Innovative Financing and Incentive Package to Reduce Municipal Energy Consumption: Data Needs, Administrative Procedures, and Financing Options

摘要

The research performed by the City of New Orleans during this project consisted of four tasks: an analysis of the energy usage of municipal buildings; the development of profile of City operating procedures; the identification and analysis of potential management incentives; and the identification and analysis of potential creative financing methods for capital improvements. As a result of the project described in this report, each City department will receive for the first time, monthly consumption data on buildings within its department using an excess amount of energy. In addition, the Departments of Property Management, Recreation and Welfare (the three departments with maintenance responsibilities), have set up ''conservation teams'' to make low cost and no cost conservation improvements in City facilities. Also, a stronger role for the Energy Management Task Force is recommended. While the group currently lacks a specific role, it is now recommended that the group review all capital budget requests, monitor the monthly consumption data provided to the departments, and ensure that action is taken by departments in response to the monthly consumption data reports. The final major product of this project is an analysis of creative financing mechanisms for capital improvements. The analysis shows that a shared savings program can produce more benefits than general bond financing of the improvements. The City is currently pursuing such a financing plan. 8 tabs.