Charleston
City Scorecard Rank
70
Charleston, SC
25.50Scored out of 250Updated 05/2024
Community-Wide Initiatives
Score: 3 out of 45 points
Community-Wide Climate Mitigation and Energy GoalsList All
Climate Mitigation Goal
The Climate Action Plan set a long-term greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal of carbon neutrality by 2050, with an interim reduction goal of 56% below 2018 levels by 2030. ACEEE was unable to project if the city will achieve its near-term community-wide GHG emissions reduction goal because insufficient GHG emissions data were available for our analysis.
Energy Efficiency 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
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: August 2023
Adaptive Mitigation List All
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
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Workforce DevelopmentList All
Workforce development for disadvantaged workers
We could not determine if city has partnered with a local education institution, labor union, or community-based organization to create, support, and/or incentivize the development of clean energy workforce development initiatives that target training and support services for potential or existing workers from disadvantaged communities to obtain and keep in-demand jobs.
Workforce development for the broader community
We could not determine if city has partnered with a local education institution, labor union, or community-based organization to create, support, and/or incentivize the development of clean energy workforce development initiatives that target training and support services for potential or existing workers from the broader community to obtain and keep in-demand jobs.
Outcomes tracking
We could not determine if the city has instituted a mechanism to measure the performance and/or success of equitable workforce development initiatives focused on the clean energy sector.
Last updated: August 2023
Buildings Policies
Score: 4 out of 70 points
Building Energy CodesList All
Overview
While the State of South Carolina allows local jurisdictions to adopt energy codes more stringent than that of the state, state laws make it difficult for cities to adopt amendments. Charleston must follow state-adopted building energy codes and cannot adopt local amendments. South Carolina has adopted the 2009 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). To learn more about the state building codes, please visit the State Policy Database.
Commercial
Charleston enforces the state commercial energy code. The city’s zEPI score for its commercial energy code is 69.75.
Residential
Charleston enforces the state residential energy code. The city’s zEPI score for its commercial energy code is 70.05.
Solar-readiness policies
The city does not have the authority to mandate solar-ready construction, but the city allows solar in all zones.
EV-charging readiness policies
The city has not passed a policy mandating new developments be EV-ready.
Low-energy use requirements
Charleston does not have 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
Charleston has one full-time employee dedicated to enforcing the energy code. Charleston requires plan reviews and site inspections to ensure code compliance. The city also provides upfront support by answering questions on 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
Transportation
Score: 9.5 out of 70 points
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All
Sustainable Transportation Plan
Charleston's Climate Action Plan was adopted in 2021 and includes sustainable transportation strategies.
VMT/GHG Target and Stringency
According to the Climate Action Plan, the city has a goal of reducing GHG emissions from transportation by 73,142 metric tons by 2025 and reduce VMT 4% by 2025 from 2018 levels. The city’s target requires a 4.6% average per-capita annual decrease from its target baseline. Therefore, Charleston earned 2 points for the stringency of its target.
Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets
The City of Charleston did not provide transportation GHG emissions data collected since the adoption of its goal; therefore, we cannot assess progress toward the goal.
Last Updated: September 2023
Location Efficiency List All
Location Efficient Zoning Codes
We were unable to find information indicating that the City of Charleston 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 Requirement
We were unable to find information indicating that the City of Charleston 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 Disclosure
The City of Charleston does not have location-efficient development incentives or disclosure policies.
Affordable Housing around Transit
The City of Charleston does not require, preserve, or incentivize the development of affordable housing near transit.
Last Updated: September 2023
Mode Shift List All
Mode Shift Targets
The City of Charleston does not have a codified mode share target.
Progress Achieved Toward Mode Shift Targets
The City of Charleston does not have a codified mode share target, and therefore cannot make progress toward the target.
Subsidized Access to Efficient Transportation Options
CARTA, the city's primary public transit agency, offers reduced fare for income-qualified individuals. Lime, the primary shared micromobility operator in Charleston, offers discounted rides to those who qualify. Eligible individuals include those receiving SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), Medicaid, reduced transit fare, or participate in other assistance programs.
Last Updated: September 2023
Public Transit List All
Transportation Funding
We could not determine how much funding the transit entities that serve the City of Charleston have received from local sources.
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 Charleston's AllTransit Performance Score of 3.2 did not qualify it for points in the City Scorecard.
Last Updated: September 2023
Efficient VehiclesList All
Efficient Vehicle Purchase Incentives
Neither the City of Charleston nor the local utility provide incentives for purchasing efficient vehicles.
Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Incentives
Neither the City of Charleston nor the local utility provide incentives for the installation of EV charging stations.
Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Requirements
The City of Charleston does not require new developments to install EV charging stations.
EV Charging Ports
The City of Charleston has 37.7 vehicle charging ports per 100,000 people available for public use.
Electric School Bus Goal
Neither the City of Charleston nor the local school district have set an electric school bus goal.
Electric Transit Bus Goal
CARTA, the city's primary transit agency, set a goal of transitioning 100% of its bus fleet to electric by 2040. CARTA plans to prioritize routes serving areas with high cancer risk and high risk of respiratory illness from air toxics (i.e. routes serving the "Superstop" at Rivers Ave and Cosgrove Ave and the future transit hub at Shipwatch Square) as it transitions to electric buses.
Last Updated: September 2023
Freight System EfficiencyList All
Sustainable Freight Plans
The City of Charleston does not have a sustainable freight plan or freight mobility plan in place, nor is it pursuing any freight efficiency strategies.
