Durham
City Scorecard Rank
67
Durham, NC
Scored out of 100Updated 10/2020
Community-Wide Initiatives
Community-Wide Climate Mitigation and Energy GoalsList All
Climate Mitigation Goal
Durham adopted a goal to reduce community-wide GHG emissions 30% by 2030, using a 2005 baseline. 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 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: September 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
The city has not 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
Building Energy CodesList All
Overview
The State of North Carolina requires local jurisdictions to comply with the state-mandated building energy codes. All buildings must comply with the 2018 North Carolina Energy Conservation Code, which is less stringent than the 2015 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC). The city has limited to no authority to mandate anything beyond the state code. To learn more about the building codes and requirements for the State of North Carolina, please visit the State Policy Database.
Commercial
Commercial construction in Durham complies with the North Carolina Energy Conservation Code The city’s zEPI score for its commercial energy code is 54.75.
Residential
Residential construction in Durham complies with the North Carolina Energy Conservation Code. The city’s zEPI score for its residential energy code is 64.79.
Solar-readiness policies
The city has limited authority to adopt solar-ready ordinances, but it does allow solar use in all zones.
EV-readiness policies
We could not find information on whether the city has adopted policies requiring buildings to be EV-ready.
Low-energy use requirements
New construction of public buildings and facilities greater than 10,000 square feet must achieve a minimum rating of LEED Gold or any comparable performance criteria. Buildings between 4,000 and up to 10,000 square feet must achieve a minimum rating of LEED Silver or any comparable performance criteria.
Electrification
Durham has limited or no authority to adopt mandatory 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: September 2023
Building Energy Code Compliance and EnforcementList All
We were unable to determine the amount of staff effort dedicated to energy code enforcement. The city requires plan reviews and site inspections to verify energy code compliance. We were unable to determine if the city offers upfront support for code compliance.
Last Update: September 2023
Policies Targeting Existing BuildingsList All
We could not find information on whether the city incentivizes energy-saving actions in existing buildings.
Last Update: September 2023
Transportation
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All
Sustainable Transportation Plan
The City of Durham does not yet have a sustainable transportation plan or climate action plan with sustainable transportation strategies.
VMT/GHG Target and Stringency
The City of Durham does not have a codified VMT or transportation GHG reduction target.
Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets
The City of Durham does not have a codified VMT or transportation GHG reduction target, and therefore cannot make progress toward the target.
Last Updated: September 2023
Location Efficiency List All
Location Efficient Zoning Codes
We were unable to find information indicating that the City of Durham 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
Durham has eliminated parking minimums in certain districts.
Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosures
The City of Durham does not have location-efficient development incentives or disclosure policies.
Affordable Housing around Transit
The City of Durham does not require, preserve, or incentivize the development of affordable housing near transit.
Last Updated: September 2023
Mode Shift List All
Mode Shift Target
The City of Durham does not have a codified mode share target.
Progress Toward Mode Shift Targets
The City of Durham 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 Durham provides free transit via GoDurham, and partners with Bird and Spin to offer discounted micro mobility services for those enrolled in local, state, or federal assistance programs.
Last Updated: September 2023
Public Transit List All
Transit Funding
The transit entities that serve the City of Durham have received $45,603,296.80 on average annually between 2017 and 2021 from local sources. That equates to roughly $23.69 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 Durhams’s AllTransit Performance Score is 4.8, scoring 0 points in the City Scorecard.
Last Updated: September 2023
Efficient VehiclesList All
Efficient Vehicle Purchase Incentives
Neither the City of Durham nor the local utility provide incentives for purchasing efficient vehicles.
Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Incentives
Duke Energy offers up to $1117 rebate on installing either a level 1 or 2 charger to Duke Energy customers in the state of North Carolina.
Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Requirements
The City of Durham does not require new developments to install EV charging stations.
EV Charging Ports
The City of Durham has 43.5 vehicle charging ports per 100,000 people available for public use.
Electric School Bus Goal
Neither the City of Durham nor the local school district have set an electric school bus goal.
Electric Transit Bus Goal
GoDurham set a goal of transitioning 100 of its bus fleet to electric by 2035.
Last Updated: September 2023
Freight System EfficiencyList All
Sustainable Freight Plans
The City of Durham 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 Durham does not have an open data portal with real-time freight data.
Last Updated: September 2023
Community Energy Infrastructure
Community Energy Infrastructure Summary List All
Duke Energy Carolinas is the primary electric and gas utility serving the City of Durham. The State of North Carolina has implemented a renewable energy and energy efficiency portfolio standard in which levels of energy efficiency must be achieved annually by the state’s utilities through demand side programs. To learn more about the state requirements for electric and gas efficiency, please visit the North Carolina page of the State Database.
