State and Local Climate and Energy Program
The Green Cincinnati Plan
Cincinnati, Ohio
Federal Funding: $500,000
Project Timeline: February 2010 – December 2012
Project Summary
Outreach Work to Boost the Impact of an Established Climate Change Action Plan
The City of Cincinnati approved the Green Cincinnati Plan (GCP) in June 2008 and now seeks to conduct outreach to increase the plan's impact, reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the city. With 62 of the 82 Plan's projects underway, the city wants to create an outreach strategy and comprehensively market the GCP. The project will develop and deploy a Marketing Plan, integrate climate change awareness in Cincinnati public schools, and host an annual climate summit. In addition, the Cincinnati Energy Alliance (CEA), the project sub-grantee, will provide energy audits to selected nonprofit organizations.
To expand the impacts of the GCP, the city will:
- work with a local marketing firm to develop and deploy the GCP's marketing plan, including a concise brand, ads, website, presentations, and promotions,
- create and distribute toolkits for local schools on climate change and climate protection measures, and
- host an annual event to discuss the benefits and impediments to climate change initiatives in Greater Cincinnati.
In addition, the CEA, launched as a non–profit in January 2009, will work to deliver energy audit services. The CEA will select 20 non–profit organizations in Cincinnati and contract with engineering firms to provide energy audit services to the selected organizations. The CEA will then help facilitate the implementation of energy efficiency improvements and will track the resulting benefits.
The project will reduce Cincinnati's GHG emissions by 2 percent each year for three years of the grant period, for a total of a 6 percent reduction. The CEA's energy audits are expected to leverage $470,000 of investment in energy efficiency, saving 1,000,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity and 25,000 therms of gas. Additionally, the GCP encourages partnerships across stakeholder groups.
Community Characteristics
| Population: | 331,000 |
|---|---|
| Area: | 80 square miles |
| Government Type: | City |
| Community Type: | Urban |
| Median Household Income: | $33,524 |
Program Results/Estimated Results
| Expected GHG Reductions: | 480,000 metric tons CO2e annually (6%) |
|---|---|
| Expected Job Creation: | 4 full-time positions |
| Expected Electricity Savings: | 1,000,000 kWh |
| Expected Gas Savings: | 25,000 therms |
| Expected Cost Savings: | $175,000 annually |
Program Websites
- http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cmgr/pages/-37330-/
- http://www.GreenUmbrella.org

- http://www.youtube.com/user/GreenUmbrellaCIN?feature=watch

Media Coverage
- What's Your Green Umbrella: Mayor Mallory
, 11/15/2011 - Cincinnati campaign ask 30K homes to go green
, 10/26/2011 - EPA Awards Cincinnati $500,000 to Reduce Greenhouse Gases, 3/5/2010
- From Durham to Sacramento, Cities Get Help With 'Climate Showcase' Projects
, 3/3/2010 - Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance Sub-Recipient of $100,000 US EPA Grant Through City of Cincinnati to Help Non-Profits Lower Their Energy Costs
, 3/1/2010 - Cincinnati Office of Environmental Quality Awarded $500,000 for Green Cincinnati Action Plan
, 2/27/2010
