Akron
City Scorecard Rank
84
Akron, OH
10.50Scored out of 100Updated 10/2020
Community-Wide Initiatives
Score: 1 out of 15 points
Community-Wide Climate Mitigation and Energy GoalsList All
Climate Mitigation Goal
Akron adopted a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20% below 2005 levels by 2025. ACEEE was unable to project if the city will achieve its near-term GHG emissions reduction goal because insufficient GHG emissions data were available for our analysis.
Energy Reduction Goal
We did not find information regarding a community-wide energy reduction goal for the city.
Renewable Energy Goal
We did not find information regarding a community-wide renewable energy goal for the city.
Last updated: September 2021
Equity-Driven Approaches to Clean Energy Planning, Implementation, and EvaluationList All
Equity-Driven Community Engagement
We were unable to determine whether relevant decision-makers have taken a unique and expanded approach in conducting engagement for multiple clean energy initiatives with marginalized groups compared to engagement with other city constituencies.
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
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.
Last updated: September 2021
Clean Distributed Energy ResourcesList All
We could not verify if the city has adopted a formal policy, rule, or agreement that supports the creation of clean distributed energy systems.
Last updated: September 2021
Mitigation of Heat Islands List All
UHI Mitigation Goal
We could not verify if the city has adopted a quantifiable urban heat island mitigation goal.
UHI Policies and Programs
We were unable to determine if the city has adopted specific policies or programs that incorporate requirements or incentives to mitigate the urban heat island effect.
Last updated: September 2021
Buildings Policies
Score: 3 out of 30 points
Buildings Summary List All
The City of Akron must use and enforce the state-mandated energy code. We could not find information on city mandated benchmarking policies, incentives, or above-code energy action requirements.
Last updated: July 2021
Building Energy CodesList All
Overview
The State of Ohio has set mandatory building energy codes statewide. The Ohio Board of Building Standards adopted the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and ASHRAE 90.1-2010 with amendments for commercial buildings. Ohio based its energy code for residential buildings on the 2018 IECC. To learn more about Ohio’s building energy code requirements, please visit the State Policy Database.
Commercial
Commercial buildings must comply with the 2012 IECC and ASHRAE 90.1-2010 with amendments. The code uses a commercial zEPI score of 59.
Residential
Residential buildings must comply with the 2018 IECC. The code uses a residential zEPI score of 54.
Solar-readiness policies
We could not find information on whether the city has adopted solar-ready ordinances.
EV-charging readiness and infrastructure policies
We could not find information on whether the city has adopted EV-ready ordinances.
Last updated: July 2021
Building Energy Code Compliance and EnforcementList All
Akron requires plan reviews and inspections to ensure compliance. We could not find information on the number of full-time employees the city staffs to enforce the energy code. We could not find information regarding upfront support for code compliance.
Last updated: July 2021
Policies Targeting Existing BuildingsList All
We could not find information on whether the city incentivizes or requires energy-saving actions in existing buildings.
Last updated: July 2021
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Workforce DevelopmentList All
We could not verify if the city has programs committed to developing a dedicated energy efficiency and/or renewable energy workforce.
Last updated: July 2021
Transportation
Score: 3 out of 30 points
Transportation Summary List All
The City of Akron is served by the Akron METRO Regional Transit Authority (AMRTA), a regional transit authority which provides bussing services to the the city. Transportation planning for the city is managed by Akron Metropolitan Planning Area Transportation Study (AMATS), one Ohio's 17 metropolitan planning organizations (MPO).
Last Updated: October 2021
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All
Sustainable Transportation Plan
Transportation Outlook 2040 (TO2040) represents the latest update to the long-range plan. The purpose of TO2040 is to examine the current and future needs of greater Akron’s transportation system and develop policy and project recommendations. The plan includes long-term highway, transit, bike and pedestrian project recommendations. Performance measures for the transportation system are also included for the first time.
VMT/GHG Target and Stringency
The City of Akron does not yet have a codified VMT reduction target.
Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets
The City of Akron is not yet tracking community GHG or VMT levels
Last Updated: October 2021
Location Efficiency List All
Location Efficient Zoning
The City of Akron does not have any efficiency based zoning policies.
Residential Parking Requirements
The City of Akron provides a minimum of five-off street parking spaces for evert four dwelling units (1.25 parking spaces per unit). Parking spaces must be at least three hundred square feet in area, including proper access.
Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosures
No data or city is not pursuing.
