In 2011, Atlanta launched a voluntary energy efficiency program for commercial buildings – the Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge (ABBC). Participants commit to water and energy efficiency measures at their properties and has featured some very prominent participants from across the city – Georgia Tech, Spelman College, Georgia State, the General Services Administration, Centers for Disease Control, Emory University, UPS, and the Fulton County Schools. On Wednesday, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms recognized the participants in the program and some of the top performers.
The ultimate goal of the program was to be 20% more efficient by 2020. More than 633 buildings across Atlanta are currently part of the program, comprising some 110 million square feet of space across the city. Since 2011, the ABBC has saved 18.7 trillion BTUs – for perspective, the average home uses 80 million BTUs per year. Those are really big numbers and its hard to see whether they really mean anything. A little calculator assistance shows however that the ABBC savings adds up to savings roughly equivalent to more than 200,000 homes.
“The Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge (ABBC) is a truly remarkable national success story of what can be accomplished when the public and private sectors join forces to work toward a common goal. What started out as a program to promote energy and water efficiency, has created jobs, improved public health and is paving the way for Atlanta to become a national leader in building efficiency,” said Mayor Bottoms.
The ABBC has also saved more than 1.3 billion gallons of water since its beginning. The entire metro region of Atlanta uses a little more than 500 million gallons per day – thus the ABBC savings is the equivalent of the usage of 6 million people for two days. Additionally, more than 722,709 metric tons of CO2 were avoided and the total economic impact was more than $49 million.
There were five 2018 MVP Award Winners announced in five different categories:
· Water Innovation Award: Madison-Morgan Cultural Center
· All-Star Award: Atlanta Neighborhood Charter School
· Game Changer Award: Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design
· Energy Innovation Award: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
· Individual Champion Award: Wes Shirley
Earlier in September, former New York Mayor and current climate activist Michael Bloomberg named Atlanta as one of the winning cities in his American Cities Climate Challenge. The Challenge is a $70 million program that aims to accelerate 20 cities’ efforts at tackling climate change and promoting a “sustainable future for residents.” The Better Buildings Challenge and its success in Atlanta was a big part of Atlanta’s winning entry.
The Challenge is part of the broader $200 million American Cities Initiative, that focuses on city halls across the country and leveraging the power of mayors to advance climate-centric policies. Atlanta’s win in the Challenge means it is accepted into a two-year acceleration program that provides new resources and support to meet or beat near-term carbon reduction goals.
“Air pollution, droughts and adverse impacts of extreme weather are undeniable challenges that too often severely impact our most vulnerable residents – children and the elderly. I am thrilled that Atlanta has the opportunity to take part in the American Cities Climate Challenge. With the support of Bloomberg Philanthropies, we will create a bigger, better and more equitable future for Atlantans,” said Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms.
See the full list of “Top Performers” from the ABBC
