Ellensburg EECS

City of Ellensburg Energy Efficiency & Conservation Strategy (EECS) and Land Development Code Update

O’Brien & Company led a team of consultants to assist the City of Ellensburg in their effort to develop an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Strategy (EECS), paired with a Land Development Code Update. It was adopted by the City Council with unanimous approval. 

The EECS effort included identifying and addressing current Code deficiencies and obstacles to energy efficiency and conservation efforts.  The completed strategy provides a snapshot of current energy efficiency efforts, identifies high-level goals, and identifies ideas to pursue in focus areas prioritized by the community in stakeholder research. It also includes case studies to inspire local actions to reduce community energy consumption, promote conservation, foster cost savings, and ensure long term sustainability and rate stability.

The Land Development Code Update (LDCU) updated currently outdated code, reflects current best practices, removes inconsistencies, helps implement a recently updated Comprehensive Plan, and serves to simplify the code language and organization to make it easier to follow and implement.

Our work consisted of developing the strategy, completing stakeholder and community outreach around the effort, assisting the planning firm’s (Makers Architecture) staff in the LDCU project, compiling recommendations related to green building and energy efficiency that should be incorporated in the 2011 Code Update, and research. We also facilitated technical review and educational briefings with the Planning Commission, the Utility Advisory Committee, and City Council. The Code Update was completed in summer 2011, while the complete strategy and action plan was delivered in 2012.

The EECS was recognized by the Smart Communities Award Program with a Governor’s Judge’s Merit Award.