Use one or a combination of the following inventory tools to get started:
The Small Town Carbon Calculator (STOCC)
STOCC is a free, easy to use, downloadable excel spreadsheet provided by Clean Air-Cool Planet that measures municipal operations. An inventory conducted with STOCC gives a municipality an annual snapshot of its energy usage that showcases how much is being used, the cost and how much carbon is emitted for the buildings sector, vehicles, and streetlights. The software does not measure projects or initiatives for reductions in energy, cost or greenhouse gas emissions but does help municipalities to understand costs and usage. STOCC is meant for use in a small town or as a first step to beginning an inventory in a town that does not have the budget or the time for a more detailed inventory with a membership fee such as ICLEI or WRI. Currently only available for New York State, Maryland, and New England.
EPA Portfolio Manager
Portfolio Manager is a free software that that can measure municipal, commercial, industrial, or residential building’s energy performance and identifies its performance relative to national averages. It is an interactive energy management tool that allows you to track energy performance and water consumption for buildings in a secure online environment. This software shows monthly and yearly snapshots and the Benchmarking Starter Kit can help you set investment priorities, identify under-performing buildings, verify efficiency improvements, and receive EPA recognition for superior energy performance. The Target Finder help’s building owners set energy targets. Portfolio Manager does not measure projects or initiatives for reduction in energy, cost or greenhouse gas emissions but can help you to access funding including Federal Block Grants. The Portfolio Manager is meant for any size building but should not be used alone. Only buildings are accounted for and not other municipal sectors such as vehicle fleets and streetlights. STOCC can be used in combination with Portfolio Manager for a more complete picture of emissions and energy usage in buildings.
ICLEI – Local Governments For Sustainability
ICLEI is an international association of local governments for sustainability and with a membership fee provides technical assistance, software and networking. ICLEI measures all municipal sectors (buildings, vehicle fleet, streetlights, municipal waste, sewer/water) along with creating an inventory for the community. The community inventory accounts for residential, commercial and industrial buildings along with community waste and transportation. ICLEI provides an annual snapshot and allows for a municipality to enter measures to reduce energy and greenhouse gas emissions. The software will calculate paybacks along with energy, greenhouse gas emissions and costs reductions if the right inputs are entered. In addition, the ICLEI protocol is compatible with the Climate Registry, a unified standard for reporting green house gas emissions in North America. The cost of a full membership for a municipality with a population of less than 50,000 is $600 per year. Associate membership for individuals ($250 per year), non-profits and non-governmental organization ($550 per year), and State and National Governments and their departments ($3,000 per year) is also available.
