Tomorrow`s energy today for cities and counties: Energy dollars relieve municipal budget pressures

All cities and counties are heavy energy users, but many opportunities exist for savings. According to the National Science Foundation, cities can often reduce energy costs by 15% without affecting the services they provide to their citizens. These reductions can take place in almost all municipal operations, including buildings, water supply and treatment, and transportation. One opportunity for savings in a municipality that requires little upfront investment involves coordinating an energy program. This is a key first step to effective energy management. This process usually involves all city departments and often relies on the expertise of existing staff. There are at least two financial components of effective energy management: accounting and budget incentives. The article explains how these incentives work and how Phoenix, Arizona lowered its energy bill