Dallas
City Scorecard Rank
43
Dallas, TX
29.00Scored out of 100Updated 10/2020
Community-Wide Initiatives
Score: 3.5 out of 15 points
Community-Wide Climate Mitigation and Energy GoalsList All
Climate Mitigation Goal
Dallas' Comprehensive Environmental & Climate Action Plan established a goal of achieving community-wide carbon neutrality by 2050, with an interim target of reducing emissions 43% below 2015 levels by 2030. ACEEE was unable to project if the city will achieve its near-term community-wide GHG emissions reduction goal because insufficient GHG emissions data were available for our analysis.
The city does report greenhouse gas emissions in periodic reports to the Carbon Disclosure Project. The city’s most recent greenhouse gas inventory was released in 2019 and reports emissions from 2015.
Energy Efficiency Goal
The Dallas 2030 District initiative has a sector-specific goal to reduce energy use 50% by 2030 for the central business district. The city does not have a community-wide energy reduction goal.
Renewable Energy Goal
The city does not have a renewable energy goal.
Last updated: August 2023
Equity-Driven Approaches to Clean Energy Planning, Implementation, and EvaluationList All
Equity-Driven Community Engagement
Dallas offered transportation reimbursement to residents attending climate action planning meetings.
Equity-Driven Decision-Making
We were unable to determine if the city has created a formal role for marginalized community residents or local organizations representing those communities to participate in decision-making that affects the creation or implementation of a local energy, sustainability, or climate action plan.
Equity Accountability Measures
As part of the city’s Resilient Dallas Plan, the city created goals to improve equity within the city government. The city has also identified actions, partners, and timeframes by which to fulfill these goals.
Last updated: August 2023
Clean Distributed Energy ResourcesList All
The city has not adopted a formal policy, rule, or agreement that supports the creation of clean distributed energy systems.
Last updated: August 2023
Adaptive Mitigation List All
Heat Island Mitigation Policies and Programs
Dallas adopted the Green Building Program Ordinance which encourages the construction of sustainable buildings through two implementation phases. The first phase focused on encouraging energy efficiency, water conservation and reduction of the heat island effect through cool roofs. The second phase will expand to implement a comprehensive green building standard for all new construction. Newly proposed commercial projects with less than 50,000 square feet of floor area will be required to meet energy efficiency, water conservation, cool roof, and outdoor lighting requirements.
The city has adopted a private tree protection ordinance, but it does not apply to single family residential land. The city has not adopted policies that require or incentivize conservation of private land
The city created the Branch Out Dallas program, which provides trees native to Texas to single family residential properties. The program does not account for energy savings from tree plantings.
Resilience Hubs
Dallas is piloting the use of solar photovoltaics and battery storage at one of the sheltering facilities in a front-line community that lost both power and water in the winter storm of 2021.
Last updated: August 2023
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Workforce DevelopmentList All
Workforce development for disadvantaged workers
We could not determine if city has partnered with a local education institution, labor union, or community-based organization to create, support, and/or incentivize the development of clean energy workforce development initiatives that target training and support services for potential or existing workers from disadvantaged communities to obtain and keep in-demand jobs.
Workforce development for the broader community
We could not determine if city has partnered with a local education institution, labor union, or community-based organization to create, support, and/or incentivize the development of clean energy workforce development initiatives that target training and support services for potential or existing workers from the broader community to obtain and keep in-demand jobs.
Outcomes tracking
We could not determine if the city has instituted a mechanism to measure the performance and/or success of equitable workforce development initiatives focused on the clean energy sector.
Last updated: August 2023
Buildings Policies
Score: 9 out of 30 points
Building Energy CodesList All
Overview
The State of Texas allows its local jurisdictions to adopt and amend the Texas Building Energy Code. All residential and commercial building construction must comply with the 2021 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC).
To learn more about the Texas’s building energy code, please visit the State Policy Database.
Commercial
Commercial buildings in Dallas must comply with the Dallas Energy Conservation Code that incorporates the 2021 IEEC with amendments. The city’s zEPI score for their commercial energy code is 51.75.
Residential
Residential buildings in Dallas must comply with the Dallas Energy Conservation Code that incorporates the 2021 IEEC with amendments. The city’s zEPI score for their residential energy code is 61.66.
Solar-readiness policies
The 2021 International Energy Conservation code as adopted by the City of Dallas has provisions mandating that new residential and commercial construction be solar ready.
EV-readiness policies
The city has not adopted a policy mandating new construction be EV-ready.
