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: August 2023
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: August 2023
Mitigation of Heat Islands List All
Urban Heat Island Mitigation 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.
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
Buildings Policies
Score: 3 out of 30 points
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 63.
Residential
Residential buildings must comply with the 2018 IECC. The code uses a residential zEPI score of 60.55.
Solar-readiness policies
We could not find information on whether the city has adopted solar-ready ordinances.
EV-charging readiness policies
We could not find information on whether the city has adopted EV-ready ordinances.
Low-energy use requirements
We could not find information on whether the city sets low-energy use requirements for municipal or certain private buildings.
Electrification:
We could not find information on whether the city has adopted policies to encourage the elimination of fossil fuels, such as building emissions standards, all-electric readiness provisions, or all-electric requirements for new construction.
Last updated: August 2023
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: August 2023
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: 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
Transportation
Score: 3 out of 30 points
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All
Sustainable Transportation Plan
The City of Akron does not yet have a sustainable transportation plan or climate action plan with sustainable transportation strategies.
VMT/GHG Target and Stringency
The City of Akron does not yet have a codified VMT or transportation GHG reduction target.
Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets
The City of Akron does not have a codified VMT or transportation GHG reduction target, and therefore cannot make progress toward the target.
Last Updated: August 2023
Location Efficiency List All
Location Efficient Zoning Codes
We were unable to find information indicating that the City of Akron 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 Akron 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 Disclosures
The City of Akron does not have location-efficient development incentives or disclosure policies.
Affordable Housing around Transit
The City of Akron does not require, preserve, or incentivize the development of affordable housing near transit.
Last Updated: August 2023
Mode Shift List All
Mode Shift Target
The City of Akron does not have a codified mode share target .
Progress Achieved Toward Mode Shift Targets
The City of Akron does not have a codified mode share target, and therefore cannot make progress toward the target.
Subsidized Access to Efficient Transportation Options
The City of Akron offers a free bikeshare program and a free weekday shuttle service.
Last Updated: August 2023
Public Transit List All
Transit Funding
The transit entities that serve the City of Akron have received $45,830,316.60 on average annually between 2017 and 2021 from local sources. That equates to roughly $84.71 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 Akron’s AllTransit Performance Score is 5.3, scoring 1 point in the City Scorecard.
Last Updated: August 2023
Efficient VehiclesList All
Efficient Vehicle Purchase Incentives
Neither the City of Akron nor the local utility provide incentives for purchasing efficient vehicles.
Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Incentives
Neither the City of Akron nor the local utility provide incentives for the installation of EV charging stations.
Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Requirements
The City of Akron does not require new developments to install EV charging stations.
EV Charging Ports
The City of Akron has 16.4 vehicle charging ports per 100,000 people available for public use.
Electric School Bus Goal
Neither the City of Akron nor the local school district have set an electric school bus goal.
Electric Transit Bus Goal
Neither the City of Akron nor the local transit agency have set an electric transit bus goal.
Last Updated: August 2023
Freight System EfficiencyList All
Sustainable Freight Plans
The City of Akron 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 Akron does not have an open data portal with real-time freight data.
Last Updated: August 2023
Community Energy Infrastructure
Score: 3.5 out of 15 points
Community Energy Infrastructure 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 Cities and 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.
Clean Distributed Energy Resources
The Akron City Council unanimously approved a $25 million grant to renovate the city’s district steam system with renewable energy resources.
Municipal Renewable Energy Procurement
We were unable to find information regarding onsite or offsite municipal renewable systems in Akron.
City Renewable Energy Incentive and Financing Programs
We could not find information on whether the city incentivizes the deployment of renewable energy systems.
Last Updated: September 2023
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 Lighting
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.
Inclusive Procurement
Akron has a preference program for contracting with MBEs. Akron published a Procurement and Inclusion report in 2020 with analysis, recommendations, and a timeline with next step actions. As a result of the report, Akron hired a contract compliance and supplier diversity officer to lead improvement efforts. The City’s contracting ordinance includes mentions of project labor agreements and collective bargaining agreements.
Last updated: September 2023
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