What is Using Our Energy: Energy Use and Breakdown
Energy use in local governments can be analyzed in two ways: on a local government operations basis and on a community basis. Local government operations includes electricity use by buildings, traffic and street lighting, process operations such as water/wastewater treatment, fuel use for transportation, and possibly other activities. Generally, local government operations will be dominated by electricity use (approximately 75%).
Community-wide energy use is typically associated with the following categories: residential, commercial, industrial, transportation and sometimes "other," depending on the purpose of the energy analysis. Electricity use and transportation fuels comprise the largest two sectors in this case (generally each between 33-66%). Local governments vary in energy consuming sectors based on their make-up. For example rural communities may have higher transportation energy use than more densely populated areas. While these statistics are available at the national and state level, local information is not universally available and may require effort to assemble.
Many local governments conduct greenhouse gas inventories which involve the collection and analysis of energy use data for both local government operations and the larger community. Conducting an analysis is the only way to effectively understand the breakdown of energy use in a particular community.
RATIONALE
Understanding where energy use occurs is the first step in establishing a plan to reduce energy consumption, save money and protect the environment. Knowing the greatest sources of energy consumption in their community enables local governments to prioritize the largest and most cost effective energy reduction opportunities.
EFFORT REQUIRED
Easy to moderate effort is required to conduct an energy analysis. The data required to perform an energy analysis or inventory may be located in several different places and require assembling, transforming and formatting. Data might be found in such varied sources including local electric and natural gas utilities, regional planning or transportation organizations, and state energy or tax agencies.
BENEFIT
Conducting an energy analysis or inventory enables a local government to make informed decisions to achieve the greatest energy savings at the lowest cost.
ACTION AGENTS
- Sustainability Officers
- Local electric and natural gas utilities
COST
Costs include use of staff time or costs associated with acquiring data from utilities or other agencies.
The used water from a home, community, farm, or industry that contains dissolved or suspended matter. Not fit for human consumption.Greenhouse gases are a part of the Earth's atmosphere and are both naturally occurring and the result of human chemical processes. The most common greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide, water vapor, methane, nitrous oxide, ozone, and chlorofluourocarbons. These gases trap heat and thus contribute to the warming of the planet. See also CFCS and GREENHOUSE EFFECT.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.
