Orlando
City Scorecard Rank
20
Orlando, FL
53.00Scored out of 100Updated 5/2017
Local Government Score:
7 out of 10 points
Local Government Summary List All
Orlando’s Greenworks 2012 Municipal Operations Sustainability Plan details the city’s energy and climate strategies for its internal government operations Strategies include energy efficiency standards for buildings, public lighting upgrades, and comprehensive retrofits. Orlando is in the process of updating this plan by early 2017.
Last updated: February 2017
Local Government Energy Efficiency Goals List All
The Municipal Operations Sustainability Plan has a goal to reduce municipal energy consumption 10% below 2010 levels by 2017 and 50% below 2010 levels by 2030. The plan also has a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from local government operations 15% from 2010 levels by 2017 and be greenhouse gas neutral by 2030. In 2013, the city council formally adopted the Greenworks Plan. Orlando’s 2012 municipal sustainability plan further details their specific local government goals and strategies. This plan is in the process of being updated and will be introduced as a resolution for adoption by the Mayor and City Council in early 2017. The city also has a goal under DOE’s Better Buildings Challenge that includes municipal buildings.
Stringency
To meet their greenhouse gas reduction goal, Orlando would need to reduce emissions by 2.1% per year.
Progress
We did not find quantitative data indicating Orlando was on track to achieve its nearest-term local government energy or emissions goals. Orlando is currently updating its inventories and will release finalized inventories in 2015.
Reporting
Public updates on local government operations efficiency efforts are given to the city council when requested. It is unclear if Orlando annually publishes or provides annual public reports on its local government operations energy efficiency activities.
Last updated: April 2017
Procurement and Construction List All
Vehicle Fleets and Infrastructure
The Municipal Operations Sustainability Plan has an objective to reduce the public fleet's fossil diesel and gasoline use by 25% from 2010 levels by 2017. Additionally, the city of Orlando has set a municipal goal to run city fleet vehicles on 100% renewable sources by 2030. There are currently no web-based tools or GPS technologies to improve fleet efficiency in this city.
Note: For local fleet initiatives, policies listed must make a specific, mandatory requirement for increasing fleet efficiency. Local alternative-fuel vehicle procurement requirements that give a voluntary option to count efficient vehicles are thus not included.
Public Lighting
Orlando passed a lighting ordinance in 2014 for public outdoor lighting. As an alternative to the development standard, lighting that conforms to the Joint International Dark-Sky Association and Illuminating Engineering Society Model Lighting Ordinance is also acceptable. Orlando has also installed over 20,000 LED streetlight in the city in collaboration with the utility, Orlando Utilities Commission. There are no formal efficiency-driven lighting replacement programs in this city, however some lighting replacements are being prioritized as part of its 7-year payback period equipment upgrading policy.
New Buildings and Equipment
As an internal and informal policy, Orlando requires all new municipal buildings to achieve LEED Gold-certification. The city of Orlando requires that all appliances procured must meet Energy Star specifications.
Last updated: April 2017
Asset Management List All
Building Benchmarking and Retrofitting
Orlando benchmarks energy use in 90% of its municipal portfolio, totaling 6.15 million square feet.. In 2010, Orlando invested $1.76M in energy efficiency improvements for 28 buildings. Currently, those investments are tracking at $1.1M in savings and a 31% reduce in energy use from the baseline in 2010. Since then, Orlando has rolled out an additional $17.5M in energy efficiency improvements to an additional 100 municipal buildings.
Public Employees
Orlando does not have policies to reduce the commutes of city workers, such as flex schedules and teleworking.
Last updated: January 2017
Community-Wide Initiatives
Score: 9 out of 12 points
Community-Wide Summary List All
The city’s Green Works program coordinates the implementation of several community energy efficiency initiatives.
Last updated: January 2017
Community-Wide Energy Efficiency GoalsList All
The Green Works Orlando Community Action Plan details the city’s goals to reduce community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 25% below 2007 levels by 2018 and 90% below 2007 levels by 2040. The plan also has goals to reduce energy use by 5% below 2010 levels by 2018 and 25% below 2010 levels by 2040. The mayor and city council formally adopted the Green Works Plan in August 2013.
Orlando has not yet completed a greenhouse gas emissions inventory or released an update on the city’s progress toward its goals. We were unable to determine if the city is on track to meet either its climate or energy goals.
Last updated: January 2017
Efficient Distributed Energy Systems - District Energy and Combined Heat and PowerList All
Orlando has one city employee dedicated to district energy planning and development. The city is also developing a new eco-district.
Last updated: January 2017
Mitigation of Urban Heat Islands List All
The Green Works Plan includes an urban heat island mitigation goal to increase the city urban tree canopy coverage to 27% by 2018 and 40% by 2040.