Open Data Portals
South Carolina Ports Authority, which operates the Port of Charleston, hosts an open data portal displaying current terminal acceptance with equipment availability that is updated every half hour.
Last Updated: September 2023
Community Energy Infrastructure
Score: 5 out of 40 points
Community Energy Infrastructure Summary List All
Dominion Energy South Carolina, an investor-owned utility (IOU), is the primary electric and gas utility for the City of Charleston. South Carolina’s investor-owned utilities are required to file integrated resource plans with the Public Service Commission. Some of the utilities operate demand-side management and energy efficiency programs, although such programs are not required in South Carolina. To learn more about the state requirements for electric and gas efficiency, please visit the South Carolina page of the State Database.
The Charleston Water System is the municipal utility that provides the City of Charleston with drinking water services, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management.
Last Updated: July 2021
Electricity and Natural Gas Efficiency SavingsList All
In 2019, Dominion Energy South Carolina reported 51,826 MWh of net electric savings at the meter across the utility’s entire service jurisdiction, not only Charleston. In 2019, Dominion Energy South Carolina spent $20,528,634 on energy efficiency programs.
In 2019, Dominion Energy South Carolina reported no spending or savings on natural gas efficiency programs. These savings and spending figures cover the entire service jurisdiction of Dominion Energy South Carolina, not just the City of Charleston.
Dominion Energy South Carolina offers electric efficiency incentives and technical assistance to residential and business customers.
The City of Charleston partners with DESC through the EnergyWise for Your Business Program.
Last Updated: September 2023
Low-Income & Multifamily EE Programs List All
Low-Income Programs
Dominion Energy South Carolina offers the Neighborhood Energy Efficiency Program (NEEP) to single and multifamily households. The program provides income-qualified customers with an energy assessment, energy education, and direct installation of energy-efficiency upgrades. Through NEEP, eligible customers receive free and LED lighting. Dominion Energy South Carolina coordinates with community action agencies, local community groups, and the internal customer assistance department to outreach potential eligible customers.
In 2021, Dominion Energy South Carolina achieved 3,610 MWh in energy savings, while spending $1,432,317 in its low-income programs and serving 6,835 low-income customers.
Multifamily Programs
Dominion Energy South Carolina launched a multifamily program in late 2020. The program provides energy education, an on-site energy survey, and direct installation of select energy-saving measures. The program also provides energy efficiency measures for common areas, such as HVAC upgrades, LED lighting, and water conservation measures.
Last Updated: September 2023
Provision of Energy Data by UtilitiesList All
Dominion Energy South Carolina does not provide building managers with automated benchmarking data through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager for multitenant commercial or multifamily buildings. The City of Charleston does not provide community-wide energy usage information for community planning and evaluation purposes. The City of Charleston 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: September 2023
Decarbonization and Climate Change Mitigation Efforts of Cities and Energy UtilitiesList All
Utility Climate Mitigation Goal
In February 2020, Dominion Energy set a goal to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. To achieve this goal, Dominion will need to reduce emissions by 2.13% annually from 2019 levels.
City-Led Efforts to Decarbonize the Electric Grid
At this time, we cannot confirm whether or not the city of Charleston 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
We could not verify if the city has adopted a formal policy, rule, or agreement that supports the creation of clean distributed energy systems.
Municipal Renewable Energy Procurement
Charleston has 714kW of installed solar capacity on 6 municipal facilities.
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 EnergyWise Savings Online Store offers deep discounts on several water conservation measures including low-flow shower heads, water thermostatic valves (TSV) and faucet aerators to assist customers in saving electricity while conserving water. At this time, the City of Charleston and its water utility have not established a water savings target or goal.
Water Plant Efficiency and Self-Generation
The water utility has not set specific energy efficiency targets or strategies. The city’s water system does not self-generate its own energy.
Last Updated: September 2023
Local Government Score:
4 out of 25 points
Local Government Climate and Energy Goals List All
Climate Mitigation Goal
Charleston's Climate Action Plan includes goals to reduce emissions 56% below 2018 levels by 2030 and to net zero by 2050. 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
The City of Charleston completed an energy performance contract last year to reduce municipal energy use by 47%.
Renewable Energy Goal
Charleston's Climate Action Plan includes a target to identify feasibility and funding opportunities for renewable energy on city facilities.
Last updated: June 2021
Procurement and Construction Policies List All
Fleet policies and composition
While we were unable to find information on Charleston’s fleet procurement policies or fuel efficiency requirements, the Mayor has issued a directive to actively pursue the purchase of EV's for the fleet. Charleston’s municipal fleet is composed of approximately 1% efficient vehicles, including hybrid vehicles.
Public lighting
Charleston has not adopted a policy requiring efficient outdoor lighting, such as the International Dark-Sky Association’s Model Lighting Ordinance. We were unable to confirm the percentage of streetlights converted to LEDs in Charleston. Through an agreement with Dominion Energy South Carolina in 2022, Charleston has committed to converting close to 7,000 cobrahead-style streetlights to LED.
Inclusive procurement
We were unable to verify if Charleston has inclusive procurement and contracting processes.
Last updated: October 2023
Asset Management List All
Building Benchmarking
We were unable to confirm Charleston’s benchmarking practices.
Comprehensive Retrofit Strategy
We were unable to find information regarding a comprehensive retrofit strategy in Charleston, however, the City’s budget allocates funds annually for building upgrades and energy conservation.
Municipal Employee Transportation Benefits
Charleston provides a free bus pass for employees. Charleston’s Climate Action Progress Report shows how much commute emissions are saved from the use of this benefit.
Last update: February 2024