New Orleans
City Scorecard Rank
67
New Orleans, LA
20.50Scored out of 100Updated 10/2020
Community-Wide Initiatives
Score: 4.5 out of 15 points
Community-Wide Summary List All
The City of New Orleans released the Climate Action Strategy in 2017.
Last updated: September 2021
Community-Wide Climate Mitigation and Energy GoalsList All
Climate Mitigation Goal
The Climate Action Strategy established a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50% 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.
The Climate Action Strategy and the climate action webpage both include emissions data.
Energy Reduction Goal
The Climate Action Strategy included a goal to achieve 3.3% annual energy savings by 2030.
Renewable Energy Goal
The Climate Action Strategy established goals to achieve 100% low-carbon electricity and install 255 megawatts of local solar capacity by 2030. Low-carbon electricity includes renewable energy sources, energy efficiency measures, and nuclear energy.
Recently, the New Orleans City Council also approved a binding renewable and clean portfolio standard mandating net-zero emissions by 2040 and a fully zero-carbon energy portfolio by 2050 (the 2050 goal does not allow for the purchase of RECs to achieve net-zero emissions).
Last updated: September 2021
Equity-Driven Approaches to Clean Energy Planning, Implementation, and EvaluationList All
Equity-Driven Community Engagement
In 2018, New Orleans launched the Climate Equity Project, a broad and comprehensive approach to equitable climate and energy planning.
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: September 2021
Clean Distributed Energy ResourcesList All
The New Orleans City Council opened docket UD-18-03 for rulemaking for community solar projects.
Last updated: September 2021
Mitigation of Heat Islands List All
UHI Mitigation Goal
We could not verify if the city has adopted a quantifiable urban heat island mitigation goal.
UHI Policies and Programs
The city has incorporated urban heat island mitigation policies into the city’s zoning code. Article 5.8.C requires project sites to incorporate low-impact development techniques and grants development bonuses for such. Article 23.10 requires private trees to be protected in development sites. Article 5.5.B promotes the protection of land along with dense residential developments. The Finance Authority of New Orleans recently changed its business model to only provide loans to properties that install green infrastructure resilience upgrades (or energy efficiency measures or solar).
Last updated: September 2021
Buildings Policies
Score: 4 out of 30 points
Buildings Summary List All
The City of New Orleans enforces the state’s energy code, though the city does have the authority to adopt building energy codes at the municipal level. The city established a compressive code compliance verification process. New Orleans has not adopted a benchmarking and disclosure policy. New Orleans offers several incentives for energy-efficient actions. The city does not require building owners to perform additional above-code energy actions.
Last updated: September 2020
Building Energy CodesList All
Overview
While the State of Louisiana is a home rule state that technically allows local jurisdictions to adopt building energy codes that are more stringent than the minimum state requirements, the state has several restrictive regulations that essentially prohibit cities from adopting their own energy codes. The minimum state standard requires residential buildings to comply with the 2009 IRC with reference to the 2009 IECC. Commercial buildings must comply with ASHRAE 90.1-2007.
Commercial
New Orleans has not adopted amendments or stretch codes regarding commercial buildings but the city has advocated for more stringent energy codes at the state level. The city’s zEPI score for its commercial energy code is 70.3.
Residential
New Orleans has not adopted amendments or stretch codes regarding commercial buildings but the city has advocated for more stringent energy codes at the state level. The city’s zEPI score for its commercial energy code is 68.0.
Solar-readiness policies
The city has not passed an ordinance mandating new construction be solar-ready.
EV-charging readiness and infrastructure policies
The city has not passed legislation mandating residential, multifamily, and/or commercial new construction be EV-ready.
Last updated: June 2021
Building Energy Code Compliance and EnforcementList All
New Orleans does not staff full-time employees solely dedicated to energy code enforcement. The city requires third-party plan reviews and performance testing to verify code compliance. The City Planning Office provides in-house guidance and information regarding building code compliance.
Last updated: June 2021
Policies Targeting Existing BuildingsList All
Incentives
The New Orleans Redevelopment Authority provides financing for energy efficiency projects in affordable housing units.
Entergy New Orleans’s Energy Smart program offers energy efficiency incentives for commercial and residential building owners. The program also sets aside incentives for income-eligible households.
In 2019, the Finance Authority of New Orleans shifted its model to only provide loans to properties that install EE, solar or green infrastructure resilience upgrades.
Last updated: June 2021
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Workforce DevelopmentList All
We were unable to find information on energy efficiency and renewable energy workforce development.
Last updated: June 2021
Transportation
Score: 7.5 out of 30 points
Transportation Summary List All
The transportation authority serving New Orleans is the New Orleans Regional Transit Authority (RTA). RTA provides public transportation for the city and broader metropolitan area, including bus and streetcar services. The New Orleans Regional Planning Commission (RPC) is the MPO in charge of conducting metropolitan transportation planning. Its area of jurisdiction encompasses New Orleans and surrounding jurisdictions. New Orleans’s Department of Public Works is charged with managing the city’s transportation network.
