Sacramento
City Scorecard Rank
18
Sacramento, CA
46.00Scored out of 100Updated 10/2020
Community-Wide Initiatives
Score: 4 out of 10 points
Community-Wide Climate Mitigation and Energy GoalsList All
Climate Mitigation Goal
The 2035 General Plan includes a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 83% below 2005 levels by 2050 with an interim reduction goal of 49% by 2035. Based on ACEEE’s analysis of past years emissions data, ACEEE projects that the city will achieve 75% of the per-capita emissions reductions required to achieve its 2030 community-wide GHG emissions reduction goal.
A community-wide greenhouse gas inventory is included in the 2017 General Plan Annual Report.
Energy Reduction Goal
The 2035 General Plan establishes a goal to reduce residential and commercial energy use 25% below 2005 levels by 2030.
Renewable Energy Goal
We did not find information regarding a community-wide renewable energy goal for the city.
Last updated: August 2023
Equity-Driven Approaches to Clean Energy Planning, Implementation, and EvaluationList All
Equity-Driven Community Engagement
As part of the General Plan updating process, plan developers met with key community leaders from communities most impacted by pollution on how to best incorporate environmental justice objectives into the General Plan.
Environmental justice listening sessions were provided within disadvantaged communities, and food, translation services, and family activities were provided to encourage participation. Similar services were provided at four citywide workshops and ten community area meetings. Recommendations from these events are being incorporated into the 2040 General Plan. Additionally, quick but interactive "pop-up outreach" was conducted at existing community events and gathering places withing disadvantaged communities.
Equity-Driven Decision-Making
The Sacramento Environmental Justice Collaborative Governance Committee launched in February 2021. It is a 12-person committee from various backgrounds or issue areas that care about environmental justice. Committee members will meet monthly during 2021 and give quarterly recommendations to the Sacramento City Council related to climate, land use, transportation, and environmental justice matters.
Sacramento created the Environmental Justice Working Group to advise of environmental justice planning implementation, identify meaningful community engagement strategies, assist city staff on processing input from identified community needs and priorities, provide guidance on environmental justice policy element, advise on community capacity development, and identify areas for overall improvement within the city. Also, the Mayors' Commission on Climate Change is advised by an inclusive process which includes Technical Advisory Committees (which include community representatives), community and youth engagement, and equity roundtables. Recommendations from these processes will be incorporated into the Climate Action Plan.
Equity Accountability Measures
We were unable to determine whether the city has adopted specific goals, metrics, or protocols to track how multiple energy, sustainability, or climate action initiatives are affecting local marginalized groups, though the 2040 Climate Action Plan will include an environmental justice element. Equity goals and strategies for the plan are currently being developed.
Last updated: August 2023
Clean Distributed Energy ResourcesList All
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) runs SolarShares, an off-site community solar program. SMUD offered a first round of community solar enrollment to agency and institutional partners. The City was one of the first participants, and the program now offsets 35% of municipal energy use with solar power.
Last updated: August 2023
Adaptive Mitigation List All
Heat Island Mitigation Policies and Programs
The City Code includes a private tree protection ordinance.
SMUD offers free private tree plantings through the Free Shade Tree Program. The program provides homeowners with free trees only if the tree meets a baseline energy savings goal.
The city is a member of the Urban Heat Island - Capital Region technical advisory committee, which is exploring how the urban heat island effect will impact the region, develop a blueprint of solutions and analyze which will be most effective to the region's unique climate and heat island pattern. The project will create a regional UHI model to identify highly-impacted areas, incorporate community input, and offer specific recommendations for policies and programs.
The 2035 General Plan's Land Use and Urban Design chapter includes numerous goals and policy recommendations, many of which have already been implemented. Additionally, the city is updating its Urban Forest Master Plan. The city's Stormwater Quality Design Manual (adopted in 2018) sets limits on allowable impervious surface and requires pervious surface materials in new developments.
Resilience Hubs
We were unable to determine if the city has supported the creation of resilience hubs that incorporate clean energy resources and are sited in disadvantaged communities.
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: 12 out of 30 points
Building Energy CodesList All
Overview
The State of California allows its local jurisdictions to adopt building energy codes that are more stringent than the mandatory state codes. Title 24 outlines all California building codes. Title 24, Part 6 includes the California Energy Code and the California Building Energy Efficiency Standards (BEES). Title 24, Part 11 includes the California Green Building Code. Sacramento currently enforces the 2022 state building energy codes, which exceed the 2021 IECC standards and ASHRAE/IESNA 90.1-2019. The city also recently passed an electrification ordinance reach code. To learn more about California’s building energy codes, please visit the State Policy Database.
