Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP)

Strategy BE-2. Encourage increased building energy efficiency and conservation. In addition to changing the energy source, cutting energy use within buildings presents another opportunity to reduce emissions. This strategy presents actions to reduce energy consumption through efficiency improvements in the commercial and residential sectors. PRIORITY ACTIONS BE-2-1. Increase outreach efforts to expand participation in energy efficiency programs and promote climate-friendly practices in building and construction. Ashland currently provides energy conserva - tion incentives and educational materials to residents and businesses through its electric energy efficiency programs. The program currently provides guidance for conducting home energy audits, as well as incentives for weatherization, improved heating and cooling, and more efficient appliances. Expanded outreach efforts will ensure that all Ashland residents are aware of these valuable programs and understand actions they can take to be more energy efficient in the home. For example, the City could discuss with businesses ways to reduce energy use through appliance or lighting upgrades. The City could also explore other ways to promote climate-friendly buildings, such as through introducing new mandates into the land use code that require mitigation (e.g., reduced energy use) and/or adaptation (e.g., increased cooling) elements in the built environment.C Mi AdC Mi Ad C MiBE-2-2. Require building energy scores to identify and incentivize cost-effective energy efficiency improvements. Energy used in Ashland’s building stock accounts for more than one-quarter of the city’s green - house gas emissions. The City could require and facilitate energy audits and/or scores for Ashland’s buildings, perhaps triggered at the point of sale or permitting phase for new devel - opment or major remodels. For example, the City of Portland requires commercial buildings over a certain size threshold to annually report their energy use. The City also recently proposed a policy that would require sellers of single-family homes to obtain a home energy performance report and disclose the report to the City and prospective home buyers. The audits could educate property managers about energy use and opportunities, help the City understand building energy use, and facilitate implementation of energy-saving measures. BE-2-3. Identify and adopt strategies to reduce energy efficiency barriers in rent/lease properties. Residents and businesses who own their prop - erties often have stronger incentives to invest in energy efficiency technologies and equipment than those who rent or lease their homes and offices. Although more difficult to motivate, the introduction of energy efficiency approaches in rental and lease properties presents a signifi - cant opportunity for reducing emissions from buildings. 54 ASHLAND CLIMATE & ENERGY ACTION PLANBUILDINGS & ENERGY54