Atlanta
City Scorecard Rank
Atlanta, GA
The City of Atlanta adopted its Climate Action Plan in 2015.
Last updated: September 2021
Climate Mitigation Goal
Atlanta’s Climate Action Plan includes a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40% below 2009 levels by 2030. ACEEE projects the city will not achieve its near-term community-wide GHG emissions reduction goal.
Energy Reduction Goal
We did not find information regarding an active community-wide energy reduction goal for the city. The Climate Action Plan also includes a goal to reduce energy consumption in residential, commercial, and industrial buildings 20% below 2009 levels by 2020.
Renewable Energy Goal
The city has a goal to use clean energy to power 100% of community-wide energy needs by 2035.
Last updated: September 2021
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
Atlanta adopted a goal to reduce energy burdens for 10% of households, with tracking metrics focused on those with low incomes.
Last updated: September 2021
The city has not adopted a formal policy, rule, or agreement that supports the creation of clean distributed energy systems.
Last updated: September 2021
UHI Mitigation Goal
The Climate Action Plan includes a goal to increase park land to 7% by 2020 and 10% by 2025 and to increase half-mile proximity to parks to 40% of the population by 2020 and 45% by 2025.
UHI Policies and Programs
Atlanta has passed a private tree protection ordinance.
The city allows for conservation subdivisions and transfer of development rights that permanently preserves greenspace.
Last updated: September 2021
The City of Atlanta has authority to adopt building energy codes at the municipal level but has not done so. The city enforces the state’s energy codes. The city has adopted a benchmarking and disclosure policy for commercial buildings. Atlanta offers several incentives for energy efficiency projects and renewable energy projects. The city requires properties covered under the cities benchmarking ordinance to perform energy audits once every ten years.
Last updated: September 2020
Overview
The State of Georgia is a home rule state in which jurisdictions may set their own building energy codes. The state residential and commercial codes are based on the 2015 IECC with state amendments. To learn more about the Georgia building codes, please visit the State Policy Database.
Commercial
Although local authority is permitted, Atlanta has not made any amendments to the state building codes with respect to commercial buildings. The code uses a commercial zEPI score of 59.7.
Residential
Although local authority is permitted, Atlanta has not made any amendments to the state building codes with respect to residential buildings. The code uses a residential zEPI score of 55.3.
Solar-readiness policies
We could not find information on whether the city has adopted solar-ready ordinances.
EV-charging readiness and infrastructure policies
Atlanta has adopted code provisions required residential and non-residential development install EV-ready infrastructure.
Low-energy use requirements
All major renovations to and new construction of municipal buildings over 5,000 square feet are required to obtain LEED New Construction Silver Certification or greater. All existing City-financed facilities over 25,000 square feet must gain LEED for Existing Buildings: Operation and Maintenance certification over a phase in period of 10 years.
Last updated: June 2021
There is no single FTE dedicated to building energy code enforcement. The city has approximately 45 inspectors covering mechanical, electrical, and plumbing. These inspectors spend approximately 20% of their time on energy code enforcement, equaling 9 FTE. The city administers mandatory compliance verification through performance testing, plan review, field inspection, and third-party review/inspection.
To help builders comply with the energy code, the city provides code sections to correct items on the plans and during inspections. The Office of Buildings has also developed a simple handout for residential applicants to help them understand compliance.
Last updated: June 2021
Commercial and multifamily benchmarking
Atlanta requires commercial buildings greater than 25,000 square feet to benchmark energy and water use. The policy covers 87% of commercial buildings and 96% of multifamily buildings. The policy holds a compliance rate of 50%.
Energy audit requirements
The Commercial Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance requires building owners that benchmark and report energy and water data to conduct energy and water audits once every ten years unless the property meets certain efficiency requirements.
Incentives
Atlanta offers commercial and residential property owners access to property assessed clean energy (PACE) financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
The city grants buildings that meet green development criteria both a density bonus and expedited permitting.
Atlanta also partners with local organizations to run a Solarize Campaign that made solar more affordable and accessible for the residents and businesses of Atlanta.
