 Leading By Example
Philadelphia can point to several steps that are already helping to reduce GHG emissions from the Community and City Government sectors, including:
Municipal Energy Office - Energy Management Program
The City has had a successful energy management program for many years. For example, between FY03 and FY06 electricity use for the General Fund accounts fell by 18,000 MWh and natural gas use by 63,000 Mcf through implementing best energy management practices for procurement, construction and facility management, and annual GHG emission fell by 12,400 tCO2eq.
Streets Department - LED Traffic Signals
In 1999, Philadelphia became the first large city in the US to replace traffic signal lamps with Light Emitting Diodes, or LEDs. LEDs about 80 percent less energy than standard incandescent halogen bulbs. The City replaced 28,000 red lamps resulting in annual energy savings of 8,300 MWh and emissions savings of 4,100 tCO2eq. Additionally, the longevity of LEDs reduces waste and man-hours needed for replacement. The city plans to change to three-color LEDs which will double the benefit already realized.
Philadelphia International Airport - Wind Energy Purchase
As part of its environmental stewardship program, the Philadelphia Division of Aviation began purchasing wind energy at the start of 2006 for Philadelphia International Airport (PHL). Since 2001, PHL has nearly doubled in size from 1.4 million square feet to 2.4 million square feet. To help offset the increased CO2 emissions, PHL purchases annually 12,960 MWh of wind energy, representing approximately 8 percent of its overall electricity demand, which reduces emissions by 6,500 tCO2eq.
Philadelphia Water Department - Digester Gas Project
The Northeast Water Pollution Control Plant (NEWPCP) utilizes a waste treatment process that produces substantial quantities of digester gas, which contain primarily methane and carbon dioxide. About 43 percent of the digester gas is currently captured and used, while the rest is flared. Under design is a biomethante purification plant that will treat the entire digester gas stream. Some of the resulting pipeline quality gas will be used at the NEWPCP, and the rest will be sold to the City. This “renewable” gas will displace about 185,000 Mcf of interstate pipe line gas now purchased by the City and reduce GHG emission by and estimated 10,600 tCO2eq annually.
Fuel Switching From Coal and Oil to Natural Gas
A large number of residential, commercial and industrial buildings and facilities in Philadelphia have been switched from coal and fuel oil to natural gas heating. This has significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions attributable to Philadelphia, since coal burning emits 70 percent more carbon dioxide than natural gas, industrial residual oil (#6 oil), emits 43 percent more, and home heating oil (#2 oil) emits 34 percent more than natural gas.
Commitments
The cornerstones of Philadelphia’s response to climate change, and of this Local Action Plan for Climate Change, are City commitments to three GHG reduction initiatives:
- Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Campaign (ICLEI) – In June of 1999, former Mayor Edward G. Rendell affiliated the City of Philadelphia with the CCP campaign sponsored by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability. CCP provided a framework for various departments and agencies to collaborate on greenhouse gas reductions both within the City government and in the broader community. The City agreed to a voluntary five-step process to reduce greenhouse gases . The first two steps, the development of a GHG inventory and the setting of a goal to reduce GHG 10 percent below 1990 levels, are completed. The third step is the development and adoption of this Local Action Plan for Climate Change. The final two steps are to implement the Plan and monitor the quantifiable results that are achieved.
- U.S. Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement of the U.S. Conference of Mayors - Mayor John F. Street in June of 2005 endorsed the Climate Protection Agreement sponsored by the USCM. Under this agreement, cities will: strive to meet or beat the targets recommended for the US under the Kyoto Treaty; urge state and federal governments to enact policies and programs to reduce GHG emissions; and urge the US Congress to establish an emission trading system.
- Large Cities Climate Leadership Group and Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) - In August of 2006, Mayor John F. Street accepted an invitation for Philadelphia to join other major international cities that are committed to reduce urban carbon emissions and adapt to climate change. As part of the Large Cities Climate Leadership Group, Philadelphia will work in coming years with member cities and the William J. Clinton Foundation’s Climate Change Initiative (CCI) to identify and implement steps to reduce carbon emissions in urban areas.
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