This post is written as part of Blog Action Day '09, a collaboration among more than 10,000 blogs exploring various facets of Climate Change.  Find out more at http://www.blogactionday.org.

by Elizabeth "EB" Brooks, City Hall Fellow Houston '09

Houston is known as the "Energy Capital of the World" for its many ties to the oil and gas industry, but its municipal government is truly dedicated to energy conservation as well as investing in renewable energy technology.  If Texas were a country, it would be the 8^th largest emitter of carbon dioxide in the world, but Mayor Bill White is dedicated to ensuring that the City of Houston is addressing the government's role in this issue, not only for the environment, but for the health of its residents as well as the viability of its economy. 

First of all, the City of Houston has set an extremely progressive goal to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 2010to 11% under our 2005 base limit.  In order to accomplish this incredible feat, the Office of Environmental Programming is working with many City departments to design, implement and a wide variety of programs, some of which are mentioned below.  To read a full copy of the Emissions Reduction Plan, please click here.  Also, the City has partnered with several key organizations to address our greenhouse gas emissions and develop creative solutions to reduce them, such as the Clinton Climate Initiative and ICLEI, the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives.

The following are a few aspects of the City's progressive plan to address climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions:

* Purchasing Wind Power

In 2007, the City negotiated a contract for 30 MW of wind power with the option to increase the amount by 10 MW each year to a total of80 MW. The City has brought on the additional 10 MW each year thus far - the current amount purchased is 50 MW.  For the year of 2009 alone, 314,626tons of greenhouse gas emissions will be avoided by switching 50 MW of demand to wind power.
 
* Solar Power Installations
In April of 2008, Houston was picked as a Solar America City. With this recognition came a $200K grant from DOE and a $200K match from BP Solar.  With the funds, the city installed 6.6KW systems at the Code Enforcement Building and the City Hall Annex. There are also a lot of other systems around Houston - the biggest one is atop the George R. Brown Convention Center, recently installed - 100 KW.  To learn more about solar initiative shappening in the Houston area, including the city government's efforts, please click here.

* City Building Retrofit

The City has contracted with Siemens and Johnson Controls to perform energy efficiency upgrades on 271 city facilities. The improvements will be paid for through energy savings, estimated at a 30% overall reduction.

* New City Building LEED Certification

All new construction of City facilities over 10,000 square feet are required to be LEED(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified.  While these standards focus on many other aspects of environmentally-responsible construction, energy efficiency and emphasis on renewable sources and natural lighting play a large role in certification.
 
* LED Traffic Lights
As traffic signals wear out and require maintenance, the City is replacing the systems with LED traffic lights at all of its 2,450 signalized intersections.In 2007 alone, the City converted 400 signals to LEDs, which produced an annual savings of more than 2.7 million kWh of electricity. When all are replaced, the conversion will save $3.6 million per year in electricity savings.

* Recycling Program for all City Facilities

The City recently implemented a workplace recycling program, which will significantly increase diversion from the landfill.  In addition to this, a group of City Hall Fellows recently conducted a study of the City's waste stream andidentified additional sources for diversion where recycling efforts could be increased, some of which have been implemented since the report.

* Houston Airport System's Environmental Initiatives
The airport is greening up its operations by installing lighting controls in interior/exterior areas and creating green workplace policies.

* Lighting Retrofit Project
The General Services Department, responsible for building maintenance, upgraded the lighting (from T12 w/ magnetic ballasts to T8 w/ electronic ballasts - also CFLs) in many facilities in 2006.

* Installation of Energy Miser Technology and Light Bulb Removal from Vending Machines
These two measures save the city $33,280 per year in electricity.

* Mayor's Hybrids
Selective replacement of non-specialized city fleet vehicles with hybrids
- by 2010, the city will own 1,600 hybrids, the third largest hybrid fleet
in the country.

Ultimately, it is clear to see that with strong leadership and a dedication to change, there are possibilities for major economic and environmental savings within government.  With new technologies coming online every day and a recession that pushes for wiser use of taxpayer dollars, city governments have the opportunity and the obligation to invest in intelligent choices today for benefits that will be reaped for generations to come.