Low-energy use requirements
The Dallas Green Ordinance requires projects less than 50,000 square feet to be 15% more efficient than required by the Dallas Energy Conservation Code. The city allows flexible compliance paths for both commercial and residential developments. Commercial projects may demonstrate compliance by adhering to the International Green Construction Code with city amendments or by achieving LEED certification. Residential projects may demonstrate compliance by following the Dallas prescriptive path, ICC 700, LEED for Homes, or Green Built Texas. Projects are verified for compliance through the Third Party Green Building Program.
Electrification policies
We could not find information on whether the city has adopted any electrification policies.
Last Update: September 2023
Building Energy Code Compliance and EnforcementList All
The city has two full-time employees solely dedicated to energy code enforcement. To ensure compliance, Dallas requires a third-party plan review and inspection from a registered energy provider, which can include performance testing. The city requires Residential/Commercial Green Providers to attend mandatory training on the city’s Green Building Code.
Last Update: September 2023
Policies Targeting Existing BuildingsList All
Incentives
The city offers property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing to commercial, industrial, and multifamily residential properties for water conservation, energy-efficiency, and solar installation.
The city also offers residential properties rebates for a range of home improvement actions that include energy efficiency upgrades.
Dallas’s updated housing policy includes provisions to finance energy efficiency upgrades that bring low-income homes up to current energy codes.
Program outcomes
We could not verify if the city collects data on incentive and financing programs to ensure equitable outcomes.
Voluntary programs
Dallas runs a 2030 District to encourage voluntary benchmarking.
Last Update: September 2023
Transportation
Score: 8.5 out of 30 points
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All
Sustainable Transportation Plan
Connect Dallas was adopted in 2021 and includes sustainable transportation strategies.
VMT/GHG Target and Stringency
The City of Dallas does not have a codified VMT or transportation GHG reduction target.
Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets
The City of Dallas does not have a codified VMT or transportation GHG reduction target, and therefore cannot make progress toward the target.
Last Updated: September 2023
Location Efficiency List All
Location Efficient Zoning Codes
We were unable to find information indicating that the City of Dallas has made changes to its zoning code in the past 10 years to facilitate more residential density, mixed-use development, or transit-oriented development.
Parking Requirements
We were unable to find information indicating that the City of Dallas has at least one zone, neighborhood, or district with a parking maximum of 1 or fewer spaces per housing unit or no minimum parking requirement for residential uses.
Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosure
The City of Dallas does not have location-efficient development incentives or disclosure policies.
Affordable Housing Around Transit
The City of Dallas does not currently require, preserve, or incentivize the development of affordable housing near transit.
Last Updated: September 2023
Mode Shift List All
Mode Shift Targets
According to the Connect Dallas Strategic Mobility Plan and CECAP, adopted in 2021 and 2020 respectively, the City has a goal of 21% of all trips being made by non-single occupant vehicles by 2030 and 38% by 2050.
Progress Achieved Toward Mode Shift Targets
The City of Dallas did not provide data collected on mode share since the adoption of its goal in 2021; therefore, we cannot assess progress toward the goal.
Subsidized Access to Efficient Transportation Options
Dallas Area Rapid Transit, the city’s primary public transit agency, offers reduced transit fares for residents who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits.
Last Updated: September 2023
Public Transit List All
Transit Funding
The transit entities that serve the City of Dallas have received $686,149,687.40 on average annually between 2017 and 2021 from local sources. That equates to roughly $271.12 per capita between 2017 and 2021 within the service area.
Access to Transit Services
The AllTransit Performance Score measures a given community's transit access and performance. The score considers connections to other routes, access to jobs, service frequency, and the percent of commuters who ride transit to work. The City of Dallas’s AllTransit Performance Score is 6.8, scoring 1 point in the City Scorecard.
Last Updated: September 2023
Efficient VehiclesList All
Vehicle Purchase Incentives
Neither the City of Dallas nor the local utility provide incentives for purchasing efficient vehicles.
Vehicle Infrastructure Incentives
Neither the City of Dallas nor the local utility provide incentives for the installation of EV charging stations.
Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Requirements
The City of Dallas does not require new developments to install EV charging stations.
EV Charging Ports
The City of Dallas has 25 vehicle charging ports per 100,000 people available for public use.
Electric School Bus Goal
Dallas set a goal of transitioning 100% of its bus fleet to electric by 2040.
EV Transit Bus Goal
Dallas set a goal of transitioning 100 of its bus fleet to electric by 2040.
Last Updated: September 2023
Freight System EfficiencyList All
Sustainable Freight Plan
The City of Dallas does not have a sustainable freight plan or freight mobility plan in place, nor is it pursuing any freight efficiency strategies.
Open Data Portal
The City of Dallas does not have an open data portal with real-time freight data.
