Item B: Community Climate and Energy Action Plan Update

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CE–ICAP* ITY OF UGENE NTERNAL LIMATE CTION LAN Scope 3 and other Concepts Scope 3 emissions are defined as those indirect emissions that are not covered under scopes 1 and 2. More specifically, scope 3 emissions are upstream impacts of purchased goods, materials and services, or transport in non-city owned vehicles (such as employee commute or business travel). Emissions in this category are not included in the Net-Zero Council Goal and thus are not a focus in this Action Plan. However, there are several efforts underway in the organization that address scope 3 issues. A study is currently in progress that will quantify all operational solid waste produced by the organization and formulate a plan to reduce this waste by 90%. A reduction of this magnitude will require significant changes in the organization’s purchasing and recycling procedures. Such changes will have the additional benefit of reducing the GHG impact of the materials used by the organization. The City maintains an active employee commute reduction program as a participant in the regional “Commuter Solutions” program and provides staff with bus passes, an emergency ride home program and reduced parking rates for car pools. Staff commute choices are not under the operational control of the organization and thus are considered scope 3 relative to City operations. However, relative to the community’s emissions the vehicle miles traveled (VMT) by City staff traveling to work are scope 1. Work is ongoing to reduce the nitrous oxide (NOx) released by the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) NOx emissions that are known to be released to the air from WWTP have been included in the inventory. Other NOx released from the plant is water-borne. It is currently unclear if these emissions can eventually enter they atmosphere and impact climate change. Warm mix asphalt was used with good results in selected road construction projects during the 2009 construction season. Warm mix is made at a lower temperature than the traditional mix and thus reduces the amount of energy and emissions from asphalt production. Other concepts A full-scale energy audit is underway at the Wastewater treatment plant. Once defined, the GHG emissions reductions from efficiency upgrades for the treatment process and the plant buildings can be included in the next update of the plan. Clean fuel specifications are being considered for capital road construction contracts. The use of bio-fuels by contractors hired by the City could reduce indirect emissions. An innovative idea has been put forward to study potential for installing piping under roads when major construction is undertaken. The piping could provide access to ground-source heating and cooling for nearby homes or businesses. 22 *Plan adopted as a framework; subject to additional edits. Plan may be modified pending implementation.