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Energize Phoenix

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Arizona's largest city (1.6 million residents), largest university (70,000 students), and largest utility (1.1 million customers) are undertaking a practical, yet innovative, energy efficiency project that will transform the built environment along the city's "Green Rail Corridor." Project partners — the City of Phoenix, the Global Institute of Sustainability (GIOS) at Arizona State University (ASU) and Arizona Public Service (APS) — have a long history of collaboration on large-scale projects in urban infrastructure, energy efficiency, and community development.

The overall goal of Energize Phoenix is straightforward: reduce energy consumption The partners will achieve this goal by helping residents, business owners and institutions in the Corridor renovate space using products and services designed to create energy efficient buildings and inspire energy efficient behavior. Thus, the Green Rail Corridor will become a readily identifiable, energy-democratizing region bound by a highly visible commitment to energy efficiency during and beyond the 3-year grant from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) that supports this initiative.

The first phase of Energize Phoenix will emphasize substantial leveraging of DOE funds, installation of new technology, and implementation of a behavioral-change campaign. Subsequent phases will use a revolving loan fund and additional revenue streams to continue to enable energy retrofits in the Corridor, capitalize on the momentum of behavioral change, and institutionalize financial mechanisms that incentivize energy efficiency in buildings. ASU research and assessment, APS energy delivery and measurement and City leadership will combine in a synergistic way to carry-out project activities, measure progress and ensure continuous improvement. These relationships will encourage energy retrofits by offering a variety of financial incentives targeted to specific audiences, evaluate and verify participant energy savings in both electrical and monetary terms (participation is entirely voluntary), assess the degree to which the financial programs transform the energy efficiency market, and improve the program through research feedback. Energy audits and retrofit work will be performed by a wide variety of private sector contractors and energy services companies, creating green jobs in the local economy and improving local-area industry expertise as well.

Personnel

Matthew Fraser Principal Investigator	Rob Melnick Principal Investigator	Mick Dalrymple Manager

Funding

U.S. Department of Energy and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

Timeframe

August 2010 - July 2013

Research Themes