Last updated: January 2017
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All
Sustainable Transportation Plan
New Orleans’ Metropolitan Transportation Plan outlines several strategies to encourage or increase transportation choices beyond single-occupancy vehicles. These strategies include increased transit use, pedestrian facilities, and expanded bike lanes.
VMT/GHG Targets and Stringency
New Orleans does not have a VMT/GHG target in place for the transportation sector.
Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets
New Orleans does not track progress towards a VMT/GHG target.
Last Updated: December 2021
Location Efficiency List All
Location Efficient Zoning Codes
New Orleans has adopted a comprehensive zoning ordinance that contains provisions that promote location-efficient development.
Residential Parking Policies
New Orleans requires 1 parking space, at a minimum, per multifamily unit. In certain neighborhoods parking requirements are removed altogether. Developments subject to the affordable housing requirement that are located within 600 feet of a transit stop are permitted up to a 50% reduction of the off-street parking requirement.
Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosure
New Orleans does not provide location efficiency incentives or require location efficiency disclosure.
Last Updated: December 2021
Mode Shift List All
Mode Shift Targets
New Orleans does not have a mode shift target in place for the transportation sector.
Progress Achieved Toward Mode Shift Targets
New Orleans does not track progress towards a mode shift target.
Complete Streets
New Orleans’s complete streets policy scored 70.8 out of 100 according to the National Complete Streets Coalition.
Last Updated: December 2021
Public Transit List All
Transportation Funding
The transportation entities that serve the City of New Orleans have received $98,225,635.40 on average annually between 2015 and 2019. That equates to roughly $266.01 per capita between 2015 and 2019 within the Authority's 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 New Orleans Transit Connectivity Index value is 7.4, scoring 1 point in the City Scorecard.
Last Updated: December 2021
Efficient VehiclesList All
Vehicle Purchase Incentives
At this time, New Orleans does not offer incentives for citizens to purchase hybrid, plug-in, or EV vehicles.
Vehicle Infrastructure Incentives
The city does not have any incentives in place for EV charging infrastructure installation.
EV Charging Locations
The City has 19 charging ports available for public use, equivalent to 4.9 ports per 100,000 people.
Electric School Bus Goal
New Orleans does not have an electric school bus goal.
EV Transit Bus Goal
New Orleans does not have an EV transit bus goal.
Last Updated: December 2021
Freight System EfficiencyList All
New Orleans does not have a sustainable freight transportation plan in place nor does it have any policies that address freight efficiency.
Last Updated: December 2021
Clean, Efficient Transportation for Low-Income CommunitiesList All
Affordable New TOD Housing Policy
New Orleans does not have any requirements or incentives in place to encourage the development or preservation of affordable housing in transit-served areas.
Connecting Existing Affordable Housing Stock to Efficient Transportation Options
New Orleans does not provide any subsidies for efficient transportation options to low-income residents.
Last Updated: December 2021
Energy & Water Utilities
Score: 3.5 out of 15 points
Energy & Water Utilities Summary List All
Entergy New Orleans, an investor-owned utility (IOU) and a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, is the primary electric and natural gas utility serving the City of New Orleans. Entergy New Orleans, which is regulated by the City of New Orleans, offers a portfolio of energy efficiency programs called Energy Smart. To learn more about the state requirements for electric and gas efficiency, please visit the Louisiana page of the State Database.
The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans provides drinking water and wastewater treatment services to the City of New Orleans.
Last Updated: July 2021
Electricity and Natural Gas Efficiency SavingsList All
In 2019, Entergy New Orleans achieved 61,628 MWh in net incremental savings, representing 1.06% of retail sales. In 2019, Entergy New Orleans spent $14,413,720 on energy efficiency programs, which represents 2.68% of its retail revenue.
In 2019, Entergy New Orleans reported no natural gas savings from efficiency programs. Savings from electricity efficiency represented in this section covers New Orleans Parish, not just New Orleans.
Entergy New Orleans offers electric efficiency incentives to residential, commercial, and industrial customers.
Last Updated: July 2021
Low-Income & Multifamily EE Programs List All
Low-Income Programs
Entergy New Orleans offers a Low-Income Audit & Weatherization program which gives qualified customers the opportunity to receive energy efficiency measures in their homes free of charge. Projects range from direct install measures, such as LED light bulbs and water savings measures, to smart thermostats and comprehensive envelope measures (attic insulation, air sealing, and duct sealing).
The New Orleans Energy Smart program partnered with Total Community Action that uses LIHEAP funding in the Total Power Program. In the program, customers in arrears are given energy efficiency education, a home energy assessment, and energy efficiency measures if needed. Participants also have their arrearage reduced gradually if they meet program goals.
Local government, nonprofit, and community organizations provide input into program design and delivery through various technical conferences and through the Stakeholder Advisory Committee, which consists of numerous government and community groups and meets annually.
In 2019, according to Entergy New Orleans, it achieved 2,309 MWh in electric energy savings from its low-income programs, while serving 830 electric low-income customers, and spending $1,560,964.