Last Updated: September 2023
Community Energy Infrastructure
Score: 9.5 out of 40 points
Community Energy Infrastructure Summary List All
Oncor, an investor-owned utility (IOU), is the primary electric utility serving the City of Dallas. The primary natural gas IOU serving Dallas is Atmos. The City of Dallas is an active promoter of Oncor’s electric efficiency programs. The State of Texas requires electric utilities to offset load-growth through end-use energy efficiency, mandated through an EERS. The utilities must also submit their energy savings goals to the Public Utility Commission of Texas. To learn more about the state requirements for electric and gas efficiency, please visit the Texas page of the State Database. On the state level, Dallas strongly advocates for additional spending requirements for electric efficiency projects for Oncor.
Dallas Water Utilities provides Dallas with drinking water services, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management.
Last Updated: July 2023
Electricity and Natural Gas Efficiency SavingsList All
In 2021, according to EIA, Oncor achieved 297,685 MWh in net incremental savings.. In 2021, according to EIA, Oncor spent $50,744,384 on energy efficiency programs.
In 2021, we were not able to to verify spending, savings, and customers served by Atmos Energy.
Oncor offers electric efficiency incentives and technical assistance to residential and commercial/industrial customers.
At this time, the City of Dallas does not have a formal partnership with Oncor or Atmos Energy in the form of a jointly developed or administered energy saving strategy, plan, or agreement.
Last Updated: September 2023
Low-Income & Multifamily EE Programs List All
Low-Income Programs
Oncor offers the Hard-to-Reach Standard Offer Program and a Targeted Low-Income Weatherization Program to qualified low-income residential customers. The Hard-to-Reach program is designed to achieve energy and demand savings with the installation of a wide range of energy efficiency measures at low or no cost. Service providers implement the energy-saving measures, and their costs are offset by incentives paid by Oncor. Measures include duct sealing, water efficiency measures, insulation, weatherstripping, and caulking. Oncor is also implementing a Targeted Weatherization Program through the Texas Association of Community Action Agencies (TACAA), which provides funds to designated federal Weather Assistance Program (WAP) subrecipient agencies. This enables them to provide weatherization services to low-income residential electric distribution customers. Energy-efficient measures installed include aerators, attic insulation, air infiltration, central air conditioning units, central heat pumps, duct improvement, floor insulation, and ENERGY STAR® refrigerators and windows. Customers are automatically enrolled in Oncor’s low-income programs if they are enrolled in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP), Home Weatherization Assistance Plan (HWAP), or Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP).
In 2021, Oncor reported 26,909 MWh in savings, while spending $12,174,68 and serving 12,872 with their low-income programs.
Atmos Energy began offering low-income programs in the City of Dallas in 2021.
Multifamily Programs
Oncor offers a multifamily program, which includes incentives for appliances, heating and cooling updates, and lighting. Savings, spending, and participation data was not available for 2019.
We were unable to verify spending, savings, and customers served for Atmos Energy's multifamily program in 2021.
Last Updated: September 2023
Provision of Energy Data by UtilitiesList All
Neither Oncor nor Atmos Energy provide building managers with automated benchmarking data through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager for multitenant commercial or multifamily buildings.
As part of the 2019 Green Energy Policy, the City has taken steps to become involved in the related regulatory proceedings. The Green Energy Policy established a relationship with the City’s energy provider (ONCOR) to work toward expanding renewable green energy that requires the city to use 100% renewable energy and directs actions towards implementing on and off-site generation.
The city of Dallas advocates for better data access. The Dallas Comprehensive Environment & Climate Action Plan (CECAP) includes B3, Develop Clear and Comprehensive Educational Program for Building Owners and Tenants About Existing Energy Efficiency Programs.
Last Updated: September 2023
Decarbonization and Climate Change Mitigation Efforts of Cities and Energy UtilitiesList All
Utility Climate Mitigation Goal
At this time, ONCOR does not have a carbon emissions reduction goal in place.
City-Led Efforts to Decarbonize the Electric Grid
As part of the 2019 Green Energy Policy, the City has taken steps to become involved in the related regulatory proceedings. The Green Energy Policy established a relationship with the City’s energy provider to work toward expanding renewable green energy that requires the city to use 100% renewable energy and directs actions towards implementing on and off-site generation. The City is also developing its Comprehensive Environmental & Climate Action Plan, which will also create opportunities to spur more utility-scale renewable generation to serve the city. Representatives from both ONCOR and Atmos Gas Company participated in the Stakeholder Advisory Committee that provided input into the CECAP.