Last updated: June 2021
Atlanta's Solar Energy Procurement Agreement (SEPA) contract includes a 35% Small Business Enterprise (SBE) goal for suppliers and subcontractors used in the contract. The City's SEPA contractor partnered with a DC-based solar installer to establish local workforce training programs through engaging WorkSource Atlanta, Atlanta's workforce development authority, and other community stakeholders.
We could not verify if the city has programs committed to developing a dedicated energy efficiency workforce.
Last updated: June 2021
The transportation authorities that serve the city of Atlanta are The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) and the Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA). MARTA also provides the public transportation for the city and the broader metropolitan area, including bus and light rail service. GRTA provides the Xpress. The Atlanta Regional Commission is the MPO in charge of conducting metropolitan transportation planning. Its area of jurisdiction encompasses Atlanta, and many surrounding counties. The Office of Transportation is the city agency charged with managing the city’s transportation network.
Last updated: October 2021
Sustainable Transportation Plan
The City has developed and adopted the 2018 “Atlanta’s Transportation Plan”- the update to 2008 Connect Atlanta Plan. This plan lays out an ambitious plan to shift our dominant mode of travel from 54% single-occupancy vehicle (SOV) trips to less than 35% over the next decades, while anticipating a population growth of nearly 200%. This will be accomplished through a massive expansion in transit, and development of a fully connected multimodal street network that will accommodate users of all modes safely and efficiently, implementation of a city-wide Transportation Demand Management policy and program and aligning new development to the expanded transit and multimodal networks. Additionally, Atlanta has a goal in place to reduce emissions from transportation by 40% by 2030 from 2009 levels as part of its’ Climate Action Plan. The plan outlines several strategies to achieve this goal including: expanding the Atlanta BeltLine and other TODs, introducing parking pricing, greater transit investment, more pedestrian facilities, expansion of protected bicycle facilities , and expansion of the bicycle share program.
Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets
The City does not at this time. Atlanta will be tracking travel mode shift percentages, both for commutes and all trips taken, and have established a baseline, but have not yet collected follow-up data.
Last Updated: September 2021
Location Efficient Zoning Codes
Atlanta has mandatory neighborhood form-based codes in addition to citywide floating zones that have been in place since 1999. The city also has transit-oriented development-specific codes for the Doraville and Edgewood neighborhoods. While some districts have street connectivity requirements, the code does not currently have any broadly applying TOD requirements.
Residential Parking Policies
The City allows one or more parking spaces per residential unit. Within several zones, the city is eliminating parking requirements within 1/2 a mile of "High Capacity Transit" stops and stations.
Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosure
As an incentive to promote location-efficient real estate development, the city of Atlanta offers several incentives to developers working in certain areas of the city. These incentives include the Buckhead Density Bonus, the Buckhead/Lenox SPI Intent (See section 16-18L.018 for Transportation Demand Management Plan requirements), a density bonus for districts zoned as mixed use residential commercial areas, and the Affordability Density Bonus
Last Updated: October 2021
Mode Shift Targets
Atlanta's transportation plan has a target of increase biking, walking, transit, and shared rides from a 17% share in 2018 to 35% by 2035. The plans mode shift goal also states a wish to reduce the 54% SOV trip rate of 2018 to 35% or less by 2035. Note that these current and future mode shares represent ALL trips taken, not just work commutes, which are much more skewed toward SOV trips (69% of commutes originating in the City).
Progress Achieved Toward Mode Shift Targets
The City has baseline data only, based on Atlanta Regional Commissions’ last household travel survey in 2011/2012. The updated transportation plan, adopted at the end of 2018, has established our formal mode share targets.
Complete Streets
In November 2016, voters approved a referendum authorizing the City of Atlanta T-SPLOST (Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax for Transportation) that will generate approximately $300 million over a five-year period to fund transportation projects citywide, including $75 million for 15 Complete Streets projects.
