Fort Lauderdale, FL

The City of Fort Lauderdale has committed its core facilities to the Better Buildings Challenge including two water treatment plants, its sole wastewater treatment plant, its bulk street lighting account, and the City's primary use administration buildings. Past energy efficiency efforts include implementing an energy performance contract in the spring of 2017, an LED retrofit in its City Hall building in late 2013, and in 2016, the city’s first behavioral Challenge titled ‘Flip the Switch’ to encourage employees to turn off monitors and lights when not in use, and installation of 55 programmable thermostats at 7 City facilities in 2018 and 2019.

In 2021, the City completed a solar feasibility study with the primary goal of providing pertinent strategies to key decision-makers and stakeholders in the City of Fort Lauderdale’s government. This plan aims to identify next steps towards the City's goal of achieving twenty percent (20%) solar photovoltaic (PV) renewable energy for municipal operations by the year 2030. The study's recommendations project a cost of $6.2 million for potential solar installations at 35 city facilities.

In early 2022, Fort Lauderdale joined the ICLEI150 Race to Zero, affirming its net-zero commitment. In 2024, the city will begin developing a roadmap to achieve its net-zero objectives. The plan aims to develop a roadmap to achieve the City’s net zero goals. Also in 2024, the City is seeking to apply electricity bill refunds to fund the installation of solar panels at designated parks and facilities.

Solutions at a Glance

Fort Lauderdale's Heat Map Tool to Visualize Energy Usage Data

Performance Data

Solutions

Leadership Commitments

Better Buildings Challenge

Goal

Commitment

DOE Program Participation