Energy Efficiency The City of Oakland is demonstrating the value of energy efficiency through the work of its City Facilities Energy Improvement Program. This progressive energy management program is focused on continuously improving energy efficiency in municipal buildings, traffic signals and street lights. The City has retrofitted 102 of its 115 largest facilities (representing more than 60% of total building area), creating energy cost savings of over $1 million per year to the City's budget.
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Projects Generate Energy and Cost Savings! The City of Oakland, Public Works Agency received $3.9 million in ARRA stimulus funding for an Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) from the U.S. Department of Energy. This funding is being used for six projects in the City to improve energy efficiency and city operations, retain jobs, and lower operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions. The six projects are: lighting upgrades to City facilities including City Hall; heating and ventilation upgrades to old systems at the Police Administration building and Civic Center; bicycle lane improvements; conversion of Civic Center data center servers to virtual servers; green building training for City staff, and synchronization of traffic signals near the Coliseum and Hegenberger Road to improve traffic and transit flow during events and reduce fuel use. For more information about the City of Oakland ARRA projects please visit the City's Economic Recovery and Reinvestment page. Solar Energy The City has installed 1 Megawatt of solar electric panels on the rooftops of our Municipal Service Center and the downtown ice rink. These panels provide approximately 2.3% of our municipal electric load. Green Civic Buildings The City has adopted a Civic Green Building Ordinance requiring all new City facilities over $3 million in construction costs to meet LEED Silver green building standards, and has received green business certification for its Civic Center, Heavy Equipment Shop and Municipal Services Center facilities.
The City's Energy Group is planning energy efficiency improvement projects for all remaining City facilities.