Commercial
Commercial properties must currently comply with Title 24 and the city's electrification ordinance. The city’s zEPI score for their commercial energy code is 41.
Residential
Residential properties must currently comply with Title 24 and the city's electrification ordinance. The city’s zEPI score for their residential energy code is 26.
Solar-readiness policies
Sacramento adheres to the residential solar-ready requirements already included in the California Building Standards Code.
EV-charging readiness policies
Sacramento adheres to the residential solar-ready requirements included in the California Building Standards Code, which also mandates EV-readiness in residential and nonresidential buildings.
Low-energy use requirements
In 2004, the City Council adopted a resolution establishing goals for all new and remodeled City facilities to meet a minimum LEED Silver standard. The City’s 2035 General Plan Land Use Policy LU 8.1.5 reiterates the City’s ongoing commitment that new or renovated City-owned buildings are energy efficient and meet, as appropriate, LEED Silver or equivalent standards.
Electrification policies
The city passed two electrification ordinance. New low-rise buildings (<3 stories) with permit applications starting Jan 1, 2023 must be all-electric. On Jan 1, 2026, this extends to new buildings over 3 stories. The second ordinance requires all existing buildings to be fully electric by 2045.
Last Update: September 2023
Building Energy Code Compliance and EnforcementList All
Sacramento staffs the equivalent of one full time employee for energy code enforcement. The city uses plan reviews to verify energy code compliance. The city is developing upfront support and an ongoing engagement process to help for developers to comply with forthcoming electrification standards.
Last Update: September 2023
Policies Targeting Existing BuildingsList All
Commercial and multifamily benchmarking
The State of California adopted Assembly Bill (AB) 802 in October of 2015. It requires commercial and multifamily buildings greater than 50,000 square feet and larger to benchmark energy usage annually. California requires commercial buildings to obtain and disclose ENERGY STAR ratings to transactional counter parties and the California Energy Commission at the time of a sale, lease, or financing for the entire building through AB 1130.
Sacramento is in the process of outlining its own requirements, potentially lowering that 50,000 square feet threshold to encompass more buildings. This is still at a preliminary phase.
Retrofit requirements
The Existing Building Electrification Ordinance requires all existing buildings to be fully-electric by 2045. The main strategy at the moment is time-of-replacement, where natural gas-based appliances will be converted to electric at the time they are being replaced.
Incentives
The city offers residential and commercial property owners access to property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing for energy efficiency and solar installation projects. It also provides height bonuses for green buildings (incentive for building to CALGreen Tier 1 or Tier 2 standards) adopted in Sept. 2013 and for green roofs and rooftop farms adopted in March 2015.
SMUD, the city’s municipal utility, offers a range of rebates for home energy efficiency improvements. The utility also offers new electric vehicle drivers a free level 2 charger for residential properties. It also offers businesses an incentive for installing an electric vehicle charger.
SMUD also runs the Home Performance Program, which offers owners of existing home $13,750 for a comprehensive, energy efficient gas-to-electric conversion.
Last Update: November 2023
Transportation
Score: 15 out of 30 points
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All
Sustainable Transportation Plan
The Climate Implementation Work Plan was released in 2021 and includes sustainable transportation strategies. It also includes strategies specifically benefiting disadvantaged communities.
VMT/GHG Targets and Stringency
The City of Sacramento does not have a codified VMT or transportation GHG reduction target.
VMT/GHG Targets and Stringency
The City of Sacramento 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 Code
California's SB 9 became law in 2021 and went into effect in 2022. This allows lots in single-family zones throughout the state to be split into two lots, and allows up to two units to be built on each lot, effectively increasing the number of units permitted per lot from one to four in single-family zones. SB 9 applies to residential zones in all California cities, including Sacramento.
Parking Requirements
Sacramento has eliminated parking minimums in certain districts.
Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosure
The City of Sacramento does not have location-efficient development incentives or disclosure policies.
Affordable Housing around Transit
The City of Sacramento does not 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 Mayor’s Commission on Climate Change, adopted in 2018, the City has a goal of 3% of all trips being made by active transportation and 30% by transit/shared mobility by 2030.
Progress Achieved Toward Mode Shift Targets
The City of Sacramento did not provide data collected on mode share since the adoption of its goal; therefore, we cannot assess progress toward the goal.
Subsidized Access to Efficient Transportation Options
We were unable to find information on programs or policies subsidizing access to efficient transportation for disadvantaged groups.