The City of Durham Department of Water Management is the municipal utility that provides drinking water, wastewater treatment and stormwater management services for Durham.
Last Updated: April 2024
Electricity and Natural Gas Efficiency SavingsList All
In 2021, Duke Energy Carolinas reported 467,244 MWh in net electric savings at the meter.
Duke Energy Carolinas offers electric efficiency incentives and technical assistance to residential and commercial/industrial customers.
At this time we were unable to verify total net natural gas savings at the meter.
At this time, the City of Durham does not have a formal partnership with Duke Energy Carolinas in the form of a jointly developed or administered energy saving strategy, plan, or agreement.
Last Updated: April 2024
Low-Income & Multifamily EE Programs List All
Duke Energy Carolinas offers the Neighborhood Energy Saver (NES) program to qualified low-income residential customers. This program provides one-on-one energy education, on-site energy assessments, and appropriate packages of no-cost energy conservation measures in order to reduce energy consumption in low-income households. The program includes measures such as filters, AC covers, switch plate thermometers, weatherstripping, door sweeps, caulking, foam, bulbs, efficient lighting, water heater insulation and temperature adjustment, water efficiency measures, and energy savings calendars. Additional measures are made available to customers with higher energy burdens. The program is implemented by Honeywell Building Solutions in partnership with Duke Energy program staff. NES program staff work with local governments for involvement in kick-off events and program support. Duke Energy’s Helping Home Fund helps pay for repairs and health and safety issues.
As of 2022, a High Energy Use Pilot was filed and approved to assist customers that demonstrate high electrical burden.
Duke Energy Carolinas offers the Multifamily Energy Efficiency Program. This program offers no-cost direct install of high efficiency light bulbs, faucet aerators, showerheads and hot water pipe wrapping in multifamily building units.
In 2021, Duke Energy Carolinas’ low-income electricity energy efficiency programs achieved 1,872 MWh in energy savings while spending $3,407,192 and serving 19,579 households.
In 2021, Duke Energy Carolinas' multifamily energy efficiency programs achieved 2,080 MWh in energy savings while spending $517,454.
Last Updated: April 2024
Provision of Energy Data by UtilitiesList All
Duke Energy Carolinas does not provide community-wide energy usage information at the aggregate level for community planning and evaluation purposes
Last Updated: April 2024
Decarbonization and Climate Change Mitigation Efforts of Cities and Energy UtilitiesList All
Clean Distributed Energy Resources
The city has not adopted a formal policy, rule, or agreement that supports the creation of clean distributed energy systems.
Municipal Renewable Energy Procurement
Durham purchases renewable energy from Duke Energy; the City has a 20 MW share.
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: February 2024
Efficiency Efforts in Water ServicesList All
At this time, we were unable to verify if the Department of Water Management has set specific energy efficiency targets or strategies. We were unable to verify if the city’s water system self-generates its own energy.
Last Updated: April 2024
Local Government Score:
Local Government Climate and Energy Goals List All
Climate Change Mitigation Goal
The city of Durham set a goal to reduce local government GHG emissions 50% by 2030, using a 2005 baseline.
Energy Reduction Goal
We could not find any information regarding a local energy reduction goal for Durham.
Renewable Electricity Goal
We could not find any information regarding a municipal renewable energy goal for Durham.
Last Updated: November 2023
Procurement and Construction Policies List All
Fleet Policies and Composition
Durham has a Zero Emission Fleet plan that includes right-sizing the fleet and optimizing fuel efficiency, replacing all light-duty vehicles and trucks with ZEVs by 2040, and developing policies to ensure accountability. We were unable to find data regarding fleet composition.
Public Lighting
Durham has not adopted a policy requiring efficient outdoor lighting, such as the International Dark-Sky Association’s Model Lighting Ordinance. As of 2020, 95% of streetlights in Durham have been converted to LED.
Inclusive procurement
While we were unable to verify if the policy has been applied to energy projects, Durham has an ordinance that includes some goal-setting for MWDBE participation.
Last Updated: October 2023
Asset Management List All
Building Benchmarking
Durham benchmarks Energy Use Intensity (EUI) for city-owned buildings. This measures how much energy a building is using per square foot per year. The City has established a goal to reduce the EUI by 30% by 2040 for City-owned buildings. The total EUI for City buildings in 2020 is 6% lower than the EUI in 2009 when the City’s Energy Management Program was launched.
Comprehensive Retrofit Strategy
Durham’s plan to maximize energy efficiency includes converting all lighting in city buildings and outside to LEDs, completing energy audits in City buildings, developing a comprehensive Energy Management Plan for City buildings over 5,000 square feet, and updating city policies to reduce carbon emissions.
Municipal Employee Transportation Benefits
We were unable to determine whether Durham provides reduced-emission transportation benefits to municipal staff.
Last update: February 2024