Last Updated: October 2021
Transportation Funding
The transportation entities that serve Atlanta have received $679,261,384.80 in average annual funding from 2015-2019. That equates to roughly $336.16 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 Atlanta’s Transit Connectivity Index value is 8, putting it in the second highest category (8-8.9) available in the City Scorecard.
Last Updated: October 2021
Vehicle Purchase Incentives
At this time, Atlanta does not offer incentives for citizens to purchase hybrid, plug-in, or EV vehicles.
Vehicle Infrastructure Incentives
In 2014, the City adopted zoning regulations to ease the installation of EV infrastructure. Georgia Power offers residential customers a $250 rebate for Level 2 EVSE installed between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020.
EV Charging Locations
The City has 1113 charging ports available for public use, equivalent to 219.6 ports per 100,000 people.
Electric School Bus Goal
Atlanta does not have an electric school bus goal.
EV Transit Bus Goal
Atlanta does not have an EV transit bus goal.
Last Updated: October 2021
The City has a designated freight network with associated roadway design guidelines. This freight network was updated through the 2015 Cargo Atlanta plan. Trucks over 18 tons or 30’ length are restricted to freight routes under most circumstances. Delivery hours are mandated by some site-specific zoning conditions, but there are none in place city-wide. The City has begun initial work on curb-management policies to maximize the efficient use of curb space and balance the array of needs including on-street parking, deliveries, passenger loading/unloading, bicycle lanes, etc.
Last Updated: September 2021
Affordable New TOD Housing Policy
The Atlanta Regional Commission’s (ARC) housing policies as part of Plan 2040 call for providing a range of housing choices to accommodate households of all income levels, sizes, and needs and to ensure that workers in the community have the option to live there. The Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority also has guidelines for creating mixed-income, senior and workforce housing around metro stations. The Housing Opportunity Bond program provides land acquisition, bridge financing and second mortgage gap loans for affordable housing, with preference towards projects around mass transit.
Connecting Existing Affordable Housing Stock to Efficient Transportation Options
The Relay Bikeshare system offers a discounted monthly pass option for Students people that receive SNAP benefits ($5.00/month).
The City's public transit system, MARTA, offers discounted tickets to senior citizens, disabled riders, Medicare recipients, children, K-12 students, and university students and staff.
The City is developing a pilot program in partnership with the Dept. of Corrections to provide free EV rides from the detention center to the property center, which otherwise is not transit accessible. The program aims to remove barriers for recently released inmates to retrieve their possessions.
In partnership with Common Courtesy, the City of Atlanta allocated $20k in funds for a program to provide free EV shuttle services to low income-communities. The drop off locations include the At Promise Center, the Atlanta Community Foodbank, Truly Living Well Urban Farm, Westside Works, and On the Rise Financial Center.
Fulton County has an agreement with Common Courtesy to provide senior citizens rides for $1.
Lyft partnered with the City of Atlanta to provide subsidized $2 rides to farmer's markets and grocery stores to residents living in food desert areas.
Last Updated: September 2021
Georgia Power, an investor-owned utility (IOU), is the primary electric utility for the City of Atlanta. The primary natural gas supplier for Atlanta is Atlanta Gas Light, which is a subsidiary of Southern Company Gas, an IOU. The City of Atlanta is an active promoter of Georgia Power’s electric and Atlanta Gas Light’s gas efficiency programs. The State of Georgia requires electric utilities to file Integrated Resource Plans (IRP) to the Georgia Public Service Commission every three years. These plans may include Demand Side Management programs. Natural gas utilities are not required to file IRPs. To learn more about the state requirements for electric and gas efficiency, please visit the Georgia page of the State Database.
The Atlanta Watershed Management Division is the municipal utility that provides the City of Atlanta with drinking water services, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management.
Last Updated: July 2021
In 2019, Georgia Power reported 313,092 MWh of net electric savings at the meter, which represents 0.37% of its retail sales across the utility’s entire service jurisdiction, not only Atlanta. In 2019, Georgia Power spent $55,674,382 on electric energy efficiency programs, which represents 0.72% of its retail revenue.