Last Updated: September 2023
Public Transit List All
Transit Funding
The transit entities that serve the City of Sacramento have received $132,498,614.80 on average annually between 2017 and 2021 from local sources. That equates to roughly $118.29per 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 Sacramento’s AllTransit Performance Score is 6.3, scoring 1 point in the City Scorecard.
Last Updated: September 2023
Efficient VehiclesList All
Vehicle Purchase Incentives
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) offers a $0.015 per kWh discount on all electricity used between midnight and 6AM to customers that register an EV with SMUD.
Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Incentives
Sacramento Municipal Utility District offers up to a $1000 rebate for the installation of level 1 and 2 chargers in single family homes. Additionally, SMUD offers a free level 2 charger and installation for income eligible customers in single family homes.
Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Requirements
The California Green Building Code requires multifamily properties with 20 or more units and hotels with 20 or more guest rooms to install level 2 EV chargers in five percent of the total parking spaces.
EV Charging Ports
The City of Sacramento has 153.6 vehicle charging ports per 100,000 people available for public use.
Electric School Bus Goal
Neither the City of Sacramento nor the local school district have set an electric school bus goal.
EV Transit Bus Goal
The California Air Resources Board (CARB) is requiring all California transit agencies to transition their bus fleets to zero-emissions buses by 2040. Therefore, Sacramento Regional Transit has a goal of transitioning to zero-emissions buses.
BONUS: Equitable EV Charging
Sacramento is prioritizing low-income communities and areas with a high proportion of multifamily residents as it deploys public EV charging infrastructure in city-owned facilities.
Last Updated: January 2024
Freight System EfficiencyList All
Sustainable Freight Plans
The City of Sacramento does not have a sustainable freight plan or freight mobility plan in place, nor is it pursuing any freight efficiency strategies.
Open Data Portals
The City of Sacramento does not have an open data portal with real-time freight data.
Last Updated: September 2023
Community Energy Infrastructure
Score: 26
Community Energy Infrastructure Summary List All
Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) is Sacramento’s municipally-run electric utility. Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), an investor-owned utility (IOU), is the primary gas utility for the City of Sacramento. To learn more about the state requirements for electric and gas efficiency, please visit the California page of the State Database.
The Sacramento Department of Utilities is the municipal utility that provides drinking water and stormwater management services to the City of Sacramento. The Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District is the regional utility that provides wastewater treatment for Sacramento.
Last Updated: August 2023
Electricity and Natural Gas Efficiency SavingsList All
In 2019, SMUD reported 96,534 MWh in net electric incremental savings, representing 0.95% of retail sales. In 2019, SMUD spent $36,459,000 on electric energy efficiency programs, which represents 2.62% of its retail revenue.
In 2021, PG&E reported 42.8 MMtherms of net natural gas savings at the meter.
SMUD offers electric efficiency incentives and technical assistance to residential and commercial/industrial customers. PG&E similarly offers natural gas efficiency incentives and technical assistance to residential and commercial customers.
At this time, the City of Sacramento does not have a formal partnership with PG&E in the form of a jointly developed or administered energy saving strategy, plan, or agreement.
Last Updated: August 2023
Low-Income & Multifamily EE Programs List All
Low-Income Programs
SMUD’s low-income energy efficiency programs include weatherization, deep home retrofits, solar bundle installations coupled with energy efficiency, and energy efficiency products for apartments and single-family, and tenant mobile homes. SMUD partners with local community agency advocates and government agencies to educate and promote their programs.
In 2021, we were unable to verify low-income energy efficiency spending and savings for SMUD.
PG&E offers the Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESA) to qualified low-income residential customers. The program provides in-home energy education, and direct installation of weatherization and hot water measures, lighting efficiency upgrades, HVAC tune-ups, smart power strips, and refrigerator recycling/replacement at no charge in order to reduce energy consumption in low-income households. The program provides health and safety measures such as the repair and replacement of water heaters and furnaces and minor home repairs. This program is implemented statewide by investor-owned utilities under the direction of the California Public Utilities Commission. It leverages the federal Weatherization Assistance Program, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and Low-Income Weatherization Program offerings.
The ESA Program’s objective is to assist income-qualified customers to reduce their energy consumption and costs while increasing their health, comfort and safety. PG&E has also administered the California Alternate Rates for Energy (CARE) program to qualifying customers since 1989. The CARE program provides a monthly discount on energy bills for qualifying single-family residential households, tenants of sub-metered residential facilities, non-profit group living facilities, agricultural employee housing facilities, and migrant farmworker housing centers throughout PG&E’s service area.
