Energy & Carbon Emissions

Carbon Emissions

Our citywide Strategic Plan lists four strategies to reduce carbon emissions:

• Create carbon reduction goals
• Reduce the carbon footprint of City operations (buildings, utilities, fleet)
• Assess the feasibility and cost of offsetting 100% of City electricity with renewable sources by FY2025
• Create and support programs and policies to reduce carbon emissions from the building and transportation sectors throughout the community

Mobility

The plan’s Mobility section also includes strategies to decrease the number of people who drive alone in their vehicle by increasing bus ridership, biking, walking and carsharing – which all decrease fuel consumption and the resulting carbon emissions. Check out more about our City’s mobility work here.

More Details

Learn more about how and where we use energy, our efforts to reduce energy consumption and how much of our energy is supplied by renewable sources.

City Energy Use

Energy Efficiency for your Home

• Consumers Energy Programs
• DTE Programs
• Green Homes Institute
• LEED Certified Homes
• Low-Income Energy Affordability Data Tool
• Department of Energy: Energy Saver
• Energy Star

Zero Cities Project & E.H.Zero

Over 50% of the buildings (by square footage) in Grand Rapids are single family homes. In the Zero Cities Project we partnered with the Urban Core Collective to understand residents needs from energy services. In our next phase, E.H.Zero, we aim to partner with community to determine how we can work together to reduce the carbon footprint of homes throughout the community. Click the buttons below to learn more about each project. 

Zero Cities Project

E.H.Zero

SolSmart - Solar

We're working with SolSmart to make solar more accessible in our city. Learn more about SolSmart here.

Energy Efficiency for your Business

• Consumers Energy Programs
• DTE Programs 
• LEED Certification
• Energy Star

Grand Rapids 2030 District

The 2030 District is a free program that helps businesses, industries, non-profits and academic institutions reduce energy and water usage as well as transportation related carbon emissions. Learn more and sign up today by visiting the 2030 district website today.

Zero Cities Project & E.H.Zero

In the Zero Cities Project we partnered with the U.S. Green Building Council of West Michigan to educate and engage commercial building stakeholders through the GR2030 District. In our next phase, E.H.Zero, The City is working to identify policies and programs that can reduce the energy and carbon footprint of buildings throughout the community. Click the buttons below to learn more about each project. 

Zero Cities Project

E.H.Zero

SolSmart – Solar

We're working with SolSmart to make solar more accessible in our City. Learn more about SolSmart here.

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)

Need help paying for energy efficiency or renewable energy projects? PACE offers alternative financing options that allow you to pay off installations with your energy savings. Click here to learn more.

About

Mayor Bliss launched the Energy Advisory Committee in March of 2018. The purpose of this advisory committee is to engage thought leaders from a diverse set of businesses, non-profits, academia and governmental institutions to ensure that the City of Grand Rapids stays on the cutting edge of energy performance and renewable energy.

The committee will focus on creating a comprehensive energy management plan that includes a renewable energy strategy, energy efficiency strategy for municipally owned facilities and a broader climate/greenhouse gas emissions plan.

Participants are selected by the Mayor and the committee meets approximately every other month.

Members

Elected Officials

Rosalynn Bliss

City of Grand Rapids
Mayor

Kurt Reppart

City of Grand Rapids
Commissioner

Milinda Ysasi

City of Grand Rapids
Commissioner

City Staff

Mike Grenier

City of Grand Rapids
Environmental Services Manager - Public Services Department

AJ Hills

City of Grand Rapids
Business Developer 

James Hurt

City of Grand Rapids
Public Services Director

Laura Olson

City of Grand Rapids
Acting Assistant to the Mayor

Kristin Pfauth

City of Grand Rapids
Project Manager - Engineering Department

Alison Waske Sutter

City of Grand Rapids
Sustainability & Performance Management Officer

Annabelle Wilkinson

City of Grand Rapids
Environmental & Climate Justice Specialist

Community Partners

Roger Burgess

Retired Engineer

Ja'Von Fields

NAACP Greater Grand Rapids Branch
Youth Council President

Paul Haan

Healthy Homes Coalition of West Michigan
Past Executive Director

Jon Ippel

Amplify GR
Executive Director

Margrethe Kearney

Environmental Law and Policy Center
Senior Attorney

Jim Lax

Meteorologist and Founder
Climate for Tomorrow

Mary Ellen Mika

Steelcase
Global Compliance & Sustainability

Julio H. Morales

Consumers Energy
Executive Director, Customer Service

Steve Mulder

Christian Reformed Church
Climate Witness Project

Jan O'Connell

Sierra Club Michigan Chapter
Development Director and Energy Issues Organizer

Anne Sailers

Holland Board of Public Works
Community Energy Services Manager 

Kris Spaulding

Brewery Vivant
Co-Owner

Julie Staveland

Michigan Agency for Energy
Manager

Natalie Stewart

Switch
Director of Govt. and Public Affairs

Jonathan Wilson

DTE Energy
Regional Manager

2020

• Grand Rapids ranked 33rd out of 100 cities in ACEEE 2020 City Clean Energy Scorecard

2018

• Grand Rapids earns 2030 Leadership Award for Zero Cities Project
• City partners with the community on energy and sustainability efforts
• Six City buildings earn EPA’s Energy Star certification

2017

• Six public building projects honored for $2.1 million in annual energy savings through use of performance contracts
• Mayor Bliss, GR 2030 District and Lean & Green Michigan celebrate launch of Grand Rapids PACE program
• The Road to 100: Grand Rapids' journey to be Michigan’s first all-renewable-powered city