Orlando aims to reach 90% emissions reductions by 2040 via a series of sector-specific strategies, led by public investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy.
Orlando’s “Green Works” program is the city’s main policy tool for driving a 90% carbon emissions reduction by 2040 and is divided into seven focus areas: energy and green buildings, local food systems, solid waste, livability, transportation, water, and the green economy. Each focus area and the initiatives therein have important impacts on the community and are driven by specific strategic goals for 2040, as described in the Community Action Plan.
The city leads by example and aims to achieve carbon neutrality in municipal operations by 2030 via energy efficiency upgrades to buildings and by transitioning to 100% renewable energy. The buildings will also be connected to a city-wide building automation system, which tracks the success of new installations via an online building analytics dashboard. Improvements have been financed under a savings-as-payment finance model.
Orlando has decreased its electricity consumption in municipal buildings by half, surpassing the 2030 goal, and has reduced city-wide carbon emissions by more than 30% to date.
41,000 metric tons of CO2 equivalent reduced per year from 2015, compared with a 2010 baseline
Cities100 – 2017
The challenge
Orlando and Florida more generally have been heavily reliant on coal and natural gas for energy, and renewables provided just 2% of the state’s electricity in 2015. However, as prices plummet for solar and wind power, renewable energy becomes much more attractive for cities in the Sunshine State.
Co-benefits
Economic The energy efficiency improvements save around $2.5 million annually and add value to municipal buildings.
Environmental Orlando aims to grow an urban forest, with trees on 95% of streets with tree-growing potential, which entails planting an additional 250,000 trees by 2040.
Health By committing to 100% electricity from renewable sources by 2030 in municipal operations, and promoting clean mobility solutions, Orlando is improving air quality and reducing respiratory problems for citizens.
About Orlando
Orlando is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It is the center of the Orlando metropolitan area, which had a population of 2,387,138 in 2016. The City of Orlando is nicknamed “The City Beautiful,” and its symbol is the fountain at Lake Eola. As one of the world’s most visited tourist destinations, Orlando’s famous attractions form the backbone of its tourism industry but the city is also one of the busiest American cities for conferences and conventions.
