Reno
City Scorecard Rank
58
Reno, NV
24.00Scored out of 100Updated 10/2020
Local Government Score:
2 out of 10 points
Local Government Climate and Energy Goals List All
The City of Reno launched the ReEnergize Reno initiative to drive climate and energy action in the community and local government operations.
Climate Mitigation Goal
The city does not have a climate mitigation or greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal for municipal operations.
Energy Reduction Goal
Reno participates in the Better Buildings Challenge to achieve a municipal energy use reduction of 20% below 2014 levels by 2025. To achieve this goal, Reno must reduce per capita energy use by 3.5% annually.
Renewable Energy Goal
We did not find information regarding a municipal renewable energy goal.
Last updated: March 2020
Procurement and Construction List All
Fleet Policies and Composition
We did not find information on a procurement policy or fuel efficient requirements. However, the Master Plan noted that the city would consider the adoption of a sustainable procurement guidelines, including City fleet vehicles. We were unable to find data regarding fleet composition.
Public Lighting
We did not find information regarding the adoption of a policy requiring efficient outdoor lighting, such as the International Dark-Sky Association’s Model Lighting Ordinance. We could not confirm if Reno has an outdoor lighting upgrade program.
Onsite renewable systems
We were unable to find information regarding onsite renewable energy systems in Reno.
Inclusive procurement
We could not verify if the city has inclusive procurement and contracting processes.
Last updated: March 2020
Asset Management List All
Building Benchmarking
Reno recently approved an Energy Benchmarking, Reporting, and Transparency Ordinance, which is expected to be adopted in January. The ordinance requires city buildings over 10,000 square feet and fire stations to benchmark energy use. Public sector buildings may also be phased in.
Comprehensive Retrofit Strategy
We did not find information regarding a retrofit strategy in Reno.
Public Workforce Commuting
We did not find information on a policy aimed at reducing commutes of city employees, such as flexible schedules or telework.
Last updated: July 2020
Community-Wide Initiatives
Score: 2.5 out of 15 points
Community-Wide Summary List All
The City of Reno released the 2019 Sustainability and Climate Action Plan.
Last updated: March 2020
Community-Wide Climate Mitigation and Energy GoalsList All
Climate Mitigation Goal
Reno adopted a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80% below 2008 levels by 2050, with an interim reduction goal of 28% below 2008 levels by 2025.
Energy Reduction Goal
The ReEnergize Reno initiative set goals to increase commercial, industrial, and multifamily efficiency 20% by 2025.
Renewable Energy Goal
The Climate Action Plan includes a goal to increase renewable electricity generation to 50% by 2030.
Energy Data Reporting
The 2017 Sustainability Report includes a greenhouse gas inventory with some community energy emissions data.
This section applies only to community-wide energy data reporting. For information on data reporting due to building energy benchmarking and disclosure policies, click on the Buildings tab.
Last updated: September 2020
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.
Accountability to Equity
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: March 2020
Clean Distributed Energy SystemsList 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: March 2020
Mitigation of Urban Heat Islands List All
UHI Mitigation Goal
We could not verify if the city has adopted a quantifiable urban heat island mitigation goal, however the city states the intention to increase their tree canopy in the Master Plan.
UHI 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.
Last updated: March 2020
Buildings Policies
Score: 12.5 out of 30 points
Buildings Summary List All
The City of Reno has the authority to adopt building energy codes at the municipal level. The city does not have a mandatory benchmarking and disclosure policy, but Reno has created the voluntary ReEnergy Reno program.
Last Update: September 2020
Building Energy Code AdoptionList All
Overview
The State of Nevada allows local jurisdictions to adopt building energy codes at the municipal level. Nevada has adopted the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) with state amendments for residential and commercial buildings. Reno has exceed the state code and adopted the 2018 IECC for residential and commercial buildings. To learn more about the building codes and requirements for the State of Nevada, please visit the State Policy Database.
Commercial
Commercial properties must comply with the 2018 IECC. The city’s zEPI score for their commercial energy code is 45.3.
Residential
Residential properties must comply with the 2018 IECC. The city’s zEPI score for their residential energy code is 54.1.
Solar- and EV-ready
The city has not passed an ordinance mandating new construction be solar- and/or EV-ready.
Last Update: September 2020
Building Energy Code Enforcement and ComplianceList All
Reno staffs three to five full time employees solely dedicated to energy code enforcement. The city does not require plan reviews, site inspections nor performance testing to verify code compliance. The city offers trainings on energy code compliance throug ReEnergize Reno.
Last Update: September 2020
Policies Targeting Existing BuildingsList All
Commercial and multifamily benchmarking
Reno adopted the Energy and Water Efficiency Program in January 2019. The program requires commercial and multifamily buildings 30,000 square feet and greater to benchmark energy and water performace. Building owners must also report the data to the city. The city also created the voluntary ReEnergize Reno program to improve building energy and water efficiency 20% by 2025. Participating buildings must track energy and water data through ENEGRY STAR Portfolio Manager and disclose results to the City of Reno. The city offers technical support to participating properties.
Cross-cutting requirements
Reno's Energy and Water Efficiency Program requires building owners to achieve performance targets twice within seven years of their baseline, or pursue other measures, such as an energy audit, LEED certification, or participation in the utility-sponsored energy efficiency program.
Incentives
Reno allows commercial building owners access to PACE financing for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
Last Update: September 2020
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Workforce DevelopmentList All
The city does not have programs committed to developing a dedicated energy efficiency and/or renewable energy workforce. Reno does offer an educational program in which the city host a monthly workshop series about green building and energy-efficiency in commercial buildings.