The California Public Utilities Commission (CAPUC) strongly encourages utilities to leverage funds for low-income energy efficiency and weatherization. PG&E’s ESA Program leverages water agency, Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP), Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and Low Income Weatherization Program (LIWP) funding through individually negotiated agreements with the other agencies.
In 2021, PG&E achieved 0.05 MMtherms in natural gas low-income program savings, while spending $80,963,860 on its natural gas low-income programs and serving 6,831 natural gas customers across its service territory.
Multifamily Programs
SMUD offers a custom incentive program designed for multifamily properties with 5 units or more to support switching from gas to electric space heating, water heating, and cooking appliances. Properties with more than 50% of tenant participating in SMUD’s Energy Assistance Program may qualify for additional incentives. Spending, savings, and customer data for SMUD’s multifamily programs were not available for 2019.
PG&E offers the California New Homes Multifamily Program, Multifamily Upgrade Program, and Multifamily Cooling Optimizer Program. California New Homes Multifamily Program provides support and incentives for multifamily new construction projects to encourage builders to exceed California’s Title 24 energy efficiency standards. The Multifamily Upgrade Program promotes and facilitates energy-efficient retrofits of existing multifamily buildings” through technical support and incentives. The Multifamily Cooling Optimizer Program is a direct install program focused on HVAC measures in tenant spaces. PG&E also implements the Energy Savings Assistance Program (ESA) for income-qualified multifamily customers.
For 2021, PG&E began ramp up on new statewide new construction programs: California Energy-Smart Homes New Construction Program and California Energy Design Assistance New Construction program, both of which can serve the multifamily sector. PG&E also offered the Multifamily Energy Savings Program (MESP) which provides property owners EE upgrade services for multifamily buildings of five units or greater throughout PG&E’s service territory. The program provides end-to-end program implementation services, including marketing, outreach, engineering, operations, customer service, data management, and reporting.
In 2021, PG&E achieved energy savings of 7,992 MWh and 0.13 MMtherms, while spending $20,336,729 on its electric and natural gas multifamily programs. PG&E served 29,727 housing units in 3,085 properties with its multifamily programs in 2021.
Last Updated: August 2023
Provision of Energy Data by UtilitiesList All
PG&E's Building Benchmarking Portal provides aggregate whole-building energy usage data in their ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to building owners. PG&E uses the Green Button data sharing platform for electricity data only. The utility provides automatic data entry into Portfolio Manager if given written consent by the customer. SMUD provides automated benchmarking through ENERGY STAR for multifamily buildings with 20 units or more and for multitenant commercial buildings.
The city of Sacramento provides community wide energy usage information for planning and evaluation purposes through their community-wide inventory which will form the baseline for creating new energy programs for the residential and nonresidential sectors. SMUD provides community-wide energy usage upon request. Generally, this information is provided annually in conjunction with General Planning and/or Climate Action annual reports and more robust data is provided approximately every 5 years as local plans and GHG baselines are updated. PG&E provides non-confidential, aggregated energy usage data to the public through its Energy Data Request Program. Energy data is publicly released on a monthly basis at the ZIP code level, with significant redaction or further aggregation as needed to comply with California energy data privacy regulations.
The City of Sacramento advocates for more data transparency, and SMUD is already very cooperative. It does not advocate for better access to utility data for ratepayers or the establishment of data-sharing agreements between the city and its utilities.
Last Updated: August 2023
Decarbonization and Climate Change Mitigation Efforts of Cities and Energy UtilitiesList All
Utility Climate Mitigation Goal
In 2018, SMUD adopted an Integrated Resource Plan with a target of carbon neutrality by 2030. In 2020, the SMUD Board of Directors adopted a climate emergency declaration that commits to working towards an goal of delivering carbon neutral electricity by 2030. To achieve this goal of carbon neutrality by 2030, SMUD will need to reduce emissions by 8.33% annually from 2018 levels.
City-Led Efforts to Decarbonize the Electric Grid
In 2019, SMUD emitted 3.15 metric tons of CO2e per capita.
Clean Distributed Energy Resources
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD) runs SolarShares, an off-site community solar program. SMUD offered a first round of community solar enrollment to agency and institutional partners. The City was one of the first participants, and the program now offsets 35% of municipal energy use with solar power.
Municipal Renewable Energy Procurement
Sacramento operates over 4 MW of solar photovoltaics at city facilities. Through a SolarShares agreement with SMUD, the City helps manage 13MW of off-site solar.
