Establishing a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program: Briefing
Residential and commercial end-users account for 41% of U.S. energy consumption. Building are constructed to have a typical lifecycle of between 50-100 years. Because of this, performing energy improvements/retrofits today can dramatically reduce the environmental impact of our buildings. However, two realities deter property owners from retrofiting their buildings: the upfront costs and a payback period that may exceed the length of property ownership. To promote energy efficiency and stimulate local jobs growth, the US federal government and multiple states have passed enabling legislation creating Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs.
PACE financing is a mechanism to loan property owners funds for energy improvements/retrofits such as solar panels, small wind turbines, energy efficiency measures, and water-saving features that reduce the amount of energy used to treat and heat water. The PACE loan repayment obligation typically attaches to the property via an added property tax assessment instead of to the individual. This template provides the framework for a one page executive summary to a Mayor, City Manager, or other Chief Executive on establishing a property assessed clean energy (PACE) program. This template can be utilized as a press conference briefing, stakeholder meeting briefing or a conversation outline if the Sustainability Officer only has 30 seconds to discuss this issue with the municipal executive.
It is important to note that this template is offered only as a starting point. Sustainability Officers will need to customize this briefing document to reflect the specific conditions and data of their local communities and proposals.
Any party with an interest in an initiative.Any change to an existing facility, such as the adjustment, connection, or disconnection of equipment.Energy efficiency is the process of using less energy to produce the same or increased functions. Often used mistakenly as a synonym for ENERGY CONSERVATION. The ability or potential of a physical body to do work. The most common forms of energy are heat, light, mechanical (moving parts), and electrical.
