This online engineering PDH course describes how local governments can achieve multiple benefits by improving the energy efficiency of their new, existing, and reno¬vated facilities and their day-to-day operations. Saving energy through energy efficiency improvements can be more cost effective than generating, transmitting, and distributing additional energy from power plants. Energy efficiency also helps reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and improves energy security and independence. This course describes strategies for developing and implementing energy efficiency programs and gives actual examples of communities in which similar programs have been successfully introduced. This course is based on the Environmental Protection Agency document, “Energy Efficiency in Local Government Operations, A Guide to Developing and Implementing Greenhouse Gas Reduction Programs” 2011, from the EPA’s Local Government Climate and Energy Strategy Series.

Learning Objectives

• Improving energy efficiency in existing and new local government facilities
• Assessing baseline energy performance
• Setting goals
• Creating an action plan
• Implementing the action plan
• Evaluating progress
• Recognizing benefits of green buildings
• Case studies