City Renewable Energy Incentive and Financing Programs
The city offers residential and commercial property owners access to property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing for energy efficiency and solar installation projects. It also provides height bonuses for green buildings (incentive for building to CALGreen Tier 1 or Tier 2 standards).
Last Updated: September 2023
Efficiency Efforts in Water ServicesList All
Citywide Water Efficiency and Goals
Sacramento provides rebates for water-efficient sprinkler systems, toilets, and clothes washers, and employs Water Wise conservation specialists to identify home and business water savings opportunities. Additionally, the Department of Utilities (DOU) is in the process of upgrading the city’s meters to smart water meters. The DOU offers no-cost water leak assistance repair services and installation of water efficient fixtures to low-income homeowners through the Leak Free Sacramento Program. PG&E also offers rebates for high-efficiency commercial dishwashers.
PG&E’s low-income ESA program had a collaborative relationship with California American Water and Sacramento in 2021 that covered the Sacramento area. Program Services included evaluating toilets for leaks, assessing and replacing eligible toilets, conducting outdoor assessments, performing meter checks, isolating leaks, water conservation education, and delivering water conservation items such as hose nozzles, shower timers and water agency program literature.
Water Plant Efficiency and Self-Generation
The City of Sacramento is committed to having all its operations be carbon-neutral by 2045. Given that water and wastewater are part of municipal operations, the energy for these processes will be carbon-neutral. DOU also participates in the SolarShares program which helps create more offsite solar. DOU has internal dashboards to help them track energy efficiency of their facilities and equipment. Sacramento is also a founder member of the Water-Energy Nexus Registry which was recently launched by the California Environmental Protection Agency and The Climate Registry. The registry helps water agencies and utilities better understand the energy and greenhouse gas emissions associated with the water management and treatment processes.
SRCSD, in partnership with Carson Energy, operates an on-site cogeneration plant at the Sacramento regional wastewater treatment plant in Elk Grove. The cogeneration plant is partly fueled by the biogas produced by the treatment plant’s digesters. The Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant harnesses methane from its treatment process.
Last Updated: August 2023
Local Government Score:
4.5 out of 10 points
Local Government Climate and Energy Goals List All
Climate Change Mitigation Goal
The city of Sacramento set a goal to reduce local government GHG emissions 49% by 2035, using a 2005 baseline.
Energy Reduction Goal
The city of Sacramento set a goal to reduce local government building energy use 25% by 2030, using a 2005 baseline.
Renewable Energy Goal
We could not find any information regarding a municipal renewable energy goal for Sacramento.
Last updated: November 2023
Procurement and Construction Policies List All
Fleet Policies and Composition
Sacramento has a "ZEV First" policy for fleet procurement. 14.7% of the City's fleet is made up of BEV, Plug-in hybrids, and hybrids.
Public Lighting
We did not find information regarding the adoption of a policy requiring efficient outdoor lighting, such as the International Dark-Sky Association’s Model Lighting Ordinance. However, California has adopted lighting standards. 38% of Sacramento's streetlights are LED.
Inclusive procurement
We were unable to verify if Sacramento has inclusive procurement and contracting processes. Sacramento has a “ban the box” policy prohibiting city contractors from asking applicants to disclose information regarding criminal convictions until employer has determined applicant meets qualifications for the position.
Last updated: February 2024
Asset Management List All
Building Benchmarking
Sacramento annually benchmarks all city facilities; the City published its first annual energy benchmarking report in July 2020.
Comprehensive Retrofit Strategies
The City’s Energy Efficiency Retrofits program for City facilities is designed to provide better facility systems performance with higher efficiencies, resulting in reduced energy costs and maximizing return on investment. The current and future program builds on past success and partnerships with SMUD in greening the City’s facilities. The City also has an Energy Reinvestment Program, which focuses on energy-reducing and clean energy projects at City-owned facilities. Measure U funding will be utilized to update current lighting with higher-quality LED lighting and controls that save energy, reduce maintenance costs, and will provide enhanced lighting quality at community centers, clubhouses, and Sacramento Libraries. The City of Sacramento contracted with Siemens to conduct an Investment Grade Audit of multiple city facilities. The City's energy reinvestment fund provides a dedicated source of funding to invest in efficiency projects.
Municipal Employee Transportation Benefits
Sacramento has benefits for subsidized Amtrak and transit tickets. The City provides bike parking and showers at its main office buildings for bike commuters. The City has an Emergency Ride Home benefit for employees who don't drive alone to work at least 40% of the time.
Last update: February 2024