Last Updated: October 2021
Mode Shift List All
Mode Shift Target
The City of Akron does not have a codified mode share target .
Progress Toward Mode Shift Targets
No data or the city is not pursuing.
Complete Streets
Ordinance No. 156-2017.
Last Updated: October 2021
Public Transit List All
Transportation Funding
The transit entities that serve the City of Akron have received $52,072,663.20 on average annually between 2015 and 2019. That equates to roughly $96.25 per capita between 2015 and 2019 within the service area.
Access to Transit Services
The Transit Connectivity Index measures transit service levels. It is based on the number of bus routes and train stations within walking distance for households scaled by frequency of service. The City of Akron’s Transit Connectivity Index value is 5.3, scoring 0.5 points in the City Scorecard.
Last Updated: October 2021
Efficient VehiclesList All
Vehicle Purchase Incentives
FirstEnergy Corp. customers in the Akron area are eligible for rebates toward the purchase of a 2019 Nissan LEAF or 2019 LEAF Plus electric vehicle by providing a copy of their electric bill and a copy of the official program flyer to any participating Nissan dealership.
Incentives for EV Charging
FirstEnergy and Clean Fuels Ohio partnered with the city of Akron to install electric vehicle charging stations at company facilities.
EV Charging Locations
The City has 12 charging ports available for public use, equivalent to 6.1 ports per 100,000 people.
Electric School Bus Goal
Akron does not have an electric school bus goal.
EV Transit Bus Goal
Akron does not have an EV transit bus goal.
Last Updated: October 2021
Freight System EfficiencyList All
Akron does not have a sustainable freight transportation plan in place, nor does it have any policies that address freight efficiency.
Last Updated: October 2021
Clean, Efficient Transportation for Low-Income CommunitiesList All
Affordable New TOD Housing Policy
Akron does not have any policies in place to address or help encourage affordable TOD housing development.
Connecting Existing Affordable Housing Stock to Efficient Transportation Options
Akron has a number of affordable efficient transportation options. Summit bike share has 40 bikes with stations located across summit county, 3 of which are situated in dowtown Akron. Summit bike rides are free to all riders. Downtown Akron is also serviced by DASH, a free weekday shuttle service
Last Updated: October 2021
Energy & Water Utilities
Score: 3.5 out of 15 points
Energy & Water Utilities Summary List All
Ohio Edison, an investor-owned utility (IOU) and subsidiary to FirstEnergy, is the primary electric utility serving Akron. Dominion Energy Ohio, an IOU, is Akron’s primary gas utility. Under the state’s EERS, Ohio’s investor-owned utilities were required to implement energy efficiency plans and file annual reports to the commission. However, HB 6 (2019) terminated the state’s EERS, cutting energy efficiency and renewable energy standards and eliminating the electric energy efficiency programs for residents and businesses. These programs were phased out by the end of 2020. To learn more about the state requirements for electric and gas efficiency, please visit the Ohio page of the State Database.
The City of Akron Utilities Business Office is the municipal utility that provides the City of Akron with drinking water services, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management.
Last Updated: August 2021
Electricity and Natural Gas Efficiency SavingsList All
In 2019, EIA reported Ohio Edison had 233,484 MWh of net electric savings at the meter, which represents 1.00% of its retail sales across the utility’s entire service jurisdiction, not only Akron. In 2019, Ohio Edison spent $30,261,000 on energy efficiency programs, which represents 2.30% of its retail revenue.
In 2019, Dominion Energy Ohio reported 0.031 MMtherms of net natural gas savings at the meter, which represents .29% of its retail sales across the utility’s service territory. In 2019, Dominion Energy Ohio spent $10,548,398 on energy efficiency, which equates to $9.46 per residential customer. These savings and spending figures cover the entire jurisdiction of both utilities, not just the City of Akron.
FirstEnergy offers electric efficiency incentives to residential and commercial customers. At this time, the City of Akron does not have a formal partnership with either Ohio Edison or Dominion Energy Ohio in the form of a jointly developed or administered energy saving strategy, plan, or agreement.
Last Updated: August 2021
Low-Income & Multifamily EE Programs List All
Low-Income Programs
FirstEnergy offers the Community Connections program which operates as a standalone program to serve low-income customers who are not eligible for other state program resources. Participants receive an in-home energy use evaluation and energy-saving home improvements such as sealing air leaks in attic walls or foundations, attic and/or wall insulation, appliance testing and possible replacement, electric water heater inspection, faucet aerators, and energy education. FirstEnergy also includes the installation of health and saftey measures such as carbon monoxide detectors, roof repairs/replacement, electric wiring repairs and upgrades, furnace repairs, and appliance replacements.