In 2019, Atlanta Gas Light did not run natural gas efficiency programs. These savings and spending figures cover the entire service jurisdiction of both utilities, not just the City of Atlanta.
Georgia Power offers electric efficiency incentives and technical assistance to residential and commercial/industrial customers. Atlanta Gas Light similarly offers natural gas efficiency tips to residential and business customers.
Georgia Power continues to provide counsel to the City of Atlanta and Fulton County on how to achieve their clean energy, carbon reduction, or renewable energy goals. As part of this process, Georgia Power provides a detailed analysis on savings and reductions that can be achieved through both energy efficiencies and on-site renewable generation. The City has pursued multiple behind-the-meter solar projects, on which Georgia Power has provided guidance and facilitated the interconnection of the facilities. Georgia Power has also consulted with the City on its longer-term clean energy goals. Georgia Power provides a building data aggregation tool to the City of Atlanta and City of Savannah to help them meet their energy requirements. Atlanta Gas Light partners with the City of Atlanta to support the US DOE's Better Buildings Initiative Energy Data Accelerator. The City of Atlanta is also exploring a new partnership with Georgia Power to address energy burdens in the area.
Last Updated: July 2021
Low-Income Programs
Georgia Power’s Home Energy Efficiency Assistance Program (HEEAP) is an income-qualified program open to both single-family homeowners, renters, and multifamily property tenants that assists income-eligible customers with energy savings through education and free home-efficiency improvements. Qualifying customers receive a complimentary in-home assessment to identify potential energy-saving opportunities, followed by home-energy improvements performed by a program contractor. The program was approved in the 2019 IRP and provided annual funding of $2.6 million. To qualify for HEEAP, eligible single-family customer’s household income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty guidelines. Qualified Multi-family properties must serve a dominate percentage of residents whose household incomes are at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines.
Program participants receive a complimentary in-home assessment by a Certified BPI Building Analyst, which includes blower door testing, combustion safety testing, energy education about their residence and the direct install measures for their residence. Participants may receive direct install measures such as LED lighting, a smart programmable thermostat, and water heater insulating jacket and/or pipe wrapping. Based on the in-home assessment, participants may receive additional services such as attic insulation, air sealing, duct sealing, HVAC replacement, mini-HVAC systems, or HVAC tune-ups. In addition to the HEEAP program, the residential Home Energy Improvement Program (HEIP) has a $500,000 carve out to support income qualified multifamily dwellings as well as targeted efforts within all residential programs. The Small Commercial Direct Install program (SCDI) also focuses on improvements in low-income communities. Georgia Power also provides funding to HopeWorks, which serves income-qualified seniors with a complimentary in-home assessment to identify potential energy-saving opportunities, followed by home-energy improvements.
Atlanta Gas Light provides funds to third party administrators—such as the Salvation Army and HopeWorks—to support low-income energy efficiency and assistance. AGL administers an appliance relief program which seeks to repair, replace and upgrade unsafe low efficiency gas equipment and customer piping for low-income customers
In 2019, Georgia Power’s spent $2,022,512 on its low-income programs and served 1,419 households. Data on energy savings in 2019 was not available. In 2019, according to AGL, they spent $1,000,000 on low-income programs. Data on their savings and customers served in 2019 was not available.
Multifamily Programs
Georgia Power offers the EarthCents New Home Program for multifamily properties. This program is designed to provide multifamily developers with incentives to construct more energy-efficient buildings that would be built following standard building codes. Georgia Power’s Residential Home Energy Improvement Program (HEIP) promotes a comprehensive, whole house approach to improving the energy efficiency and comfort of existing homes and includes multiple participation paths to appeal to both multifamily and single family residential customers. HEIP includes a $500,000 carve-out for low-income multifamily properties.
In 2019, Georgia Power saved 6,397 MWh from its multifamily programs while spending $1,326,350 and serving 512 housing units.
Atlanta Gas Light does not offer energy efficiency programs targeted at multifamily properties at this time.
