Climate Action & Adaptation Plan

Increasing the affordability, energy efficiency, health, climate resilience and access to renewable energy of housing.

Community Goals

• 5% of all existing residential buildings reduce energy by 20% by 2030
• All new residential buildings and 1% of existing buildings will meet IECC 2018
• All new residential buildings and 11% of existing buildings are electrified per year until 2030
• Improve the health and resilience of housing to the impacts of climate change.

Climate Connection

A home’s materials, size, design, and construction affect the degree to which it contributes to climate change, exposes its occupants to climate change-related hazards and financial risks, and protects its residents from such hazards.

The 2019 GHG emissions inventory showed residential energy use in Grand Rapids makes up 27.8% of total community-wide GHG emissions including both single-family and multi-family residential housing. This chapter will focus on single-family residential housing which in this plan includes residential buildings that have 4 units or less.

While there is currently no data available on the proportion of Grand Rapids homes that have air conditioning (AC), anecdotally, many homes (particularly older homes and low-income households) in the City either lack it completely or may not have enough cooling if residents rely on fans or window AC units. 

These conditions could expose residents to dangerous conditions during hot weather. Heavy rainfall and flooding, including basement flooding, could damage residential property. Increased heavy rainfall and flooding could increase the price of insurance for residents and businesses.

High energy burden, the percentage of gross household income spent on energy costs, is another cause of vulnerability to impacts of climate change. Without proper insulation in many homes, the cost of energy is higher. Some residents may resist using heat or air conditioning to save money which could increase health risks.

As electricity is more expensive than gas, transitioning away from fossil fuel use becomes more challenging without increasing operating costs.

Reducing GHG emissions from buildings* & industrial processes.

*For purposes of this chapter, buildings includes:

• commercial office space
• healthcare facilities
• industrial warehouses
• academic buildings
• multi-family residential buildings (> 4 units)
  • which includes apartment buildings, condominiums, Section 8 housing

Community Goals

• 10% of all existing commercial buildings reduce energy 20% per year until 2030
• 5% of existing commercial buildings are electrified per year until 2030
• Reduce GHG emissions from industrial processes (further analysis required to establish target)

Climate Connection

In 2019, 38.5% of all community-wide GHGs were generated from buildings that consumed electricity, natural gas, and/or steam – this sector accounts for the largest single-source of GHG emissions in Grand Rapids. Within this sector, residential buildings, including both small and multi-family buildings, accounted for ~28% while commercial buildings generated ~11%.

Industrial processes contributed an additional 25.1% to community-wide GHG total in 2019 and represent the third largest source of emissions. The consumption of electricity accounts for 72% of the emissions from industry.

Buildings will be most impacted by increases in temperature, extreme weather events and precipitation. Rising temperatures will increase the demand for air conditioning (electricity) and decrease heating needs (natural gas). Increased extreme weather events will cause more electricity power outages (damage to power lines) and likely increase the duration of the outage.

Increased precipitation and drought will both impact humidification needs (electricity). Processes and equipment that run on electricity will be most impacted by power outages.

Reducing reliance on fossil fuel powered single-occupancy vehicle usage, increasing active and shared modes of transportation, and increasing access to electric vehicles.

Community Goals

• 10% vehicle miles traveled reduction per capita by 2030 through the promotion and expansion of active and shared modes of transportation
• 20% increase in ridership for public, active, and shared modes of transportation by 2030
• 22.5% of vehicle miles traveled is with electric vehicles by 2030

Climate Connection

Sustainable transportation plays a crucial role in both climate mitigation and adaptation. Transportation is one of the highest emitting greenhouse gas sectors in Grand Rapids making up 30% of total community-wide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Transportation GHG emissions are primarily from gasoline and diesel fueled automotive vehicle but also encompass hydrogen and ethanol fuel.

Grand Rapids' transportation system, which includes built assets like roads and bridges as well as public transit, bicycling, and pedestrian infrastructure, is sensitive to climate change. Heavy rainfall and flooding can overwhelm dispersed stormwater infrastructure and impact infrastructure usability. Trail networks near rivers and streams can be affected by high water levels, streambank erosion and failure.

Heat already impacts the usability of transportation systems for people, who are exposed to heat while walking, bicycling, and waiting at transit stops. Other extreme weather conditions, including winter weather, heavy rainfall, and poor air quality, can make it uncomfortable and even dangerous to wait outside for public transportation

Increasing sequestration and increasing nature’s resilience to climate change.

Community Goals

• Achieve 40% Tree Canopy Goal to increase carbon sequestration
• Ensure that both people and the natural environment are healthy and resilient to the impacts of climate change

Climate Connection

Trees and green spaces have the ability to both reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also help address the hazards climate change will increase in our area – reducing stormwater runoff, reducing flooding and heat exposure. Neighborhoods with denser tree canopies are cooler than neighborhoods with less dense tree canopies. The roots of trees help to reduce flooding by drawing water into the plant. In this way, tree canopies reduce risks of both heat and flooding.

Access to green spaces cannot only improve people's physical health and resilience to climate change, but also their mental health from a connection to nature, increasing people's ability to fit physical exercise into their daily life and creating gathering spaces for social connection and community well-being.

In urban areas ecosystems and biodiversity are generally confined to small, managed areas, and are under pressure from human activities, development, pollution, invasive species, and imbalances (e.g., overabundance of deer). Changing seasonal conditions, increasing temperatures, decreased freeze-thaw cycles, heavy rainfall, and flooding already cause substantial impacts on natural areas.

Climate change and extreme weather events could weaken local trees causing urban tree canopy losses, and harm private and public landscaping and green spaces, negatively impacting ecosystem services.

Reducing waste and increasing access to local food and growing opportunities.

Community Goals

• Reduce waste related emissions by reducing food scraps sent to landfills, reducing solid waste and encouraging sustainable consumption.
• Improve the health and resilience of the food system to the impacts of climate change.

Climate Connection

National studies suggest that up to 40% of all food produced is wasted. Loss occurs at each step in the food system. Examples include:

• unharvested crops in fields or community gardens
• unsold food from retail store
• uneaten prepared food
• kitchen trimmings (inedible parts of food like pits) from restaurants, cafeterias, and households 

While approximately 40% of food waste occurs from the industrial sector, the largest volumes of food waste occur at the consumer or household level.

Extreme weather and disruptions in seasons can result in crop failures and loss of livestock, creating price spikes that can make nutritious food inaccessible to vulnerable communities. Wetter conditions and rising temperatures can also negatively affect food safety during transport, storage and processing.