In 2019, according to FirstEnergy, Ohio Edison saved 2,827 MWh in electric net incremental savings, while spending $2,788,483 on its low-income programs and served 1,452 households.
Dominion Energy Ohio offers the Housewarming Program which provides home weatherization assistance to income-eligible customers with the purpose of increasing energy efficiency and reducing energy costs. Through the Housewarming Program, eligible customers receive free weather stripping, attic and sidewall insulation, door sweeps, smoke detectors, programmable thermostats, as well as the repair or replacement of certain natural gas appliances and heating systems. The program is administered by CHN Housing Partners in partnership with the Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP), Electrical Partnership Program (EPP), Cleveland Public Power Program, FirstEnergy’s Community Connections Program, Water Conservation, and other partner agencies.
In 2019, Dominion Energy Ohio spent $6,786,397 on its low-income program, while serving 1,579 low-income households. We were unable to verify energy savings in 2019.
Multifamily Programs
At this time, Ohio Edison and Dominion Energy Ohio do not offer energy efficiency programs targeted at multifamily units.
Last Updated: August 2021
Provision of Energy Data by UtilitiesList All
Neither Ohio Edison nor Dominion Energy Ohio provide building managers with automated benchmarking data through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager for multitenant commercial or multifamily buildings. The City of Akron does not provide community-wide energy usage information at the aggregate level for the community planning and evaluation purposes. To our knowledge, the City of Akron 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: July 2021
Decarbonization and Climate Change Mitigation Efforts of Energy UtilitiesList All
Utility Climate Mitigation Goal
In 2020, FirstEnergy, the parent company of Ohio Edison, set a goal to become carbon neutral by 2050, with an interim goal of lowering greenhouse gas emission by 30% from 2019 levels by 2030. To achieve this goal, FirstEnergy will need to reduce emissions by 2.93% annually from 2019 levels.
City-Led Efforts to Decarbonize the Electric Grid
At this time, we cannot confirm whether or not the city of Akron participates in activities or strategies to help spur or encourage more utility-scale or distributed renewable energy generation from its local electric utility, such as testifying in public utility commission proceedings related to renewable energy, creating a formal partnership with the electric utility on renewable generation, or participating in utility planning efforts to increase renewable generation.
Last Updated: July 2021
Efficiency Efforts in Water ServicesList All
Citywide Water Efficiency and Goals
The energy and water utilities do not currently offer joint energy and water efficiency programs. At this point, the City of Akron Utilities Business Office has not established a water savings target or goal. The city does offer water saving tips on its website, however.
Water Plant Efficiency and Self-Generation
The water utility has not set specific energy efficiency targets or strategies for their drinking and wastewater facilities. Akron began generating electricity from anaerobic digestion at its Water Reclamation Facility in 2013.
Last Updated: July 2021
Local Government Score:
0 out 10 points
Local Government Climate and Energy Goals List All
Climate Mitigation Goal
The City of Akron committed to reducing GHG emissions 20% below 2005 levels by 2025. ACEEE was unable to project if the city will achieve its near-term GHG emissions reduction goal because insufficient GHG emissions data were available for our analysis.
Energy Reduction Goal
We were unable to find information regarding a municipal energy reduction goal.
Renewable Energy Goal
We were unable to find information regarding a municipal renewable energy goal.
Last updated: June 2021
Procurement and Construction Policies List All
Fleet Policies and Composition
We were unable to find information on Akron’s fleet procurement policies or fuel efficiency requirements. We were unable to find data regarding fleet composition.
Public Lightng
We were unable to find information regarding the adoption of a policy requiring efficiency outdoor lighting, such as International Dark-Sky Association’s Model Lighting Ordinance. We were unable to confirm if Akron has an outdoor lighting upgrade program.
Onsite and Offsite Renewable Systems
We were unable to find information regarding onsite or offsite renewable systems in Akron.
Inclusive Procurement
We were unable to verify if the city has inclusive procurement and contracting processes.
Last updated: June 2021
Asset Management List All
Building Benchmarking
We were unable to find information regarding Akron’s benchmarking practices.
Comprehensive Retrofit Strategy
We were unable to find information regarding a comprehensive retrofit strategy in Akron.
Last update: June 2021