Last Updated: August 2021
Georgia Power developed the Automated Benchmarking Tool to enable building owners and property managers to retrieve energy consumption data for upload to the ENERGY STAR® Portfolio Manager. The tool provides aggregate building usage data into a single virtual meter that can be used in Portfolio Manager to generate building benchmark score. The City of Atlanta has been working with Atlanta Gas Light to establish best practices for building owner data access in order in compliance with the Commercial Benchmarking Ordinance. Atlanta Gas Light and the City have also partnered to support the DOE's Better Building Energy Data Accelerator.
The city of Atlanta provides community wide energy usage information for planning and evaluation purposes through Atlanta’s Clean Energy Plan. The city collects complete community-wide energy data covering all sectors. Georgia Power offers the City of Atlanta, the City of Athens, and the City of Savannah data through their Automated Benchmarking tool.
The city participates in Georgia Power's Demand-side Management Working Group, where the city advocated for increased availability of historic data through Georgia Power's Automated Benchmarking Tool, which now provides 24 months of aggregated data on a rolling basis. During the 2019 Integrated Resource Planning hearings, the city's chief resilience officer and director of sustainability met with each of the public service commissioners to discuss the city's priorities and the importance of maintaining the availability of Georgia Power's Automated Benchmarking Tool. The City's Chief Resilience Officer also sent a letter to the Public Service Commissioners about the City's priorities, which included advocating for the continuation of this tool.
Last Updated: July 2021
Utility Climate Mitigation Goal
In May 2020, Southern Company set a goal to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 compared to 2007 levels, and set an intermediate goal of a 50% reduction of GHG emission from 2007 levels by 2030. To achieve this intermediate goal, Southern Company will need to reduce emissions by 2.7% annually from 2019 levels.
City-Led Efforts to Decarbonize the Electric Grid
The City of Atlanta intervened in a formal Georgia Power rate case to advocate for more energy efficiency investment and met with PSC members to promote more clean energy models and options for the state. The City of Atlanta’s Chief Resilience Officer—in lieu of testifying during the 2019 Integrated Resource Planning hearings—sent a letter to the Public Service Commission supporting the increase in the amount of utility-scale solar included in Georgia Power's Integrated Resource Plan. The City of Atlanta's Clean Energy Plan to transition both municipal operations and the entire city to clean energy by 2035 requires utility action. The City worked collaboratively with Georgia Power to finalize the plan.
The City participants in a demand-side management working group hosted by the Public Service Commission for Georgia Power programs, which gives the city the opportunity to comment on and inform the direction of these programs.
Last Updated: August 2021
Citywide Water Efficiency and Goals
Although the energy and water utilities do not offer joint efficiency programs, Georgia Power Company does offer water-saving fixtures and controllers on the marketplace. The Department of Watershed Management also offers water efficiency programs, such as the water saver kits available to water customers. Each kit contains a showerhead, faucet aerator, and toilet-leak-detection tablets. The City of Atlanta offers rebates for high-efficiency toilets for residential and multifamily units. Through an innovative program called Care and Conserve, the City offers water bill payment assistance, plumbing repair assistance, and water conservation counseling to approximately 500 low-income households annually. The City has also launched a Water Efficient Restaurant Certificate Program to help restaurants become more water efficient through audits and by providing them with free faucet aerators.
The City has also adopted a goal of achieving a 20% reduction in per capita citywide water consumption below its 2009 levels by 2020. In 2017, it achieved a 10% reduction per capita.
Water Plant Efficiency and Self-Generation
To meet its Better Buildings Challenge commitments, DWM made energy efficient improvements to 28 facilities, including drinking water plants, wastewater treatment plants, and pump stations. The agency also developed a model for measuring water efficiency. DWM recently entered a 15-year partnership with NORESCO to implement upgrades designed to save 1.7 billion gallons of water a year. This work is largely funded by $107 million worth of savings from improved energy performance. The Department’s current capital improvement program (CIP) includes several projects that will result in significant offsets to the 191,000 MWh consumed annually across all of its facilities. Two large-scale energy-saving performance contracts with Schneider Electric and NORESCO, planned for completion in 2019 and 2021, are expected to deliver energy savings in excess of 10,000 MWh annually through various energy conservation measures at multiple DWM water and wastewater treatment facilities. Many other projects in the Department’s CIP include energy savings components as well. With all the investments in its current CIP, it is estimated DWM may realize up to 55,000 MWh in annual energy savings by 2023, a sizable step towards its clean energy goal for 2025.
