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Energy and Emissions

Target: Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. 

How are we doing? View the executive summary or the full report of greenhouse gas inventories for the St. Louis region from 2010 and 2015. 

Background: Greenhouse gases (GHGs) are compounds that prevent heat from escaping the earth’s atmosphere and are recognized as a contributor to global climate change. Working to bring levels down can have other benefits such as cleaner air and water, cost savings through more efficient transportation and buildings, job creation through entrepreneurship and technological innovation, and other economic development opportunities.

Structure: The Energy and Emissions Working Group is led by individuals from the Missouri Gateway Green Building Council and Washington University Office of Sustainability. 

Activities: Read more about Energy and Emissions target and progress in the region here. Short-term goals for the Working Group include:

  • Collecting data and creating a regional GHG inventory. 
  • Assisting the City of St. Louis with technical items relative to activities for implementation of the American Cities Climate Challenge program funded by the Bloomberg Foundation.
  • Developing a regional climate collaborative committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

What you can do:

Governments

Individuals

  • Check out resources in the OneSTL Toolkit such as the Home Energy Audits and Energy Efficiency tools
  • Install a programmable thermostat and create a schedule that automatically adjusts temperatures during the day and at night
  • Replace all showerheads with low-flow units (1.8 gpm or less) and replace all lights with LEDs
  • Ensure all doors and windows have good weather-stripping and storm windows/doors
  • Walk, bike, carpool, or take transit

 Businesses

  • Adopt, publish, and work to achieve an organizational carbon reduction goal
  • Use utility incentives to implement energy efficiency measures, starting with:
  • Retro-commission large and high-use buildings (retro-commissioning is the process of fine-tuning existing buildings)
  • Replace all lights with LEDs
  • Benchmark and analyze the energy use of buildings in your portfolio to prioritize buildings for energy efficiency measures.
  • Install solar on your buildings and pursue off-site renewable energy through utility green tariffs or power purchase agreements
  • Provide support and incentives for employees to walk, bike, carpool, or take transit to work

The following organizations Support* or Commit** to assisting with this Target.
The organizations identified with *** signed the Washington University Emissions Reduction Commitment.

Ameren Missouri***
Anheuser-Busch***
Ascension***
Bayer***
Bi-State Development*    
Citizens for Modern Transit*    
City of Clayton, MO***
City of St. Louis***
Commerce Bancshares***
Curium**
Donald Danforth Plant Science Center***
Global Products, Inc**
Green Dining Alliance / St. Louis Earth Day**
Harris-Stowe State University***
Heartlands Conservancy*
Illinois Green Economy Network***
International Society of Sustainability Professionals StL Chapter*		 Lewis and Clark Community College***
Linda Goldstein Consulting*    
MBS Urban Initiaves CDE, LLC**    
Missouri Coalition for the Environment***
Missouri Energy Initiatve***
Missouri Foundation for Health***
Nine Network of Public Media**
Renew Missouri***
Rise***
Sitton Energy Solutions**
St. Louis Community College***
The Nature Conservancy in Missouri*    
Univeristy of Missouri - St. Louis***
University City, MO*    
US Green Building Council - Missouri Gateway Chapter***
Washington University in St. Louis***