Introduction

Current Energy Situation

To be successful in determining our energy future, the community (e.g., business, citizens, education, government, and other organizations) will need to be active in these areas:

1. Leadership

• Develop agreement toward the need for understanding changes in our energy choices.
  
  

• Include energy issues early in any decision process and in a comprehensive manner, particularly for transportation, new construction, and renovation.
  
  

• Recognize that improvements in energy use should be monitored continuously because of changing conditions.

2. Education

• Share information among colleagues and others.
  
  

• Share case histories and make new and existing information readily available.
  
  

• Actively use public and private media, including print and electronic, to inform people of options and facts.

3. Economics

• Compare economic alternatives and highlight the value of energy savings by using life-cyclecosting (cost of annual energy use over life of product compared to cost of purchase).
  
  

• Provide realistic incentives and remove barriers for energy users and providers.
  
  

• Reinvest savings from reduced energy use into continuing efforts and leverage funds for new sources of energy.

4. Technology

• Be open to new designs and evaluate new options.
  
  

• Use voluntary rating systems and energy codes/guidelines.
  
  

• Recognize that technology is changing rapidly - stay current.

Creating a more desirable energy future is a complex process that requires broad community involvement for good decision making. We need to look at energy issues from different points of view and develop strategies that will move us through this transition period successfully. Energy use absorbs capital, has environmental impacts, and disproportionally has negative effects on lower income neighborhoods. Energy cannot be separated from other community topics such as economic development, transportation, land use, housing, and recreation.

Listed below are four strategic goals. They provide a framework for looking at the energy situation and will help stimulate thought and organize the planning process. For each goal, a question is raised and three broad examples are provided to add clarification.

1. Increase community benefits by more efficient energy use

How can the we reduce energy waste and provide the benefits of energy efficiency to the community?

• Educate everyone on what is already available to do this.
  
  

• Use improved technology (e.g., solar, efficiency).
  
  

• Promote solutions targeted to the end user such as alternate resources or reduction in energy demand.

2. Improve the energy supply

How can we better assure continued availability of energy?

• Support efforts to reduce our dependency on imported oil without simply exhausting our domestic oil.
  
  

• Diversify to a more balanced mix of energy sources.
  
  

• Increase use of local energy sources as they become more economical.

3. Protect against the negative impacts of energy use

How can the negative environmental, economic, and social impacts and costs of energy be reduced?

• Improve efficiencies of existing energy use.
  
  

• Develop renewable energy sources.
  
  

• Focus on transportation and building life-cycle costing.

4. Work together to achieve a desirable energy future

How can leadership be developed to most effectively find solutions to the community's energy problems? How can our citizens become better informed about and take action on energy related options available to them?

• Develop local leadership in energy matters.
  
  

• Expand the knowledge and information base through education (including school curricula, mass media, and specialized means).
  
  

• Provide direct and clearinghouse information to help citizens become better informed