted species and improves stormwater soil infiltration. 32 technical system information, system sizing, cost, and available rebates. Such workshops and partnerships will be critically important as we continue to evaluate the demand and structure for a possible solar hot water incentive program. Supports: CCAP-EP2 Making Way for Solar Rooftops The Planning Department is presenting a code amendment (Section 38.42.990) to the City Commission that would make commercial roof-mounted solar arrays be considered an essential service (type I), thus no longer requiring either a Conditional Use Permit or M-2 zoning. With this amendment, commercial building owners who wish to install their own solar array or host an array through a third party lease agreement, will have no city created impediments to doing so. Supports: CCAP-EP3 & CCAP-EP6 Regional Energy Team and Energy Plan In partnership with past Community CAP Task Force members, Scott Bischke and Dan Stevenson, we are developing a strategy for a Renewable Energy Plan. By working with key stakeholders and energy experts in the field, our goal is to develop a roadmap for Bozeman to bring small- and large-scale clean energy resources to our community. To date, we have started to educate ourselves on strategies, such as Community Choice Aggregation, and we are identifying state-wide partners capable of offering technical expertise on various forms of renewable energy and grid interconnection. This long-term project is key if we plan to reach our emissions reduction goal. Supports: CCAP-EP1 & EP-5 Alternative Energy Potential at City Facilities As an organization, we continue to investigate opportunities to integrate renewable energy into our facilities. Most recently, Staff participated in an informational meeting on pyrolytic gasification as a prospective energy source for the Water Reclamation Facility or other City facilities. We are currently awaiting further data on proof of concept and emissions testing. Solar hot water at the Swim Center is a relatively simple prospect that needs further investigation. Preliminary conversations with installers have taken place, but thorough analysis is needed. The Facility Condition Inventory was completed this week and we anticipate that the report will contain information to help us better understand the opportunities at the Swim Center and other facilities. Supports: CCAP-EP9 33 FUTURE PRIORITIES Each year, city operations and services grow to meet increasing community demands. The City of Bozeman is working to make its operations, facilities, and vehicle fleets more efficient, but conservation has not out-paced growth. We have experienced numerous successes since 2008 and we will use the updated emissions data to re-focus our efforts, build on past successes, and identify innovative strategies to make deep reductions in our emissions. We know that conservation is often the most cost-effective way to cut energy consumption, so it makes sense to continue seeking every reasonable opportunity available to improve efficiencies and conserve. However, a three-pronged approach for municipal operations is needed as we move forward. These include: Energy efficiency & conservation High energy performance standards for all new facilities and infrastructure A renewable energy plan Looking forward to the coming year, the priorities for the Climate Action Program are outlined below. First-tier Priorities 1) Launching Bozeman Climate Partners program with Communications Working Group Promote new website Quarterly newsletters Participate in SWMBIA annual home show and other events 2) Finalizing and executing the outreach program for Idle Free Bozeman Working Group 3) Forming the partnerships and plans for the Ten Percent Energy Reduction Challenge 4) Develop the first phase for the Renewable Energy Plan 5) Complete the street light Inventory and make recommendation for an LED street light replacement program 6) Provide resources and recommendations for energy performance standards for newly constructed City-owned buildings 7) Re-calculate municipal emissions baseline and reduction goal 8) Provide quarterly building, fleet, & water consumption usage reports to Facilities Services & departments Second-tier Priorities 9) Scoping solar hot water potential for City facilities 10) Identify opportunities for a hybrid vehicles in the Capital Improvement Plan 34 11) Develop proposal for Solar Hot Water incentive program 12) Promote Rideshare Montana for City employees and the public 13) Promote school district recycling education program 14) Work with partners to provide recycling along I-90 corridor 15) Investigate water conservation strategies for the cemetery 35 GLOSSARY OF TERMS Biofuel Fuel made from biomass, including wood and wood waste, sulphite lyes (black liquor), vegetal waste (straw, hay, grass, leaves, roots, bark, crops), animal materials/waste (fish and food meal, manure, sewage sludge, fat, oil and tallow), turpentine, charcoal, landfill gas, sludge gas, and other biogas, bioethanol, biomethanol, bioETBE, bioMTBE, biodiesel, biodimethylether, fischer tropsch, bio oil, and all other liquid biofuels which are added to, blended with, or used straight as transportation diesel fuel. Biomass Non-fossilized organic material originating from plants, animals, and micro-organisms, including products, byproducts, residues and waste from agriculture, forestry and related industries as well as the non-fossilized and biodegradable organic fractions of industrial and municipal wastes, including gases and liquids recovered from the decomposition of non-fossilized and biodegradable organic material. Boundaries GHG accounting and reporting boundaries can have several dimensions, i.e., organizational, operational and geographic. These boundaries determine which emissions are accounted for and reported by the entity. Carbon dioxide (CO2) The most common of the six primary GHGs, consisting of a single carbon atom and two oxygen atoms, and providing the reference point for the GWP of other gases. (Thus, the GWP of CO2 is equal to 1.) CO2 equivalent (CO2e) The universal unit for comparing emissions of different GHGs expressed in terms of the GWP of one unit of carbon dioxide. Co-generation An energy conversion process in which more than one useful product (e.g., electricity and heat or steam) is generated from the same energy input stream. Also referred to as combined heat and power (CHP). Combined heat and power (CHP) Same as co-generation. Direct emissions Emissions from sources within the reporting entity’s organizational boundaries that are owned or controlled by the reporting entity, including stationary combustion emissions, mobile combustion emissions, process emissions, and fugitive emissions. All direct emissions are Scope 1 emissions, with the exception of biogenic CO2 emissions from biomass combustion. Double counting Two or more reporting entities taking ownership of the same emissions or reductions. Emission factor A unique value for determining an amount of a GHG emitted on a per unit activity basis (for example, metric tons of CO2 emitted per million Btus of coal combusted, or metric tons of CO2 emitted per kWh of electricity consumed). 