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Item 1.D.
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| City Council Regular | |
| Date: | 04/26/2021 |
| Title: | LEED for Cities Grant Acceptance |
| Presented by: | Debi Meling |
| Department: | Public Works |
| Presentation: | No |
RECOMMENDATION
The Energy and Conservation Commission (ECC) recommends acceptance of a grant from the U.S. Green Building Council to participate in the LEED for Cities (formerly S.T.A.R. Cities) Local Government Leadership Program.
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
The Energy and Conservation Commission (ECC) was formed in 2019. The ECC is made up of seven (7) commission members (Billings residents) and two (2) staff liaisons.
The purpose of the ECC is to consider ways to conserve energy and water, and reduce waste and pollution. This includes making recommendations where the City can reduce the amount of money it spends on resources and ways to limit the City’s impact on the environment. Upon completing the resource inventory, the ECC found that the City of Billings is a state and regional leader in resource conservation while reducing costs to citizens with innovative projects such as the landfill methane capture and the West End Reservoir and Treatment Plant. However, the ECC found that the innovative resource and cost saving projects that have and continue to be implemented are not widely known or recognized.
At the April 19, 2021 City Council Meeting, the ECC presented and recommended acceptance of a grant from the U.S. Green Building Council to participate in the LEED for Cities (formerly S.T.A.R. Cities) Local Government Leadership Program. The program will be utilized by the ECC as a framework to recommend ways to conserve energy, water, and reduce waste. Additionally, the program will benchmark and recognize the extensive energy and conservation efforts that the City of Billings has already achieved.
The purpose of the ECC is to consider ways to conserve energy and water, and reduce waste and pollution. This includes making recommendations where the City can reduce the amount of money it spends on resources and ways to limit the City’s impact on the environment. Upon completing the resource inventory, the ECC found that the City of Billings is a state and regional leader in resource conservation while reducing costs to citizens with innovative projects such as the landfill methane capture and the West End Reservoir and Treatment Plant. However, the ECC found that the innovative resource and cost saving projects that have and continue to be implemented are not widely known or recognized.
At the April 19, 2021 City Council Meeting, the ECC presented and recommended acceptance of a grant from the U.S. Green Building Council to participate in the LEED for Cities (formerly S.T.A.R. Cities) Local Government Leadership Program. The program will be utilized by the ECC as a framework to recommend ways to conserve energy, water, and reduce waste. Additionally, the program will benchmark and recognize the extensive energy and conservation efforts that the City of Billings has already achieved.
ALTERNATIVES
City Council may:
- Accept the grant from the U.S. Green Building Council and participate in the LEED for Cities Local Government Leadership Program; or,
- Not accept the grant and provide additional direction to the ECC.
FISCAL EFFECTS
There is no cost to the City of Billings. Grant acceptance waives the LEED for Cities program fees (approximately $10,500.00).