Multifamily Programs
Entergy New Orleans offers the Multi-Family program, which targets multi-family property owners and managers, as well as apartment and condo renters. The program addresses their unique needs, which are often overlooked, through a combination of incentives for both direct install and prescriptive measures, and thorough property owner and tenant education. The program was expanded to include duplex homes, which provided more opportunities for energy savings within this program. The program inspection includes a visual inspection of the common and living spaces, attics, crawl space/basement, and exterior of the building, as well as a discussion of lifestyle and customer behaviors that impact energy use. Following the assessment, the program recommends home improvements to increase energy efficiency. The Multifamily program provides incentives for installing ceiling insulation, duct sealing, and air infiltration sealing in the form of a discount to the customer.
In 2019, according to Entergy New Orleans, it saved 1,245 MWh from its multifamily program while spending $352,839 and serving 553 multifamily housing units.
Last Updated: July 2021
Provision of Energy Data by UtilitiesList All
In 2019, Entergy New Orleans created an automated solution that aggregates usage data of multitenant buildings and automatically transmits it to Portfolio Manager. In order to participate, buildings need four or more active meters or consent from all tenants. Smart meters are also being installed by Entergy New Orleans. The City of New Orleans does not provide community-wide energy usage information at the aggregate level for community planning or evaluation purposes.
The City of New Orleans does not advocate for better access to utility data for ratepayers or the establishment of data-sharing agreements between the city and its utilities.
Last Updated: July 2021
Decarbonization and Climate Change Mitigation Efforts of Energy UtilitiesList All
Utility Climate Mitigation Goal
In 2019, Entergy committed to reducing its carbon intensity by 50% by 2030 from 2000 levels. In May 2021, New Orleans City Council adopted rules that require Entergy New Orleans to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and that 90% of the city’s energy comes from renewable resources by 2040. To achieve 50% by 2030, Entergy will need to reduce emissions by 4.3% annually from 2018 levels.
City-Led Efforts to Decarbonize the Electric Grid
In 2020, Entergy's energy generation emitted 14.8 metric tons of CO2 per capita.
Last Updated: August 2021
Efficiency Efforts in Water ServicesList All
Citywide Water Efficiency and Goals
Currently, the energy and water utilities do not partner to provide joint energy and water efficiency programs. The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans does not have a water efficiency goal in place, but it is in the process of upgrading many of its leakiest pipes to address system water loss.
Water Plant Efficiency and Self-Generation
The Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans has not yet established an energy efficiency goal for water operations. There are not currently any programs in place for energy efficiency in water operations. The city’s water system does not self-generate its own energy.
Last Updated: July 2021
Local Government Score:
Score: 1 out of 10 points
Local Government Climate and Energy Goals List All
The City of New Orleans released the city’s Climate Action for a Resilient New Orleans plan in 2017.
Climate Mitigation Goal
We were unable to find information regarding a local government climate mitigation goal.
Energy Reduction Goal
We were unable to find information indicating that New Orleans has an active municipal energy reduction goal.
Renewable Energy Goal
In its climate action plan, the city cited using 100% low-carbon energy to meet the city’s climate mitigation goal.
Last updated: June 2021
Procurement and Construction Policies List All
Fleet Policies and Composition
New Orleans does not have fuel efficiency requirements or procurement policies for the municipal fleet. We were unable to find data regarding fleet composition.
Public Lighting
New Orleans has not adopted a policy requiring efficient outdoor lighting, such as the International Dark-Sky Association’s Model Lighting Ordinance. New Orleans has begun an outdoor lighting replacement program for publicly owned lighting and has replaced more than 75% of its streetlights. All streetlights have photo sensors, so they only operate from dawn to dusk.
Onsite and offsite renewable systems
As part of Entergy New Orleans' 5 MG rooftop solar project, New Orleans has installed a 300 kW solar system on the Streetcar Barn.
Inclusive procurement
We were unable to verify if the city has inclusive procurement and contracting processes, however New Orleans has a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise program for suppliers and contractors.
Last updated: June 2021
Asset Management List All
Building Benchmarking
New Orleans completed a three-year project to benchmark the city’s buildings and began to implement upgrades starting in 2017. As of 2019, the City has benchmarked 100% of public buildings. The city is now using Wego Wise to continue to track this information.
Comprehensive Retrofit Strategies
New Orleans conducted ASHRAE Level 1 audits of 17 facilities to advise the city on the next steps for an overall energy management strategy. The findings of this report were released publicly at Greenbuild in New Orleans in October of 2014. The City implemented no- to low-cost upgrades on dozens of public buildings, including operational optimization, in order to improve energy efficiency. One building (new construction) saw a 50% reduction in its energy use after these changes. Audits, work scopes and budgets were prepared on 17 high-priority buildings, and we are seeking private funding to cover the cost of the retrofits, in combination with accessing utility incentives. The city also offers GPRO training for facilities staff.
Last updated: June 2021