Laserfiche WebLink
City of St Louis Park Greenhouse Gas Assessment <br />City Operations, 2005 to 2015 <br />Figure 3: Largest Sources of Greenhouse Gas Emissions, 2005 to 2015 <br />3,000 <br />—Production/distribution of <br />potable water <br />2,500 <br />—Rec Center <br />G <br />H <br />—Liquid fuels, Public <br />G 2,000 <br />Works and Parks <br />—Streetlights, Signals, and <br />It 1,500 <br />o <br />Flashers <br />—Municipal Service Center <br />n <br />n 1000 <br />—Hamilton House <br />e <br />s <br />—Police Dept <br />500 <br />—City Hall <br />- <br />—Fire stations <br />2005 <br />2010 <br />2015 <br />City buildings and facilities: Narrowing the focus to just the buildings and facilities sector and, <br />even more specifically, to data in 2010 relative to 2005, Table 1 shows that electricity and <br />natural gas consumption was 4% higher in 2010 than in 2005, and Table 2 shows that GHG <br />emissions were 4% lower. The primary reasons for these changes are twofold:' The City <br />increased the size of the Municipal Service Center by 45% between in 2010, which increased <br />consumption However, Xcel Energy's emission factor was 13% lower in 2010 than in 2005 <br />(Table 1), which significantly reduced emissions in spite of the increased consumption.' Without <br />the expansion, emissions from the Center would have been about 200 tonnes lower in 2010. <br />Turning to 2015, Table 1 shows that electricity consumption was 6% higher in 2015 than in 2010 <br />and that natural gas consumption decreased significantly (-14%). Table 2 shows that GHG <br />emissions were 9% lower than in 2010. The primary reasons for these changes are as follows: <br />The decrease in GHG emissions was primarily due to Xcel Energy's emission factor being 11% <br />lower in 2015 than in 2010. Facility changes also help explain the changes. The two fire stations <br />doubled in size and equipment around 2011 and 2012. As a result, natural gas consumption <br />increased significantly and also because the gas boilers are used to dehumidify the bays even in <br />the summer. This increase in gas consumption was more than offset by reduced consumption by <br />all the other major consumers (the Rec Center, City Hall, Hamilton House, the Municipal <br />Service Center, and the Police Dept.). Facility changes that increased electricity consumption <br />included the addition of an outside pond and waterfall in 2012 at the Nature Center plus outdoor <br />3 Weather was not a significant factor because there is little difference in the heating and cooling degree days <br />between 2010 and 2005. <br />The GHG emissions associated with electricity generation vary over time according to a variety of factors, most <br />importantly type of generating facility, fuel mix, and percent of renewable and nuclear generation. In addition. <br />utilities purchase electricity from other generators, which can have very different GHG emission rates. As such, the <br />calculation of annual GHG emissions depends on both the consumption data, which is in kilowatt-hours (kWh), and <br />the emission factor thatyear. In contrast, the GHG emission rate for natural gas is very stable. <br />ORANGE <br />ENVIRONMENTAL <br />