Clean Distributed Energy Resources
The city has not adopted a formal policy, rule, or agreement that supports the creation of clean distributed energy systems.
Municipal Renewable Energy Procurement
Dallas’ onsite solar generation capacity is currently 586 KW, which includes six City buildings with rooftop solar panels. They project to have 1358 KW of solar capacity by the end of 2023.
City Renewable Energy Incentive and Financing Programs
The city offers property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing to commercial, industrial, and multifamily residential properties for water conservation, energy-efficiency, and solar installation.
Last Updated: September 2023
Efficiency Efforts in Water ServicesList All
Dallas’s water and energy utilities do not jointly administer water and energy efficiency programs. DWU does participate in ERCOT’s 4 Coincident Peak program, which reduces electrical demand during peak time. The city has watering restrictions and offers its own water efficiency programs including the New Throne for your Home program, irrigation system checks, rebate programs, multi-sector water audits, and support for minor plumbing repairs.
While Dallas’s Water Conservation Strategic Plan (2016-2020) calls for an average of 1% per year reduction in per capita consumption for the five-year planning period, the city does not have a new water conservation target.
Water Plant Efficiency and Self-Generation
The Dallas City Council’s strategic plan calls for energy recapture opportunities in the water and wastewater systems. DWU has a project underway that will look at the installation of smart water meters to help reduce water loss and increase efficiency in the water treatment and delivery system.
The Southside wastewater treatment plant has a bio-digester that generates electricity used on-site. The Cogeneration Facility has been in service for approximately 10 years and supplies about 50% of the wastewater plant’s electricity needs.
Last Updated: September 2023
Local Government Score:
4 out of 10 points
Local Government Climate and Energy Goals List All
Climate Mitigation Goal
The city of Dallas set a goal to reduce local government GHG emissions 43% by 2030, using a 2015 baseline.
Energy Reduction Goal
We could not find any information regarding a local energy reduction goal for Dallas
Renewable Energy Goal
We could not find any information regarding a municipal renewable energy goal for Dallas.
Last updated: November 2023
Procurement and Construction Policies List All
Fleet Policies and Composition
Dallas adopted a Clean Fleet Policy in 2012 (revised in 2015). The policy includes requirements for purchase of hybrid, plug-in hybrids, and CNG vehicles, as well as fuel efficiency standards for public fleet vehicles. The City of Dallas is an adoptee of the North Central Texas Council of Governments (NTCOG) Regional Clean Fleet Vehicle Policy. Dallas’ municipal fleet is composed of 5% efficient vehicles, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric vehicles.
Public Lighting
Dallas has not adopted a policy requiring efficient outdoor lighting, such as the International Dark-Sky Association’s Model Lighting Ordinance, but the city uses a lighting control system for some lights. Dallas installs LEDs for all newly constructed streetlights. As of March 31, 2023, 18.48% of the streetlights in Dallas have been converted to LED (breakdown of 18.48%: 10.74% of Oncor-owned lighting, 46.10% of City-owned lighting, and 36.66% of TxDOT lighting have been converted to LED). As this time, all LED conversions are paid for by the City of Dallas, regardless of ownership.
Inclusive procurement
While we were unable to verify if the policy has been applied to energy projects, City of Dallas has a minority business inclusion ordinance mandating all the City contracts have reasonable inclusion of minority and women-owned business participation. All Construction projects have minimum minority- and women-owned business participation goals. Dallas released a disparity study in 2020. Dallas screens contractors, particularly for environmental compliance, and for overall performance. They also have implemented a Fair Hiring Practice Ordinance to allow returning citizens the ability to apply for employment.
Last updated: October 2023
Asset Management List All
Building Benchmarking
City of Dallas completed energy benchmarking for 140 City facilities in Energy Star Portfolio Manager and data is reported in the annual energy report. The energy report will be updated annually. From their 2023 annual report, Dallas benchmarked 173 out of 366 buildings.
Comprehensive Retrofit Strategy
Dallas implemented energy efficiency projects in various municipal buildings in 2008 and 2015 under the SECO Loan Star Program. The city keeps tabs on addressing potential deficiencies identified in M&V reports provided under energy performance contracts and began preliminary audits for city buildings with SECO in 2021. The city of Dallas currently has dedicated funding for energy procurement, monitoring, and efficiency improvements.
Municipal Employee Transportation Benefits
While the City of Dallas does not offer reduced-emission benefits to municipal employees, Dallas teams up with the North Central Texas Council of Governments for the "Try Parking It" program, where employees log their commutes, transoprtation methods used, vacation or work from home days, and lunches. This allows the City to collect estimates emissions, and prizes are raffled to participating employees.
Last update: February 2024