Toledo
City Scorecard Rank
77
Toledo, OH
14.00Scored out of 100Updated 10/2020
Community-Wide Initiatives
Score: 1 out of 15 points
Community-Wide Climate Mitigation and Energy GoalsList All
Climate Mitigation Goal
The Regional Sustainability Plan includes a goal to reduce per capita greenhouse gas emissions 40% below a 2012 baseline by 2030.
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
The Regional Sustainability Plan includes a goal to improve the area's housing and transportation affordability index by 11 index points (a 15% reduction) between 2012 and 2030.
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
Toledo allows cluster housing for developments that reserve some land for common open space.
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 30 points
Building Energy CodesList All
Overview
The State of Ohio has set mandatory building energy codes statewide. The Ohio Board of Building Standards adopted the 2012 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) and ASHRAE 90.1-2010 with amendments for commercial buildings. Ohio's energy code for residential buildings is based on the 2018 IECC. To learn more about Ohio’s building energy code requirements, please visit the State Policy Database.
Commercial
Commercial buildings in Toledo comply with the state-mandated codes, the 2012 IECC with amendments. The city’s zEPI score for its commercial energy code is 63.
Residential
Residential buildings in Toledo comply with the state-mandated codes, the 2018 IECC with amendments. The city’s zEPI score for its residential energy code is 60.55.
Solar-readiness policies
We could not find information on whether the city has adopted solar-readiness policies or requirements.
EV-charging readiness policies
We could not find information on whether the city has adopted policies requiring buildings to be EV-ready.
Low-energy use requirements
We could not find information on whether the city sets low-energy use requirements for municipal or certain private buildings.
Electrification
We could not find information on whether the city has adopted any electrification policies.
Last updated: August 2023
Building Energy Code Compliance and EnforcementList All
Toledo requires plan reviews and site inspections to verify code compliance. We were unable to determine the amount of staff effort dedicated to energy code enforcement. We could not find information regarding upfront support for code compliance.
Last updated: August 2023
Policies Targeting Existing BuildingsList All
Incentives
Toledo offers PACE financing for commercial and residential energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
Last updated: August 2023
Transportation
Score: 4 out of 30 points
Sustainable Transportation Planning List All
Sustainable Transportation Plan
The City of Toledo does not yet have a sustainable transportation plan or climate action plan with sustainable transportation strategies.
VMT/GHG Targets and Stringency
The City of Toledo does not have a codified VMT or transportation GHG reduction target.
Progress Achieved Toward VMT/GHG Targets
The City of Toledo 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 Toledo 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
The City of Toledo has eliminated parking minimums in certain districts.
Location Efficiency Incentives and Disclosure
Toledo offers a reduction in required minimum lot area in some districts in exchange for developers providing 1-2 special amenities from a list, including mixing commercial and residential uses in the development.
Affordable Housing around Transit
The City of Toledo 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 Toledo does not have a codified mode share target.
Progress Achieved Toward Mode Shift Targets
The City of Toledo does not have a codified mode share target, and therefore cannot make progress toward the target.
Subsidized Access to Efficient Transportation Options
Veo, the city's primary shared micromobility operator, offers a discounted fare program to qualifying individuals called Veo Access. Those who participate in a local, Ohio state, or federal assistance program are eligible.
Last Updated: September 2023
Public Transit List All
Transit Funding
The transit entities that serve the City of Toledo have received $16,231,208.80 on average annually between 2017 and 2021 from local sources. That equates to roughly $43.37 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 Toledo's AllTransit Performance Score of 3.9 does not qualify it for points in the City Scorecard.
Last Updated: September 2023
Efficient VehiclesList All
Efficient Vehicle Purchase Incentives
Neither the City of Toledo nor the local utility provide incentives for purchasing efficient vehicles.
Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Incentives
Neither the City of Toledo nor the local utility provide incentives for the installation of EV charging stations.
Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Requirements
The City of Toledo does not require new developments to install EV charging stations.
EV Charging Ports
The City of Toledo has 17.3 vehicle charging ports per 100,000 people available for public use.
Electric School Bus Goal
Neither the City of Toledo nor the local school district have set an electric school bus goal.
