Austin
City Scorecard Rank
Austin, TX
The City Council formally adopted the 2015 Austin Community Climate Plan (ACCP) to guide the city towards carbon neutrality. Austin is also in the process of creating the Climate Equity Plan.
Last updated: September 2021
Climate Mitigation Goal
The ACCP established a citywide 2050 net zero greenhouse gas emissions goal including interim targets of a 49% reduction by 2030 and a 70% reduction by 2040. The plan uses a 2010 emissions baseline and allows for up to 10% carbon offsets for all targets. ACEEE projects the city will achieve its near-term community-wide GHG emissions reduction goal.
Energy Reduction Goal
We did not find information regarding a community-wide energy reduction goal for the city, though the city does have a goal to achieve 900 MW of demand side savings
Renewable Energy Goal
Austin Energy’s Resource, Generation and Climate Protection Plan to 2027 established goals to procure at least 55% of customer consumption from renewable energy resources by 2025 and commit to 65% by the end of 2027. This plan would increase installed solar capacity to 950 MW, with 200 MW of local solar.
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
The city created the Climate Equity Plan Steering Committee to give marginalized community residents a formal decision-making role in the creation of the plan.
Equity Accountability Measures
Austin created an equity screening tool to assist in the development of the Climate Equity Plan.
Austin has a citywide focus on equity with the establishment of its Equity Office, including metrics focusing on social equity outcomes, but none are tied specifically to energy efficiency or climate action.
Last updated: September 2021
Austin Energy operates the Downtown Central Business Cooling Plant and Mueller Redevelopment Cooling, Heating, and Power Plant. In 2014, the utility integrated an energy storage system into the plant. Austin Energy also offers residential customers the option to enroll in a community solar program, and the utility offers income-eligible customers a reduced rate.
Last updated: September 2021
UHI Mitigation Goal
We could not verify if the city has adopted a quantifiable urban heat island mitigation goal.
UHI Policies and Programs
In Austin, development bonuses are available for private development projects that incorporate green roofs into new projects or that permanently preserve open space. Austin also adopted the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code that requires cool roofs on buildings. Buildings with vegetative roofs, roof top pools, or permanently integrated solar panels on a roof surface are exempt from this requirement. The city’s tree ordinance protects trees on private land designated as heritage trees and trees with a substantial diameter at breast height.
Last updated: September 2021
The City of Austin has adopted several initiatives and requirements for buildings to achieve energy savings and install renewable energy systems. These include a strict energy code, green building requirements, multiple rebates and incentives, and required energy actions.
Last updated: June 2021
Overview
The State of Texas allows its local jurisdictions to adopt building energy codes more stringent than the Texas Building Energy Code. The minimum state standard for single-family residential construction must comply with the 2015 International Residential Code (IRC). All other residential and commercial building construction must comply with the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). State-funded building construction must comply with ASHRAE 90.1-2013. To learn more about the building energy code requirements for the State of Texas, please visit the State Policy Database.
Commercial
In February 2007, the city council passed the Austin Climate Protection Plan, calling for the drafting of new building codes consistent with reducing energy use in all new buildings by 75%. The Austin Energy Code is based on the 2021 IECC with amendments according to program targets. The city’s zEPI score for their commercial energy code is 47.6.
Residential
In February 2007, the city council passed the Austin Climate Protection Plan, calling for the drafting of new building codes consistent with reducing energy used in single-family homes by 65% by 2015. The Austin Energy Code is based on the 2021 IECC. The city’s zEPI score for their residential energy code is 54.3.
Solar-readiness policies
The city council requires all new residential and solar projects be solar-ready through Resolution No. 20170202-040. Austin provides residential solar-ready guidelines to help applicants and reviewers determine compliance with the ordinance.
EV-charging readiness and infrastructure policies
The city does not mandate projects to be EV-ready.