Last Update: September 2020
Energy & Water Utilities
Score: 1.5 out of 15 points
Energy & Water Utilities Summary List All
Sierra Pacific Power Company (SPPC), an investor-owned utility (IOU) and subsidiary of NV Energy, is the primary electric and natural gas utility for the City of Reno. The State of Nevada has established requirements for energy efficiency programs provided by the state's investor-owned electric utilities, as well as integrated resource planning. To learn more about the state requirements for electric and gas efficiency, please visit the Nevada page of the State Database.
The Truckee Meadows Water Authority (TMWA) is the community-owned water utility that provides the City of Reno with drinking water services, wastewater treatment, and stormwater management.
Last Updated: March 2020
Electric & Gas Energy Efficiency Programs and SavingsList All
In 2018, according to NV Energy, SPPC achieved 57,748 MWh of net electric savings at the meter, which represents 0.17% of its retail sales. In 2018, SPPC spent $7,269,886 on energy efficiency programs, which represents 0.26% of its retail revenue.
In 2018, SPPC had no savings at the meter from natural gas efficiency programs. In 2018, SPPC spent $142,645 on energy efficiency, which equates to $0.93 per residential customer. These savings figures cover the utility’s entire service jurisdiction, not just Reno.
NV Energy offers electric and natural gas efficiency incentives and technical assistance to residential and commercial/industry customers.
At this time, the City of Reno does not have a formal partnership with NV Energy in the form of a jointly developed or administered energy saving strategy, plan, or agreement.
Last Updated: March 2020
Low-Income & Multifamily EE Programs List All
Low-Income Programs
At this time, NV Energy and Southwest Gas do not offer energy efficiency programs targeted at low-income customers.
Multifamily Programs
At this time, NV Energy and Southwest Gas do not offer energy efficiency programs targeted at multifamily properties.
Last Updated: March 2020
Provision of Energy Data by UtilitiesList All
NV Energy does not provide building managers with automated benchmarking data through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager for multitenant commercial or multifamily buildings. The City of Reno 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: March 2020
Renewable Energy Efforts of Energy UtilitiesList All
Renewable Energy Incentives
NV Energy’s Solar Incentives program provides $0.45 per watt for low-income and nonprofit installations and $0.20 per watt for residential, commercial, and industrial installations. In 2018, NV Energy provided $10,157,246 in incentives for the installation of 41,769 kW of new distributed solar systems, equating to $243/kW installed.
City-Led Efforts to Decarbonize the Electric Grid
The City of Reno provides regular updates to the City Council on renewable energy legislation and also hired a local attorney to monitor the Nevada Public Utility Commission.
Last Updated: March 2020
Efficiency Efforts in Water ServicesList All
City-wide water efficiency and goals
The energy and water utilities do not offer joint energy and water efficiency programs.
At this point, the City of Reno has not established a water savings target or goal. However, TMWA does have a water conservation plan.
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: March 2020
Transportation
Score: 5.5 out of 30 points
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All
Sustainable Transportation Plan
Reno highlights reducing VMT in its 2017 Sustainability Report but does not have a specific goal or stand-alone sustainable transportation plan.
VMT/GHG Targets and Stringency
Reno does not have a VMT/GHG target in place for the transportation sector.
Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets
Reno does not track progress towards a VMT/GHG target.
Last Updated: March 2019
Location Efficiency List All
Location Efficient Zoning Codes
We were not able to confirm whether Reno has a city-wide zoning regulation that requires transit-oriented development, compact or mixed land use development, street connectivity, or form-based zoning.
Residential Parking Policies
We were not able to confirm whether Reno has removed or reduced parking minimums in the city.
Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosure
We were not able to confirm whether Reno has location efficiency incentives or disclosure requirements.
Last Updated: March 2019
Mode Shift List All
Mode Shift Targets
Reno does not have a mode shift target in place for the transportation sector.
Progress Achieved Toward Mode Shift Targets
Reno does not track progress towards their mode shift target.
Complete Streets
Reno does not currently have a complete streets policy.
Car Sharing
We could not confirm if Reno has a parking policy in place for car sharing vehicles.
Bike Sharing
We could not confirm if Reno has a bike sharing program.
Last Updated: May 2019
Transit List All
Transportation Funding
Reno spends an average of $42.27 per capita on transit.
Access to Transit Services
The city has an All Transit Performance score of 3.8 out of 10.
Last Updated: March 2019
Efficient VehiclesList All
Vehicle Purchase Incentives
At this time, Reno does not offer incentives for citizens to purchase hybrid, plug-in, or EV vehicles.
Vehicle Infrastructure Incentives
Reno does not currently offer incentives for the installing of EV charging infrastructure.
EV Charging Locations
Reno has 15.27 publicly available EV charging locations per 100,000 people.
Renewable Charging Incentives
Reno does not have any incentives for renewable EV charging infrastructure installation.
Last Updated: March 2019
Freight System EfficiencyList All
Reno does not have a sustainable freight transportation plan in place nor does it have any policies that address freight efficiency.
Last Updated: March 2019
Clean, Efficient Transportation for Low-Income CommunitiesList All
Affordable New TOD Housing Policy
Reno 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
Reno does not provide any subsidies for efficient transportation options to low-income residents.
Low-Income Access to High Quality Transit
72.5% of low-income households (those that earn less than $50k annually) are located near high-quality, all-day transit in Philadelphia.
Last Updated: April 2019