The
20-40-15 initiative, first rolled out by the City of Eden Prairie in December 2006, calls for the City to improve
energy efficiency in all of its facilities by
20 percent,
increase the fuel efficiency of its vehicle fleet by
40 percent, and accomplish these goals by the year
2015.
The City is working closely with McKinstry Company, a firm touted by President Barack Obama as a “model for the nation” for its work in retrofitting schools and office buildings throughout the country to make them more energy efficient.
The City’s partnership with McKinstry Company guarantees the estimated savings from the projects it recommends will pay for the cost of implementing those projects as well as the firm’s consulting fees. If the savings fall short of the costs the
City incurs, McKinstry Company will make up the difference.
It’s a win-win arrangement for the City and its taxpayers.
The City is implementing the projects in phases. Some of the actions the City has taken include replacing standard stop lights with light-emitting diode (LED) lights that use
90-percent less energy. The City has also added motion sensors to
control lighting in meeting rooms, adjusted the timers which
control lighting and HVAC after hours, and re-lamped several light fixtures and signs to
utilize energy-efficient LED bulbs. Repairs to City buildings have helped
reduce the amount of heated and cooled air that escapes to the outside.
The City encourages Eden Prairie residents and business owners to become more energy efficient and embrace environmental stewardship. The January 2009 issue of
Life in the Prairie includes some great tips to get started, as well as other resources to help in this effort.
More information about 20-40-15 can be found in the following:
Comments and feedback about the
20-40-15 initiative are welcomed and can be sent to
energy@edenprairie.org.