Electric Transit Bus Goal
TARTA, the city's primary public transit agency, has a goal of transitioning 100% of its bus fleet to zero emissions by 2035.
Last Updated: September 2023
Freight System EfficiencyList All
Sustainable Freight Plans
The City of Toledo 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 Toledo does not have an open data portal with real-time freight data.
Last Updated: September 2023
Community Energy Infrastructure
Score: 5 out of 15 points
Community Energy Infrastructure Summary List All
Toledo Edison, an investor-owned utility (IOU) and subsidiary to FirstEnergy, is the primary electric utility serving Toledo. Columbia Gas of Ohio, an IOU, is Toledo’s primary gas utility. Under the state’s EERS, Ohio’s investor-owned utilities were required to implement energy efficiency plans and file annual reports to the commission. However, HB 6 (2019) terminated the state’s EERS, cutting energy efficiency and renewable energy standards and eliminating the electric energy efficiency programs for residents and businesses. These programs were phased out by the end of 2020. To learn more about the state requirements for electric and gas efficiency, please visit the Ohio page of the State Database.
The City of Toledo Division of Water Distribution is the municipal utility that provides the City of Toledo with drinking water services. The Division of Water Reclamation is in charge of wastewater treatment and stormwater management.
Last Updated: August 2021
Electricity and Natural Gas Efficiency SavingsList All
In 2019, according to the EIA, Toledo Edison achieved 73,187 MWh of net electric savings at the meter, which represents 0.71% of its retail sales across the utility’s entire service jurisdiction, not only Toledo. In 2019, Toledo Edison spent $10,137,000 on energy efficiency programs, which represents 2.37% of its retail revenue.
In 2019, Columbia Gas of Ohio reported 10.33 MMtherms of net natural gas savings at the meter, which represents 0.59% of its retail sales across the utility’s service territory. In 2019, Columbia Gas spent $29,559,487 on energy efficiency, which equates to $22.09 per residential customer. These savings and spending figures cover the entire service jurisdiction of both utilities, not just the City of Toledo.
FirstEnergy offers electric efficiency incentives to residential and commercial customers. Columbia Gas of Ohio similarly offers natural gas programs to residential and business customers.
At this time, the City of Toledo does not have a formal partnership with Toledo Edison or Columbia Gas in the form of a jointly developed or administered energy saving strategy, plan, or agreement.
Last Updated: July 2021
Low-Income & Multifamily EE Programs List All
Low-Income Programs
FirstEnergy offers the Community Connections program which operates as a standalone program to serve low-income customers who are not eligible for other state program resources. Participants receive an in-home energy use evaluation and energy-saving home improvements such as sealing air leaks in attic walls or foundations, attic and/or wall insulation, appliance testing and possible replacement, electric water heater inspection, faucet aerators, and energy education. FirstEnergy also includes the installation of health and safety measures such as carbon monoxide detectors, roof repairs/replacement, electric wiring repairs and upgrades, furnace repairs, and appliance replacements.
In 2021, savings and spending information related to Toledo Edison's low-income programs was not available.
Columbia Gas of Ohio offers its WarmChoice program to income-eligible homeowners and renters. Through this program, customers receive no-cost energy efficiency measures including air sealing, and attic and sidewall insulation. Gas appliances are inspected for safety and repaired or if necessary, replaced with high-efficiency models. The program targets participants of the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP Plus) program and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Columbia Gas of Ohio partners with the federal Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) in order to leverage funding and maximize services to customers. Columbia’s WarmChoice providers often coordinate funding from Columbia with other funding sources to better serve customers, including the Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) and electric utility funding. Health-related measures include venting issues, cracked heat exchangers in furnaces, gas leaks, and unsafe wiring.
Columbia Gas of Ohio also offers a Home Energy Audit and Rebate program for customers above income guidelines for WarmChoice, which provides a reduced cost energy audit and rebates on recommended energy efficiency upgrades. Customers above income guidelines for WarmChoice (150% Federal Poverty Level) but at or below 80% Area Median Income, qualify for a $20 energy audit and max out of pocket of $300 for recommended energy efficiency upgrades, including the attic and wall insulation and air/duct sealing. Customers above income for the assisted tier of Home Energy Audit can receive a $50 energy audit and rebates on recommended energy efficiency upgrades.