The RM Clayton wastewater treatment facility’s combined heat and power system converts waste biogas into energy, which is used on-site.
Last Updated: July 2021
Climate Mitigation Goal
Atlanta met its goal to reduce emissions from existing municipal operations by 20% by 2020. Future goals include reducing emissions from municipal operations 40% by 2030, and 80% by 2050 – from 2009 levels. These are listed in Atlanta's 2015 Climate Action Plan, housed under its citywide sustainability initiative called Power to Change. ACEEE was unable to project if the city will achieve its near-term GHG emissions reduction goal for municipal operations because insufficient GHG emissions data were available for our analysis.
Energy Reduction Goal
Atlanta's Climate Action Plan includes a goal to reduce municipal energy use 20% by 2020, from a 2009 baseline. The city also has a goal under DOE’s Better Buildings Challenge (BBC) that includes municipal buildings.
Renewable Energy Goal
Atlanta aims to use clean energy to power 100% of city operations by 2035.
Last updated: May 2021
Fleet Policies and Composition
Atlanta has made a commitment to convert 20 percent of its municipal fleet to electric vehicles by 2020, however, the city does not have any fuel efficiency requirements for its public fleet vehicles in place. Additionally, the City has a green fleet policy, and it is reducing the size of its fleet by revoking vehicle take-home policies and undertaking a car share program. The Mayor’s Office of Resilience is currently working with departments to assess and discuss opportunities to consider EVs and charging stations while taking advantage of the DOE SEAFDP grant to cover 40% of the incremental cost of purchasing an EV compared to a standard ICE vehicle. Atlanta’s municipal fleet is composed of 7% efficient vehicles, including hybrid, plug-in hybrid, and battery electric vehicles.
Public Lighting
Atlanta has not adopted the lighting control provisions of the Model Lighting Ordinance and does not have any similar policies in place. Georgia Power’s streetlight conversion program has converted over 50 percent, totaling around 37,000, of their leased streetlights to LEDs. To date 7.2% of the City of Atlanta owned streetlights have been replaced with LEDs. The City is currently in a pilot project to evaluate technologies to upgrade all city-owned lights to LED and include cameras, spot-shutters, and sensors integrated in a network of intelligent nodes that will collect data for distribution to the City's police department, transportation office, and other end users. City-owned streetlight conversions are tracked in the city's GIS system.
Onsite and Offsite Renewable Systems
In October of 2017, the City awarded a contract for the installation of solar panels on City-owned properties, making it the largest municipal program in Georgia. The facilities included in the program have been selected after extensive vetting for solar potential, financial feasibility, and structural integrity. There are 24 project sites comprising mostly of recreation centers and fire stations and represent up to 1.5MW of solar power.
Inclusive Procurement
While we were unable to verify if the policies had been applied to energy projects, Atlanta has developed multiple diversity inclusion strategies for inclusive procurement. The Small Business Opportunity Program and the Equal Business Opportunity Program promote procurement from women and minority businesses, as well as small business enterprises.
Last updated: May 2021
Building Benchmarking
In the City of Atlanta, more than 90% of government building square footage has been benchmarked in ENERGY STAR Portfolio Management. Atlanta's benchmarking data can be found here.
Comprehensive Retrofit Strategy
The City’s Guaranteed Energy Savings Performance Contract (GESPC) Initiative evaluated 181 city buildings for energy and water usage. Phase 1 involved investment grade audits and phase 2 is currently underway implementing energy saving measures based on the recommendations in phase one. The GESPC is forecasted to save the City $10 million dollars annually.
Last updated: May 2021