Buildings consume energy and resources at an alarming rate. In fact, they are the largest source of GHG emissions in Clark County with 47.3% of County-wide GHG emissions coming from electricity and natural gas use in buildings and industry. As the frequency and intensity of extreme weather and temperatures increase due to climate change, demand will also increase for cool and safe spaces to protect people from the elements. This has led to a cycle of continual increases in energy usage and utility costs due to demand for cooling. We need to break this cycle by scaling up renewables and improving efficiency.

Sometimes, efficiency measures can have big up-front costs that prevent building owners from taking action. To solve this, the Cities of Las Vegas and Henderson created Energy Improvement Districts to allow commercial, industrial, and multifamily building owners to pay for energy efficiency and renewable energy through a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program. PACE allows building owners to make energy upgrades without big up-front costs or loans and pay for the upgrades over a long period of time. Clark County is also developing a PACE program. These programs can serve as a model for other jurisdictions looking to promote creative financing mechanisms for energy projects.

Sometimes, efficiency measures can have big up-front costs that prevent building owners from taking action. To solve this, the Cities of Las Vegas and Henderson created Energy Improvement Districts to allow commercial, industrial, and multifamily building owners to pay for energy efficiency and renewable energy through a Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program. PACE allows building owners to make energy upgrades without big up-front costs or loans and pay for the upgrades over a long period of time. Clark County is also developing a PACE program. These programs can serve as a model for other jurisdictions looking to promote creative financing mechanisms for energy projects.