Energy: Sustainable Strategies
Most primary fuels are traded on international commodities markets and are affected by decisions and events occurring in other parts of the world. However, new policies and technologies focused on energy demand have increased the role of local governments in the energy system.
Energy Resource Priorities
The cheapest energy is the energy you do not use. Choose energy sources to maximize their cost effectiveness and minimize their environmental impact. Good choices will lead to energy efficient components and design, use of clean renewable energy, and adaptation to advanced conventional energy resources.
Distributed Energy Resources
Local governments often have little influence over existing conventional energy systems. But there are ways to make a sustainable difference. Use alternative energy resources such as onsite renewable energy to the extent possible. Build or renovate to energy efficient-LEED standards. These and other actions offer benefits including job creation, increased resilience of the energy system, and improved environmental quality.
Affordability and Life-cycle costs
Different approaches to meeting local energy needs bear different types of costs. Communities should consider affordability and long-term price stability among their priorities. Low electricity rates do not necessarily lead to low energy bills if consumers live and work in energy inefficient buildings. Renewable energy systems may come with higher initial costs than other options but have lower operating costs over their lifetime.
Energy Security
Using diverse energy resources will increase the resilience of the energy system compared to price and supply issues associated with using a single energy resource.
Energy that comes from sources that are not depleted by use. Examples include energy from the sun, wind, and small (low-impact) hydropower, plus geothermal energy and wave and tidal systems.Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a building rating system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to measure energy efficiency. It provides a standard for environmentally sustainable construction.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.