Orlando provides development bonuses for buildings that install green roofs. The city allows cluster subdivision developments that encourage the permanent protection of land alongside dense residential development patterns. The city has adopted a private tree protection ordinance.
Last updated: January 2017
Buildings Policies
Score: 14 out of 28 points
Buildings Summary List All
Orlando does have building sector initiatives to improve efficiency, including a recently-adopted citywide energy benchmarking and transparency policy. The City Permitting Department manages the building energy code compliance and enforcement for Orlando.
Last Updated: January 2017
Stringency of Energy CodesList All
Effective June 30, 2015, Florida law requires that residential and commercial buildings comply with the 5th Edition (2014) Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation. The 5th Edition (2014) Florida Building Code, Energy Conservation based on the 2012 IECC with amendments. The 6th Edition (2017) is on schedule to take effect on December 31, 2017. Cities are not permitted to adopt codes more stringent than the state codes. To learn more about Florida’s building energy codes, please visit the State Policy Database.
Commercial
Commercial construction in Orlando complies with the Florida building energy codes. Orlando has not yet begun to advocate to the state level for increased stringency in commercial building codes.
Residential
Residential construction in Orlando complies with the Florida building energy codes. Orlando has not yet begun to advocate to the state level for increased stringency in residential building codes.
Last Updated: January 2017
Building Energy Code Enforcement and ComplianceList All
Orlando does not have internal staff dedicated solely to energy code compliance. The city does not require building code officials to complete energy code training. Orlando has made third-party plan review and performance testing mandatory for code compliance. Orlando does not provide upfront support to developers or owners for energy code compliance.
Last Updated: January 2017
Requirements and Incentives for Efficient Buildings List All
Green Building Requirements
Orlando has not yet established above-code building requirements for any class of building.
Energy Audit and Retrofit Requirements
Starting May 2020, as part of the recently passed Building Energy and Water Efficiency Strategy by the City of Orlando, buildings that score under the national average (ENERGY STAR score below 50) are required to perform an energy audit or retro-commission their base building systems one time every five years.
Incentives and Financing for Efficient Buildings
In 2016, Orlando put a PACE Financing Program in place for homeowners and business owners.
Last Updated: January 2017
Energy & Water Utilities
Score: 5 out of 20 points
Energy & Water Utilities Summary List All
Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC), a municipally-owned utility, provides water and electric service to the citizens of Orlando. TECO Peoples Gas, an investor-owned utility (IOU), is Orlando’s primary natural gas utility. The State of Florida requires its utilities which post sales of 2,000 GWh or more to implement cost-effective energy efficiency programs and to conduct energy efficiency potential studies. Natural gas programs are required by orders and legislation. To learn more about the state-requirements for electric and gas efficiency, please visit the Florida page of the State Database.
The City of Orlando’s Department of Public Works provides wastewater and stormwater management services for Orlando.
Last Updated: January 2017
Electric & Gas Energy Efficiency Programs, Spending & SavingsList All
In 2015, according to OUC, they achieved 16,672 MWh in net incremental savings, representing 0.22% of retail sales. To achieve these savings, OUC spent $1,436,998 on electric efficiency programs in 2015, which equates to 0.25% of annual revenue. In 2015, TECO Peoples Gas did not report savings from gas efficiency programs, but did report spending $12,335,245 on natural gas efficiency programs, which are normalized to $37.76 per residential customer. Spending on electricity and natural gas represented in this section covers the entire Florida service territory, not just Tampa. OUC offers electric efficiency incentives and technical assistance to residential and commercial/industrial customers. TECO Peoples Gas similarly offers natural gas efficiency programs to residential and business customers.
The City of Orlando is actively working with OUC on developing more efficiency programs through the City Energy Project, including data access platform for whole-building energy use data and additional services, including benchmarking and retro-commissioning. Through the City Energy Project and the Central Florida Energy Efficiency Alliance (CFEEA), the City of Orlando is actively promoting OUC and efficiency rebates and incentives, along with organizing various summits and workshops including the efficiency and conservation managers for each company to participate. OUC also partners with the City on energy efficiency workshops for multifamily and Housing Authority communities.
At this time, the City of Orlando does not have a formal partnership with TECO Peoples Gas in the form of a jointly-developed or administered energy saving strategy, plan, or agreement.
Last Updated: January 2017
Low-Income & Multifamily EE Programs List All
Low-Income Programs
The OUC offers the Residential Efficiency Delivered Program to qualified low-income residential customers. This program provides up to $2,000 of energy and water efficiency upgrades based on the needs of the customer’s home. Upgrades include ceiling insulation, duct system repair, pipe insulation, window film, window caulk, door caulk, door weatherstripping, door sweep, threshold plate, air filter replacement, toilet replacement, irrigation repairs, water flow restrictors and minor plumbing repairs. This program is implemented in collaboration with an Efficiency Delivered contractor, who are selected through a request for proposal process on a routine basis. TECO Peoples Gas does not offer energy efficiency programs targeted at low-income customers in Orlando.
