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Sustainability Strategic Plan for the City of University City, Missouri <br />September 12, 2011/ REVISED JANUARY 8, 2012 <br />Page 27 <br /> <br />Energy <br />Committee Members; Tim Michels <br />What is not understood in this country/society is that we waste a lot of energy and the money that we pay for that energy. This waste is not <br />because we don’t have options. It is a function of inertia and lack of attention to the causes of waste. As children, most of us were admonished (or <br />worse) by our parents to turn out the lights when we leave a room. It is that simple: be conscious that we should not waste what we do not need. <br />Energy Efficiency Measures (EEMs) are not about sacrificing to save the planet from global warming. It is good that EEMs will help in this matter, but <br />that alone will not solve the problem. What EEMs are about is common sense and saving money. <br />Most institutions/corporations/homes etc., can invest in reducing their energy usage by 20-25% with a payback of less than 4-5 years. For home <br />owners, this represents a 20-25% after tax return on investment that is guaranteed every year. The problem is that most of us do not know that we <br />have options and we can take control of our energy usage without changing our live style or comfort requirements. <br />This “Energy” section works to fashion opportunities, based on experience and existing technology, for all segments of the University City <br />community that will help make them more energy efficient with significant financial rewards. Sacrifice will be required, but what we have to learn to <br />sacrifice is 1) our habits of continuing to waste energy and money, a sense of powerlessness that we can do something about it and inexorably rising <br />utility bills. <br />1. Municipal <br /> <br />Goals Actions <br />1 <br />Reduce City Building Energy <br />Consumption 25% by 2015 <br />a Establish City investment criteria for energy efficiency [Rules that trigger investment] <br />b Establish City usage for all meters on all buildings for future measurement and <br />verification <br />c Determine Energy Star Ratings for all facilities <br />d Establish street light energy usage <br />e Establish City Carbon Footprint over the next 18 months <br />i Buildings (utility meters) data <br />ii Vehicles <br />iii Traffic Signals and Street Lighting <br />iv Employee Commute <br />v Secondary (water/sewage demand) <br />f Energy Audit and Master Plan for energy efficiency measures for all buildings