Low-energy use requirements
Austin’s above-code green building requirements apply to new private buildings in defined areas of the city, including the central business district. Requirements vary, but all include a level of attainment in LEED or the Austin Energy Green Building Program. The requirements apply to both commercial and residential properties. In addition, Resolution No. 000608-43 requires new municipal buildings to achieve LEED standards.
Last updated: August 2021
While Austin doesn't have dedicated enforcement personnel, all Austin Energy Green Building projects require projects meet all aspects of code. AEGB rated approx. 40% of all commercial construction and 25% of residential construction last year. This results in very high training/understanding of code requirements throughout the local construction community and in general good compliance with energy codes.
Austin’s Residential Energy Code requires third-party testing of building air leakage rate, duct leakage, air flow, pressure differentials, and system static pressure. The city’s Commercial Energy Code requires lighting systems and control testing and the commissioning of HVAC equipment. Additionally, Austin requires that all Development Review Department residential inspectors are energy-code certified. The Austin Energy Green Building Program provides upfront support for code compliance through technical assistance for all developers and builders.
Last updated: August 2021
Commercial and multifamily benchmarking
Austin's Energy Conservation and Audit Disclosure Ordinance (ECAD) requires commercial buildings to obtain ENERGY STAR ratings and disclose ratings to prospective buyers. The city adopted the ordinance in November 2008 and it became effective in 2012. Buildings of five or more units are required to comply with the ECAD.
Austin’s multifamily ECAD requires multifamily property owners and managers to conduct energy audits every ten years and provide the results to current and prospective residents. A qualified ECAD Energy Professional must perform the audits.
Single-family energy disclosure
The ECAD requires audits of single-family homes prior to a sale and audits of large multifamily buildings. This ordinance was adopted in November 2008 and was implemented in June 2009. Austin MLS, the multiple listing service serving the Austin region, includes fields for energy efficiency features of homes listed on the market.
Energy audit requirements
Austin’s Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure Ordinance requires all homes and multifamily buildings (five or more units) that are ten years and older to have an energy audit performed.
Rental energy disclosure
Home sellers must disclose energy audit results to perspective buyers at the time of sale, and owners of multifamily buildings must disclose the energy guide to prospective renters.
Other requirements
The city requires multifamily properties to reduce energy use by 20% if the property’s energy use intensity exceeds 150% of the average. These properties must also provide a High Energy Use report to current and prospective residents.
Incentives
The utility offers low- to moderate-income households rebates for home weatherization and efficiency improvements. The city also offers density bonuses to commercial and residential properties that adhere to green building standards. Austin Energy also offers rebates for a variety of efficiency improvements for residential, multifamily, and commercial properties, including a solar photovoltaic rebate program for residential customers.
Austin's S.M.A.R.T. Housing program aims to motivate affrodable housing that is Safe, Mixed-Income, Accessible, Reasonability Priced, and Transit-Oriented (SMART) by offering incentives like fee waivers, density bonsues, tax incentives and development agreements. One of the requirements for SMART housing is meeting Austin's Energy Green Building standards.
Last updated: August 2021
The City of Austin partnered with the University of Texas to partially fund the Austin Clean Tech Incubator.
The city’s Small & Minority Business Resources (SMBR) Department administers the Minority- Owned, Women-Owned, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Procurement Programs for the City of Austin. SMBR also provides developmental opportunities and resources for small (for-profit) businesses so that they can have affirmative access to City procurement opportunities and show productive growth. This includes any renewable energy or energy efficient contracts.
The city also created the Austin Civilian Conservation Corps (ACCC) program to help Austinites who have been economically impacted by COVID-19 earn income, serve their community, and gain skills that can lead to strong new careers.
Last updated: August 2021
The transportation authority serving the city of Austin is The Capital Metropolitan Transit Authority, a state agency. CapMetro also provides the public transportation for the city and the broader metropolitan area, including bus, and light rail service. The Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization is the MPO in charge of conducting metropolitan transportation planning. Its area of jurisdiction encompasses Bastrop, Burnet, Caldwell, Hays, Travis, and Williamson Counties. The Austin Transportation Department is the city agency charged with managing the city’s transportation network.