In 2021, Columbia Gas of Ohio achieved 0.47 MMtherms in savings, while spending $10, 646,919 on its low-income programs and serving 1,933 low-income customers.
Multifamily Programs
At this time, FirstEnergy (Toledo Edison) does not offer energy efficiency programs targeted at multifamily properties.
Columbia Gas of Ohio offers the direct installation of energy efficiency measures in multifamily properties. Additionally, they offer energy audits for multi-family buildings with 5-10 units through its Home Energy Audit and Rebate Program. Columbia also launched a pilot for low-income multifamily customers through its WarmChoice program, offering no-cost weatherization service to customers living in multifamily units. Additionally, Columbia has a multifamily component of its EfficiencyCrafted Homes program which works with builders to construct new residences that are built above energy code.
In 2021, information related to Columbia Gas of Ohio’s savings, spending, and properties served for its multifamily program was not available.
Last Updated: January 2024
Provision of Energy Data by UtilitiesList All
Columbia Gas provides automated benchmarking services through ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager for commercial and industrial customers. Columbia Gas partnered with AEP Ohio on the Benchmarking energy platform so that jointly served customers can have both their natural gas usage and their electricity usage benchmarked on a single website. The City of Toledo does not provide community-wide energy usage information at the aggregate level for community planning and evaluation purposes. The City of Toledo 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 Cities and Energy UtilitiesList All
Utility Climate Mitigation Goal
In 2020, FirstEnergy, the parent company of Toledo Edison, set a goal to become carbon neutral by 2050, with an interim goal of lowering greenhouse gas emissions by 30% from 2019 levels by 2030. To achieve this goal, FirstEnergy will need to reduce emissions by 2.93% annually from 2019 levels.
City-Led Efforts to Decarbonize the Electric Grid
Toledo does not offer residents a community choice aggregator with green energy options.
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
We were unable to find information regarding onsite or offsite municipal renewable energy systems in Toledo.
City Renewable Energy Incentive and Financing Programs
Toledo offers PACE financing for commercial and residential energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
Last Updated: September 2023
Efficiency Efforts in Water ServicesList All
Citywide Water Efficiency and Goals
The energy and water utilities do not currently offer joint energy and water efficiency programs. However, Columbia Gas of Ohio includes water efficiency measures in its energy efficiency programs, including energy efficient showerhead, faucet aerators, and pre-rinse spray valves. At this time, the City of Toledo and its water and wastewater utilities have not established a water savings target or goal.
Water Plant Efficiency and Self-Generation
Neither the water nor the wastewater utility has set specific energy efficiency targets or strategies. The city’s water system does not self-generate its own energy.
Last Updated: July 2021
Local Government Score:
0 out of 10 points
Local Government Climate and Energy Goals List All
Climate Change Mitigation Goal
We could not find any information regarding a municipal climate change mitigation or greenhouse gas reduction goal for Toledo.
Energy Reduction Goal
We could not find any information regarding a local energy reduction goal for Toledo.
Renewable Energy Goal
We could not find any information regarding a municipal renewable energy goal for Toledo.
Last updated: November 2023
Procurement and Construction Policies List All
Fleet policies and composition
We were unable to find information on Toledo’s fleet procurement policies or fuel efficiency requirements. We were unable to find data regarding fleet composition.
Public lighting
We were unable to find information regarding the adoption of a policy requiring efficient outdoor lighting, such as the International Dark-Sky Association’s Model Lighting Ordinance. Toledo has converted 100% of their streetlights to LED.
Inclusive procurement
We were unable to verify if Toledo has inclusive procurement and contracting processes. Toledo published a disparity study in 2022, which has informed their plans to improve procurement and contracting processes.
Last updated: October 2023
Asset Management List All
Building Benchmarking
We were unable to find information regarding Toledo’s benchmarking practices.
Comprehensive Retrofit Strategy
We were unable to find information regarding a comprehensive retrofit strategy in Toledo.
Municipal Employee Transportation Benefits
Toledo does not provide reduced-emission transportation benefits to municipal staff.
Last update: February 2024