With federal policies gridlocked, city-level regulation is more important than ever. Mayors across the country are rapidly scaling up energy efficiency projects, but there is still significant room for growth. That’s why we gathered on October 7th as part of the Alliance to Save Energy EE Global Webinar Series [http://eeglobalforum.org] to discuss on how cities can implement energy efficiency to drive economic growth and build the infrastructure of the future.

There wasn’t time to answer every question submitted during the live event

So we created this blog with our friends at The Alliance to Save Energy to keep the conversation going. See the questions and answers below from the event and/or submit additional questions to conversation stream below, and we’ll respond!

I recently learned about EV range concerns in cases of evacuation. Is there a need to mindfully network EV infrastructure – especially in coastal areas?

Chris Castro, City of Orlando Chris Castro, City of Orlando

Yes, this is an excellent point. With Florida being a peninsula, we are more vulnerable to these extreme weather events, like hurricanes and tropical cyclones, when they are coming straight at us. In the State of Florida’s most recent legislative session, Florida Governor DeSantis signed the Essential State Infrastructure Bill into law. This landmark EV Roadmap legislation will create a master plan for DC fast-charging infrastructure along the interstate corridor system, focused on planning for emergency evacuations and helping those in EVs get out of the State during an emergency. The new law tasks specified state agencies to identify barriers and opportunities to advance electric vehicle (EV) adoption including legislative and policy recommendations, and requires an interim report at the end of 2020 and a final report by July 2021.

I read that despite people working from home – and buildings still being largely empty – electricity usage isn't dropping. What gives?

Chris Castro, City of Orlando Chris Castro, City of Orlando

To my understanding, our trends locally reflect a reduction in overall consumption, although residential energy use has gone up. I think it’s important to realize that many of these large buildings in our downtown’s that are current unoccupied are still needing to function at a minimum level to mitigate degradation. Buildings need to ventilate (especially in Florida) to minimize the humidity and possible spread of mold and pathogens. Much of the appliances that have been left in are still drawing standby power loads, and it adds up quickly in the office setting. The service hot water system, if not on-demand, is probably also adding to the loads — remember water has a high specific heat and takes a lot of energy to change a degree. And then there is always the need for corridor lighting to ensure safety for those who seldom come into the office. All in all, this pandemic has uncovered that the energy use in buildings issue is more complex than just vacating our large downtown skyscrapers, further underscoring the need for making our buildings as efficient as possible, whether they are occupied or not.

Chris, you mentioned that we need to "stop talking about penguins" and make climate change more relatable. How do we do the same with energy efficiency? Telling folks to turn off the lights doesn't seem to be doing enough to change behavior.

Chris Castro, City of Orlando Chris Castro, City of Orlando

Energy efficiency is difficult because it’s often invisible. Solar and EVs are things that we can see, feel, and touch…but energy efficiency is that avoided watt from appliances and equipment that are highly efficient in our base building systems, therefore using less power to operate. To me, the most enticing part of energy efficiency is the business case…the financial returns and the creative shared-savings models, like ESPC’s and ESA’s, that are out there helping to drive energy retrofits in buildings. The other amazing benefit is the jobs and economic development that this sector supports…literally over 3 million jobs nationwide in the clean energy sector, and only growing at rapid clips. We should do more to be storytellers of the amazing benefits that energy efficiency has for human health, planetary health, and our economic health.