Last updated: October 2021
Sustainable Transportation Plan
The city of Austin has three plans that outline sustainable transportation strategies, including the Imagine Austin Plan, the Urban Trails Master Plan and the Austin Climate Plan. The city’s climate plan encourages an integrated, expanded, and affordable transportation system that supports a variety of modal options. We did not find information on specific greenhouse gas or VMT reduction goals. Austin has also recently finalized the Austin Strategic Mobility Plan.
VMT/GHG Target and Stringency
At this time, the City does not have a codified vehicle miles traveled (VMT) or greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction target.
Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets
Austin tracks VMT and GHG in their community inventory. This is used as the basis for all of their transportation related GHG analysis.
Last Updated: October 2021
Location Efficient Zoning Codes
Subchapter E of Austin’s zoning code adopted in 2009 includes form-based code elements to ensure street connectivity and mixed-use development in certain neighborhoods.
Residential Parking Policies
The City has removed minimum parking requirements for certain zoning districts (e.g. Central Business District).
Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosure
As an incentive to promote location-efficient real estate development, Austin’s Safe, Mixed-Income, Accessible, Reasonably Priced, Transit-Oriented (SMART) housing program provides fee waivers, expedited review, and support to projects that provide certain levels of affordable housing and are transit-accessible. Other incentives can be found here.
Last Updated: October 2021
Mode Shift Targets
The Austin Strategic Mobility Plan has a 50/50 mode split target with 50% SOV and 50% all other modes by 2039. See page 9. To promote a modal shift in transportation, Austin has set goal to reduce drive alone trips by 10% and increase commuter bicycle mode to 15% by the year 2020.
The main goal of the newly adopted Strategic Mobility Plan is to reach a '50/50' commute mode split as measured by the American Census Survey where 50% of citizens commute to work in single occupancy vehicles and 50% use other modes to commute (target year of 2039). Currently this split is 74/26 where 74% of commuters drive alone to work.
Progress Achieved Toward Mode Shift Targets
Austin measures progress through the ACS survey showing the commute mode split in Austin. The target was adopted in 2019 so progress has not yet been measured, but the intent is to measure progress on an annual basis using ACS data.
Complete Streets
In 2014 Austin's City Council adopted a complete streets policy.
Last Updated: October 2021
The transit entities that serve the City of Austin have received $247,843,757.60 on average annually between 2015 and 2019. That equates to roughly $190.57 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 Austin’s Transit Connectivity Index value is 5.2, scoring .5 a point in the City Scorecard.
Last Updated: October 2021
Vehicle Purchase Incentives
At this time, the City of Austin does not offer incentives for citizens to purchase hybrid, plug-in, or EV vehicles.
Vehicle Infrastructure Incentives
Austin Energy offers rebates for both public and private charging stations for residents, businesses, multifamily properties and auto dealers all of which can be found here. Austin Energy is also piloting a time of use charging program that promotes off peak vehicle charging called EV 360 which can be found here.
EV Charging Locations
The City has 831 charging ports available for public use, equivalent to 84.9 ports per 100,000 people.
Electric School Bus Goal
Austin does not have an electric school bus goal.
EV Transit Bus Goal
Austin voters approved over $7 Billion in public transportation bonds to build project connect. 2 light rail lines, tens of thousands of daily riders, etc. All new buses will be electric as well as the trains.
Last Updated: October 2021
Austin does not have a sustainable freight transportation plan in place, nor does it have any policies that address freight efficiency.
Last Updated: October 2021
Affordable New TOD Housing Policy
Austin requires and offers incentives in the form of density bonuses in Transit Oriented Developments. Its SMART housing program offers density bonuses and expedited permitting. The neighborhood housing and community development department also has a goal for 25% of affordable housing created or preserved to be within ¼ mile of high frequency transit.
