City of Atlanta – Thomas Clay Van Buren – 2011

Ruthie Taylor and Thomas Clay Van Buren collaborated as EDF Climate Corps fellows in Georgia at the City of Atlanta’s Mayor’s Office, Division of Sustainability. Mayor Kasim Reed had led development of a sustainability plan involving energy use and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. The fellows were asked to identify energy efficiency projects to help the city meet its sustainability goals.

Taylor and Van Buren conducted energy assessments at 17 fire stations, two of which were undergoing LEED Silver certification. They used the two fire stations as models for energy upgrades at the other stations. Recommended projects across the 17 fire stations included temperature setbacks, increased use of natural lighting, installation of occupancy sensors, ceiling and HVAC insulation, and replacement of single pane windows with double-pane windows. Taylor and Van Buren also analyzed the city’s SHINE Program to find ways to extend its borders to include fire station retrofits.

Proposed projects would save more than $90,000 annually, save one million kWh, and avoid 550 metric tons of carbon emissions, which is equivalent to taking 90 passenger vehicles off the road.