Today the Orlando City Council approved an agreement with GE that will help create local “green” jobs and save residents and businesses money with more energy efficient homes and offices. The City of Orlando is one of a handful of cities across the country that GE is currently partnering with to develop business-based solutions to meet communities’ sustainability goals.
The partnership will expand the City’s GreenWorks Orlando program and provide the community with GE expertise, innovative technology and assistance that will help solve local energy challenges and give residents early access to pilot programs and products.
“This strategic partnership with the GE will propel the City of Orlando’s efforts to ensure a more sustainable future and help create the high-value, high-wage green jobs and business investments of the next generation economy,” said Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. “Through the City’s GreenWorks Orlando program, we have focused on investing in energy efficiencies which has already led to the construction and completion of six LEED-certified Orlando Fire Stations; the construction of the first LEED-certified NBA facility and being selected as one of 24 Solar American Cities by the U.S. Department of Energy.”
During the first phase, GE will provide technical assistance with the creation of the City of Orlando’s first Sustainability Action Plan. The other main components of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) include:
• Exploring the development of a community-wide commercial retrofit program
• Exploring partnerships on grant opportunities
• Orlando would serve as a pilot community for new products or GE programs
• Exploring opportunities to assist local businesses and clean technology companies with an interest in global business growth expansion internationally
• Exploring partnerships for smart grid with OUC and electric vehicles
“GE looks forward to working with the City of Orlando as they plan and implement sustainability solutions that will boost job creation and improve energy efficiency at the same time, “ said GE’s Kevin Decker. “This public-private partnership provides an avenue to join GE’s innovative technology and industry expertise with Orlando’s commitment to sustainable solutions to make real impact.”
The City of Orlando has also partnered with GE to participate in the ecomagination Treasure Hunt program. Through the Treasure Hunts, GE in partnership with Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), are helping apply technology expertise and process improvement tools to identify, quantify and recommend enhancements to sources of energy waste.
Earlier this year, an ecomagination Treasure Hunt was performed at the Converv II Wastewater Treatment Facility in August and identified opportunities for $177,000 in annual energy savings with a payback that will be realized in just two years, leading to more than 2,400 metric tons of emissions reduced annually.
A second Treasure Hunt will be performed at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium through a $300,000 grant from GE and the Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance. It is scheduled in November during the annual Florida Classic game.