Connecting Existing Affordable Housing Stock to Efficient Transportation Options
Capital Metro offers a Reduced Fare ID (RFID) Card that enables eligible riders to receive a half-price fare. The card costs $3 and is good for 2 years. The bikeshare system B-cycle also has a low-income program called B-Cycle for all. To qualify for the B-cycle For All program, you must be an Austin resident, have an annual household income of $28,500 or less, and not be a full-time student.
Last Updated: October 2021
Austin Energy, a municipally-operated utility, is the primary electric utility for the City of Austin. Texas Gas Service, an investor-owned utility (IOU), is Austin’s primary natural gas utility. The State of Texas requires its investor-owned electric utilities to offset load-growth through end-use energy efficiency, mandated through an EERS. The IOUs must also submit their energy savings goals to the Public Utility Commission of Texas. The municipally-run utilities must set their own efficiency targets. To learn more about the state requirements for electric and gas efficiency, please visit the Texas page of the State Database.
Austin Water, a municipally-operated utility provides drinking water, treats wastewater, and manages stormwater for the City of Austin. In Austin, each entity runs its own ratepayer funded efficiency programs.
Last Updated: July 2021
In 2019, Austin Energy reported 129,173 MWh in net electric savings at the meter, which represents 0.94% of its retail sales. In 2019, Austin Energy spent $14,699,000 on electric energy efficiency programs, which represents 1.17% of its retail revenue.
In 2019 Texas Gas Service reported 0.30 MMtherms of net natural gas savings at the meter, which represents 0.09% of its retail sales across the utility’s service territory. In 2019, Texas Gas Service spent $3,225,878 on natural gas energy efficiency programs, which equates to $4.74 per residential customer. These savings figures represented in this section cover the entire Texas service territory, not just Austin.
Austin Energy offers electric efficiency incentives and technical assistance to residential and commercial/industrial customers. Texas Gas similarly offers natural gas efficiency programs to residential customers.
Texas Gas Service and Austin Energy have collaborated for over a decade to aid city residents who need energy efficiency improvements and energy-savings appliances. Texas Gas Service receives referrals from Austin Energy for shared customers who may need natural gas furnace, range, or water heater replacements. In addition, other City Departments including Austin Water, Neighborhood Housing and several not-for-profit organizations partner with Austin Energy to provide energy efficiency products and services to the community. The Climate Protection Plan reinforces the partnerships among City Departments by establishing shared goals.
Last Updated: July 2021
Low-Income Programs
Austin Energy offers a portfolio of low-income efficiency programs to its low-income residential customers, including weatherization assistance, AC rebate and loans, AC tune ups, direct install, and multifamily weatherization assistance program rebates. The residential weatherization program for low to moderate-income customers that pays for up to $7,500 in energy efficiency improvements in partnership with the Department of Energy (DOE) and ENERGYS TAR. The program is designed to provide energy improvement measures similar to those in our Home Performance with ENERGY STAR Program. The program also offers an HVAC rebate and loan component with a low interest loan and an accompanying rebate to offset the cost of the system. Local contractors contracted by Austin Energy deliver the energy efficiency measures in comprehensive projects. Some of the measures included in the program are air conditioning tune ups, duct sealing, attic insulation, solar screens, LED lighting, smart thermostats, and performance testing such as blower door, duct blower, static pressure and combustion testing. Health related measures include smoke and CO monitors, as well as plumbing, electrical, mechanical, structural, and moisture-related repairs.
Austin Energy works in collaboration with the City of Austin Neighborhood Housing Program, the Green and Healthy Home Initiative, and with local housing repair coalition nonprofits in a referral network. This network provides structural and roofing repairs to low-income customers, and Austin Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program provides the weatherization components. Austin Energy streamlines its eligibility requirements to make it easier for customers to enroll, and it targets high energy users and elderly customers for its low-income programs. For its weatherization program, Austin Energy partners with community nonprofits such as Family Eldercare and with other city departments such as the Austin Fire Department. Austin Energy also initiated a low-income multifamily weatherization program to focus on apartment complexes meeting certain low-income housing requirements.
In 2019, Austin Energy achieved 3,021 MWh in energy savings while spending $4,266,908 on its low-income programs and served 4,356 low-income households.
Texas Gas Service provides a Free Natural Gas Equipment Program for low-income customers. This program provides a number of free services for customers on fixed or moderate incomes, as well as for the elderly and those with disabilities. Services include free installation of new and replacement CO detectors, smoke detectors, wall and central furnaces, natural gas water heaters, and ranges as well as any necessary plumbing or carpentry upgrades to ensure a safe and code compliant home.
In 2019, Texas Gas Service spend $385,687 on low-income energy efficiency programs. Savings and customers served for 2019 were not available.
Multifamily Programs
Austin Energy offers the Power Saver Program for multifamily properties. This comprehensive program offers no-cost direct install of cycle-saver water heater timers, as well as rebates for energy saving heat pump water heaters, ceiling insulation, duct improvement, solar shading, window replacement, cool roofs, lighting, HVACs, and solar water heaters. Eligibility is determined through an on-site energy audit. Austin Energy also offers the Multifamily Rebate Program for income-qualified multifamily customers. The program provides no-cost energy efficiency improvements to affordable or low-income properties in Austin.
In 2019, Austin Energy saved 2,493 MWh, while spending $1,530,479 on its low-income programs and served 2,792 housing units at 11 multifamily properties through its program.
At this time, Texas Gas Service does not offer energy efficiency programs targeted at multifamily properties.
Last Updated: July 2021
Austin Energy provides the Schneider EPO (Austin Energy Load Profiler) at no cost to its commercial customers. Austin Energy provides community wide energy usage information for community planning and evaluation purposes through their Data Library.
Last Updated: August 2021
Utility Climate Mitigation Goal
In 2019, Austin Energy set a goal to 2030 to achieve 100% carbon free electricity generation by 2035. To achieve this goal, Austin Energy will need to reduce emissions by 6.7% annually from 2020 levels.
City-Led Efforts to Decarbonize the Electric Grid
In 2020, Austin Energy emitted 19 metric tons of CO2 per capita in scope 1 and 2 emissions.
Last Updated: August 2021
Citywide Water Efficiency and Goals
The energy and water utilities do not currently offer joint water and energy efficiency programs to customers, but Texas Gas Service does offer free water-saving kits to residential customers and direct installation measures including low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators to commercial customers through CLEAResult. In addition, Austin implements tiered water pricing and offers rebates for residential customers such as WaterWise landscaping, rainwater harvesting, free shower heads, and other products and actions. There are also rebates available for businesses including rainwater harvesting and commercial process rebates.
In 2014, Austin’s city council adopted a goal to reduce total water use to 140 gallons per capita per day (GPCD) and residential water use to 85 gallons per capita per day by 2024. Austin Water’s multi-faceted conservation program coupled with a strong response by Austin residents has the utility on track to meet or exceed those goals. In 2018, total water use was 124 GPCD. In November 2018, Austin City Council adopted Water Forward, an integrated water resource plan that includes a suite of demand- and supply-side options to address Austin’s water needs over the next 100 years and ensure long-term water availability through a variety of climate conditions. The Water Forward plan includes a 2025 target of 6,970 AF of additional water savings from demand management strategies (including onsite reuse).
Austin implements tiered water pricing and also offers rebates for residential customers such as WaterWise landscaping, rainwater harvesting, free shower heads, and other products and actions. There are also rebates available for businesses including rainwater harvesting and commercial process rebates. In November 2018, Austin City Council adopted Water Forward, an integrated water resource plan that includes a suite of demand- and supply-side options to address Austin’s water needs over the next 100 years and ensure long-term water availability through a variety of climate conditions. The Water Forward plan includes a 2025 target of 6,970 AF of additional water savings from demand management strategies (including onsite reuse).
