“City leadership from Orlando, also a Better Communities Alliance partner and the most visited city in the U.S., discussed the issue of existing infrastructure that was developed to accommodate its population of approximately 300,000, not the 68 million people that visit per year. Add to that the fact that it is one of the fastest growing municipalities, despite 20% of its population living below the poverty line.
Opportunities for job creation and workforce development easily align with the $17.5 million in planned energy efficiency upgrades, as well as future affordable housing and electric vehicle development. Orlando is undergoing upgrades to 56 municipal facilities, including lighting upgrades, HVAC renovations, building automation and controls, and other cost-effective energy conservation measures. The project was funded in part by a Revolving Energy Fund (REF), which finances energy efficiency projects and revolves the cost savings back to the REF to fund future projects. In partnership with the local municipal utility, City streetlights will also be replaced with LED technologies.”
Click here to read more from the Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy