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greater energy efficiency throughout a larger
<br />geographic area.
<br />Utility -driven programs typically
<br />address the energy efficiency of
<br />governmental operations (e.g., water
<br />treatment, streetlights, and facilities),
<br />assistance to local businesses (e.g., lighting
<br />retrofits) and community residents (e.g.,
<br />weatherproofing). The programs are often
<br />funded by the local utility and may use
<br />ratepayer fees identified for this purpose.
<br />Forming multijurisdictional
<br />partnerships, particularly where large
<br />utilities are involved, can be a particularly
<br />effective way to achieve energy -efficiency
<br />gains. In 2009, the California Public Utilities
<br />Commission authorized $32 million for local
<br />governments to engage in strategic energy
<br />efficiency activities. As part of this effort,
<br />Southern California Edison is partnering
<br />Forming
<br />multijurisdictional
<br />partnerships,
<br />particularly where
<br />large utilities are
<br />involved, can be a
<br />particularly effective
<br />way to achieve energy -
<br />efficiency gains,
<br />with 27 member agencies ofthe San Gabriel
<br />Valley Council of Govemments (SGVCOG)
<br />to prepare energy efficiency plans. In early
<br />2012, SGVCOG elicited assistance from the
<br />planning consulting firm PMC to develop a
<br />toolkit to help jurisdictions adopt regulations
<br />that promote energy efficiency. This Model
<br />Energy Efficient Code Toolkit will provide a
<br />framework to help local governments address
<br />energy -efficiency targets, goals, and policies
<br />through development regulations. Although
<br />certain provisions are calibrated for Southem
<br />California, most of the ideas included in the
<br />model are applicable in other states and
<br />geographies as well. The full toolkit will be
<br />available in late January 2013 at www
<br />.sgvenergywise.org.
<br />REFERENCES
<br />Adrian, W. and R. Jabanputra. 21305. Influence of Pavement Reflectance on Lighting for
<br />Parking Lots. Skokie, Illinois: Portland Cement Association. Available at www
<br />.secement.org/PDFs/SN2458.pdf.
<br />Akbari, Hashem. 2005. Energy Saving Potentials and Air Quality Benefits of Urban Heat
<br />Island Mitigation. Berkeley, California: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.
<br />Available at http://escholarship.org/uc/item/4gs5f42s.
<br />Austin (Texas), City of. 2012. "Green Roofs." Available at http://austintexas.gov
<br />/department/green-roofs.
<br />Los Angeles, City of. 2o1z. "Low Impact Development." Available at www.lastormwater
<br />.org/green-la/low-impact-development.
<br />Natural Resources Defense Council. 2009. "Water Efficiency Saves Energy: Reducing
<br />Global Warming Pollution Through Water Use Strategies." Available at www.nrdc
<br />.org/water/files/energywater.pdf.
<br />Sullivan, Colin. 21309. "Will Electric Cars Wreck the Grid?" Scientific American, August 13.
<br />Available at www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=will-electric-cars
<br />-wreck-the-grid.
<br />Tucson (Arizona), City of. zo1z. Outdoor Lighting Code. Available at http://cms3
<br />.tucsonaz.gov/pdsd/codes-ordinances.
<br />CONCLUSIONS
<br />Development regulations clearly offer
<br />numerous opportunities to promote
<br />energy savings, and given the increasing
<br />awareness of energy -related issues in many
<br />communities, this may be an ideal time to
<br />present needed updates to outdated zoning
<br />codes. The strategies discussed above are
<br />not intended to be an exhaustive list but only
<br />a starting point to stimulate conversation.
<br />What is particularly interesting about this
<br />subject matter is that it allows consideration
<br />of a number of past zoning strategies
<br />(e.g., smart growth, form -based codes,
<br />performance standards, lighting limits,
<br />compact development, etc.) through the
<br />tens of energy efficiency.
<br />Finally, planners should consider
<br />contacting their local utilities for
<br />partnership opportunities. Many utilities
<br />are operating at or near capacity and may
<br />be looking for creative ways to increase
<br />energy efficiency and better serve utility
<br />ratepayers.
<br />VOL. 29, NO. 12
<br />Zoning Practice is a monthly publication of the American Planning Association. Subscriptions are
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