36 Fossil fuel A fuel, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, produced by the decomposition of ancient (fossilized) plants and animals. Fugitive emissions Emissions that are not physically controlled but result from the intentional or unintentional release of GHGs. They commonly arise from the production, processing, transmission, storage and use of fuels or other substances, often through joints, seals, packing, gaskets, etc. Examples include HFCs from refrigeration leaks, SF6 from electrical power distributors, and CH4 from solid waste landfills. Global warming potential (GWP) The ratio of radiative forcing (degree of warming to the atmosphere) that would result from the emission of one mass-based unit of a given GHG compared to one equivalent unit of carbon dioxide (CO2) over a given period of time. Greenhouse gases (GHGs) For the purposes of this Protocol, GHGs are the six gases identified in the Kyoto Protocol: carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrous oxide (N2O), methane (CH4), hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6). Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) One of the six primary GHGs, a group of manmade chemicals with various commercial uses (e.g., refrigerants) composed of one or two carbon atoms and varying numbers of hydrogen and fluorine atoms. Most HFCs are highly potent GHGs with 100-year GWPs in the thousands. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) International body of climate change scientists. The role of the IPCC is to assess the scientific, technical and socio-economic information relevant to the understanding of the risk of human-induced climate change (www.ipcc.ch). Inventory A comprehensive, quantified list of an organization’s GHG emissions and sources. Kilowatt hour (kWh) The electrical energy unit of measure equal to one thousand watts of power supplied to, or taken from, an electric circuit steadily for one hour. (A Watt is the unit of electrical power equal to one ampere under a pressure of one volt, or 1/746 horsepower.) Kyoto Protocol A protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Ratified in 2005, it requires countries listed in its Annex B (developed nations) to meet reduction targets of GHG emissions relative to their 1990 levels during the period of 2008–12. Methane (CH4) One of the six primary GHGs, consisting of a single carbon atom and four hydrogen atoms, possessing a GWP of 21, and produced through the anaerobic decomposition of waste in landfills, animal digestion, decomposition of animal wastes, production and distribution of natural gas and petroleum, coal production, and incomplete fossil fuel combustion. Metric ton (MT, tonne) Common international measurement for the quantity of GHG emissions, equivalent to about 2,204.6 pounds or 1.1 short tons. Natural gas A naturally occurring mixture of hydrocarbons (e.g., methane, ethane, or propane) produced in geological formations beneath 37 the earth's surface that maintains a gaseous state at standard atmospheric temperature and pressure under ordinary conditions. Nitrous oxide (N2O) One of the six primary GHGs, consisting of two nitrogen atoms and a single oxygen atom, possessing a GWP of 310, and typically generated as a result of soil cultivation practices, particularly the use of commercial and organic fertilizers, fossil fuel combustion, nitric acid production, and biomass burning. Perfluorocarbons (PFCs) One of the six primary GHGs, A group of man-made chemicals composed of one or two carbon atoms and four to six fluorine atoms, containing no chlorine. Originally introduced as alternatives to ozone depleting substances, PFCs have few commercial uses and are typically emitted as by-products of industrial and manufacturing processes. PFCs have very high GWPs and are very long-lived in the atmosphere. Scope Defines the operational boundaries in relation to indirect and direct GHG emissions. Scope 1 emissions All direct GHG emissions, with the exception of direct CO2 emissions from biogenic sources. Scope 2 emissions Indirect GHG emissions associated with the consumption of purchased or acquired electricity, heating, cooling, or steam. Scope 3 emissions All indirect emissions not covered in Scope 2. Examples include upstream and downstream emissions, emissions resulting from the extraction and production of purchased materials and fuels, transport-related activities in vehicles not owned or controlled by the reporting entity, use of sold products and services, outsources activities, recycling of used products, waste disposal, etc. Short ton (ton) Common measurement for a ton in the U.S. and equivalent to 2,000 pounds or about 0.907 metric tons. Standard cubic foot (scf) The amount of gas that would occupy a volume of one cubic foot if free of combined water at standard conditions. Sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) One of the six primary GHGs, consisting of a single sulfur atom and six fluoride atoms, possessing a very high GWP of 23,900, and primarily used in electrical transmission and distribution systems. Therm A measure of one hundred thousand (105) Btu. United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Signed in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit, the UNFCCC is a milestone Convention on Climate Change treaty that provides an overall framework for international efforts to mitigate climate change. The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the UNFCCC.