Water Plant Efficiency and Self-Generation
Austin Water tracks its energy efficiency at the facility, process, and system levels with a goal of 3% reduction in kilowatt-hours consumed per million gallons (kWh/MG) per year until 2020. Operational optimization and capital improvements both contribute to regularly meeting these goals. Since 2012, Austin Water has used 100% renewable energy through participation in Austin Energy’s Green Choice program, which supports the purchase of renewable energy.
The Hornsby Bend Biosolids Management Plant recently upgraded an old combined heat and power (CHP) facility. Since March 2013, this new facility has been generating 100% of its heat and electricity demand through combustion of the ~700,000 cubic feet per day of biogas produced onsite through anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge.
Last Updated: July 2021
In 2007, the Austin City Council approved Resolution No. 20070215-023, which formally established climate and energy goals for the City of Austin’s operations.
Climate Mitigation Goal
The Resolution committed the City of Austin to achieve carbon-neutral municipal operations by 2020. This goal has now expired. Austin releases data on greenhouse gas emissions on its sustainability dashboard, but has not yet updated annual inventories with 2020 data.
Energy Reduction Goal
The City set a goal to reduce energy consumption in buildings 5% each year through 2020. This goal has now expired. Progress towards the goal is published on the city’s sustainability dashboard, but the City has not yet updated annual inventories with 2020 data.
Renewable Energy Goal
Austin has used renewable energy to power 100% of municipal operations since 2011.
Last updated: May 2021
Fleet Policies and Composition
The city of Austin has a fuel conservation policy in place that promotes the purchase of fuel efficient vehicles, and makes electric/hybrid and alternative fueled vehicles a priority. The current policy of the city is that any vehicle that has a battery electric vehicle option available at the time of purchase and meets the operational need will be purchased. City of Austin Fleet Services also has a GPS fleet management tracking system. Austin has a plan for fleet electrification, which was driven by Resolution No. 20160505-025. Austin’s light-duty fleet is composed of over 50% hybrid electric and battery electric vehicles.
Public Lighting
Austin Energy has automated all of its 59,000 Austin Energy-owned streetlights and made them Dark-Sky compliant. Austin Energy has converted almost all streetlights to LEDs. Austin requires all exterior lighting to comply with above-code standards, including the International Dark Sky Association’s Model Lighting Ordinance (MLO).
Onsite renewable systems
Austin has on-site municipal solar projects totaling over 1400 kW of installed renewable generation capacity.
Inclusive procurement
While we were unable to verify if the program has been applied to energy projects, the City’s Small & Minority Business Resources Department administers the Minority- Owned, Women-Owned, and Disadvantaged Business Enterprise Procurement Programs for the City of Austin. SMBR also provides developmental opportunities and resources for small (for-profit) businesses so that they can have affirmative access to City procurement opportunities and show productive growth.
Last updated: May 2021
Building Benchmarking and Retrofitting
In November 2008, the city council approved the Energy Conservation Audit and Disclosure Ordinance (Ordinance 20081106-047). It requires building energy rating and disclosure for nonresidential facilities and applies to municipal buildings. By 2014, 8.7 million square feet of city buildings were benchmarked, which is 97% of the total square footage owned by the city. Austin benchmarks municipal buildings through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager.
Comprehensive Retrofit Strategy
The City of Austin city departments are responsible for identifying and assisting the energy manager, Austin Energy, to identify cost-effective retrofit projects in the department’s facilities and processes. Department management also must assure adequate funds are budgeted and available for the implementation of cost-effective retrofit projects. Commissioning has been completed at the City’s 14 largest buildings. The City has also developed baseline sustainability standards that guide retrofit projects. The City recently entered into a contract with an energy services company to identify and implement energy efficiency projects at 8 of the City's largest buildings, including City Hall.
Last updated: May 2021