State and Local Climate and Energy Program
Smarter, Sustainable Dubuque
Dubuque, Iowa
Federal Funding: $473,136
Project Timeline: February 2011 – February 2013
Project Summary
Promoting Community Engagement through Energy Reduction Programs
Throughout the past 30 years, Dubuque has faced multiple challenges, including economic hardship and significant unemployment. Dubuque's leaders have identified another challenge on the horizon: the quest for sustainability and the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Dubuque has committed to be a national leader among communities with populations under 200,000 to identify the best practices for sustainability and GHG emission reduction for communities to replicate. Under the Smarter, Sustainable Dubuque (SSD) Initiative, the City will assist 1,000 pilot households to reduce GHG emissions through a reduction in vehicle miles traveled (VMT), water, electricity, natural gas, and waste. Based on the results of the pilot project, the City and its partners will launch a community-wide campaign to engage all Dubuque households and businesses. Climate Showcase Communities funding will be used to implement the transportation element of the larger project.
The selected households will be equipped with advanced electric and water meters as well as GPS units to track their vehicle miles traveled (VMT). Using these tools, the City will track results against baseline energy consumption profiles and provide each household with a weekly report on their electricity and water consumption, and VMT. The City will also provide each household with tools and information on how to reduce their carbon footprint.
Using information collected from the pilot households, the City of Dubuque will partner with the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque, the Chamber of Commerce, Dubuque Community School District, and local colleges to conduct a community education campaign and to advance the goal of significant carbon emission reductions in Dubuque. A key component of the outreach campaign will be the development and use of a personal and community dashboard, an interactive website where citizens can monitor their energy use and compare it to their neighbors. The campaign will use social media to:
- launch a community Green Asset map,
- highlight best practices of energy, water, and VMT use from the 1,000 pilot households, and
- promote a Carbon Diet for the community.
Overall, the Smarter, Sustainable Dubuque project will create a model that can be replicated in any community, particularly communities with less than 200,000 residents, where 40% of the United States population resides. The City of Dubuque hopes to provide a model that results in community engagement and education, more energy-efficient ways of operating municipal services and buildings, decreased carbon dioxide emissions, green job creation, financial savings, and a higher quality of life for the entire community.
Community Characteristics
| Population: | 57,696 |
|---|---|
| Area: | 26 square miles |
| Government Type: | City |
| Community Type: | Small Urban |
| Median Household Income: | $41,879 |
Program Results/Estimated Results
| Expected GHG Reductions: | 536 metric tons CO2e annually (from pilot) |
|---|---|
| Expected Gasoline Savings: | 60,000 gallons annually |
| Expected Cost Savings: | $157,000 annually |