Strategic plans often are ineffective without someone to shepherd the plan along. In our community setting, we believe it necessary to have a team of community representatives to do this, and we should identify the team as a catalyst for getting the plan realized. This is the critical step in implementing this Community Strategic Energy Plan; MEC can play an organizing role but the community must be involved in the actual implementation.

Below is a list of four areas for potential priorities and action items, organized by sectors (buildings, transportation, local government and community), or by type of activity (education and information). This list has examples of actions that the community catalysts could choose to implement to benefit the Tucson community. Other examples will be found through continually reviewing what others have done and what people in the Tucson metropolitan area have found effective in their own organizations. Once an action item is selected by the community energy catalyst groups, the Metropolitan Energy Commission will track the status of the activity.

1. Buildings: Promote energy efficiency, energy conservation, and the use of renewable energy sources in new and existing buildings.

• Encourage energy efficiency, energy conservation, and the use of active and passive solar energy and other renewables in building design and construction (especially through incentives).
  
  

• Improve building orientation and placement in site planning to optimize energy efficiency.
  
  

• Develop and expand the Civano program (Tucson Solar Village)
  
  

• Create incentives for consumers to purchase and use energy efficiency and renewable energy products and services.
  
  

• Encourage the financial community to offer mortgage incentives (energy efficient mortgages) that take into account the energy efficiency of the building.
  
  

• Develop codes and standards that encourage energy conservation, energy efficiency, and the use of renewable energy resources. Structure building codes that provide incentives for energy efficiency rather than simple minimum standards.
  
  

• Design and implement building energy rating systems for homes and businesses.
  
  

• Create demonstrations with developers/builders (e.g., in siting, energy efficiency, and renewable energy sources).

2. Transportation: Encourage improvements in traffic flow, travel reductions, effective public transportation, and vehicles that use alternative fuels.

• Improve traffic flow and signalization (e.g., timing) throughout the metropolitan area.
  
  

• Encourage travel reductions such as car-pooling, compressed work weeks, and tel-commuting.
  
  

• Encourage the use of alternative fuels, including electricity and natural gas, in private and public vehicles.
  
  

• Develop and implement effective and affordable public transportation.
  
  

• Establish major corridors for alternative transportation that are significant and useful.
  
  

• Include bicycle lanes in all new roads and improvements.
  
  

• Address energy implications in all land use planning (such as street layout and design).
  
  

• Require safe, continuous, and inviting sidewalks or walk ways for pedestrians along all streets.
  
  

• Investigate creative zoning for mixed uses and address atypical work, recreating, and living patterns.

3. Local Government and Community: Encourage the use of good energy practices by the City and County as a model for others in the community.

• Provide community leadership by becoming a catalyst and model for creativity and innovation in energy matters.
  
  

• Develop and implement energy efficiency standards for all City and County buildings, including design and retrofit projects.
  
  

• Participate in national and regional consortiums, such as the Green Lights and Clean Cities programs, as a model to others.
  
  

• Use solar energy and other renewable sources in City and County projects as a model for others in the community.
  
  

• Work with other levels of government and with private groups to establish guidelines for energy use.
  
  

• Consider energy issues as part of standard City and County planning and operations, e.g., by using life-cycle costing in economic analyses.
  
  

• Seek and encourage a more diverse and balanced supply of energy. Emphasize and promote local energy supplies and production.
  
  

• Maintain and update contingency plans in case of disrupted oil supply.
  
  

• Encourage programs for addressing energy costs for low income households.
  
  

• Encourage local economic development in renewable energy sources/technologies and energy conservation.
  
  

• Promote xeriscape and planting of drought tolerant trees to reduce water use and increase shading.

4. Education and Information: Encourage the citizens of Tucson to implement energy efficiency measures and use renewable energy in their homes and businesses.

• Encourage the implementation of energy efficiency and conservation measures in building design, construction, and retrofit of existing structures.
  
  

• Encourage citizens to use solar and renewable energy products and services.
  
  

• Create incentives for environmental technology businesses that produce and market energy efficient and renewable energy products and services.
  
  

• Support community partnerships for environmental and technological development.
  
  

• Create an Energy Information Center to inform citizens regarding techniques for energy efficiency, conservation, and renewable energy, as well as other energy matters.
  
  

• Create a directory of local businesses offering energy efficiency and renewable energy products and services.
  
  

• Design and implement demonstration projects which illustrate efficient energy use and renewable energy sources and technologies.
  
  

• Develop and then promote Tucson as one of the "Solar Capitals of the World".
  
  

• Recognize those who are doing good work in the area of energy conservation and renewable energy and share their success stories.
  
  

• Encourage ongoing research and collection of data related to energy matters.
  
  

• Develop programs directed at school children.