Multifamily Programs
OUC offers the comprehensive retrofit Multi-Family Efficiency Program. This program provides rebates for energy efficiency upgrades such as window improvements, cool reflective roof, ceiling insulation, HVAC heat pump, A/C proper sizing, duct repair, and Energy Star Heat Pump Water Heater and washer. A property inspection is performed to validate which energy efficiency upgrades are needed. TECO Peoples Gas does not offer energy efficiency programs targeted at multifamily properties.
Last Updated: January 2017
Provision of Energy Data by UtilitiesList All
Although the Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) has not yet formally committed to providing the Green Button data sharing platform to its customers, they are currently piloting a Green Button data sharing program with the Lake Nona Community. OUC does not provide Orlando’s building managers with automatic benchmarking data for use in Portfolio Manager, but they are currently developing a data access platform for whole-building utility data and ENERGY STAR web services. OUC is also currently developing a data access platform to provide energy use data for community-planning. The City of Orlando is in the process of working to accelerate data provision by its utilities.
Last Updated: January 2017
Efficiency Efforts in Water ServicesList All
Water Efficiency
The Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) provides water saving solutions and rebate programs for residential and commercial buildings that include both water and energy efficiency measures. Although City of Orlando has not established a water-saving target, the City has developed a Water Resource Strategy to address water conservation concerns.
Energy Efficiency and Self-Generation
In 2015, the Orlando Utility Commission set a Clean Energy Strategy goal of 20% of retail sales from renewables and energy efficiency by 2020. This target will require significant investment in both landfill gas and solar generation. The city’s water system does not self-generate its own energy.
Green Stormwater Infrastructure
The City of Orlando requires developers to create stormwater retention ponds to minimize impacts of heavy rainfall. As stated in the Green Works Community Action Plan, the City has a goal to increase the city-wide tree canopy by 40% (baseline year 2012). Other green infrastructure projects including green roofs, permeable pavements, and water harvesting are being explored, but there are no specific goals for them in a formal plan at present
Last Updated: January 2017
Transportation
Score: 10.5 out of 30 points
Transportation Summary List All
The transportation authority serving the City of Orlando is The Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority (Lynx). Lynx provides the public transportation for the city and the broader metropolitan area, including bus service. METROPLAN Orlando is the MPO in charge of conducting metropolitan transportation planning. Its area of jurisdiction encompasses Orlando, and many surrounding cities and towns. The Department of Transportation Engineering is the city agency charged with managing the city’s transportation network.
Last updated: January 2017
Location Efficiency List All
Orlando zoning code includes transect-based zoning as well as form-based zoning. The city has not yet removed minimum parking requirements. As an incentive to promote location-efficient real estate development, Orlando provides discounts on impact fees up to 80%.
Last updated: January 2017
Mode Shift List All
Modal Share Targets
Orlando has not yet developed targets to promote a modal shift in transportation.
Car and Bicycle Sharing
There is one car sharing program currently available to the residents and visitors of Orlando, zipcar . Orlando Bike Share, a bikesharing program, is currently available to the residents and visitors of Orlando.
Complete Streets
The City of Orlando has not yet adopted a complete streets policy.
Last updated: January 2017
Transit List All
The Central Florida Regional Transportation Authority that serves Orlando has received $138,844,822 in average annual funding from 2011-2015. This funding level is $58.16 per resident in the service territory of the agency, putting the city in the fourth highest category ($50-99) in transit funding.
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. Orlando’s Transit Connectivity Index value is 14, putting it in the fourth highest category (5-14) available in the City Scorecard.
Last updated: January 2017
Efficient VehiclesList All
At this time, Orlando does not offer incentives for citizens to purchase hybrid, plug-in, or EV vehicles. There are no incentives available for the construction of EV charging infrastructure.The city has 105 EV charging stations available for public use .
Last updated: January 2017
Freight List All
Sustainable freight plan
Orlando does not have a sustainable freight transportation plan in place nor does the city has any policies that address freight efficiency.
Smart freight
Orlando does not employ an internet-based application or service to coordinate freight transport.
Last updated: January 2017
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All
Orlando’s 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan emphasizes multimodal transportation and smart growth land use principles to explore ways land use can improve the efficiency of the transportation system.
Last updated: January 2017
Low-Income in Transit-Oriented Development Areas List All
Orlando does not have any requirements or incentives in place to encourage the development or preservation of affordable housing in transit-served areas.
Last updated: January 2017