Today, we will focus on the theme of "Carbon Emissions" and share innovative solutions from five cities. Without further ado, let’s learn about reducing carbon emissions with Guangzhou Award Secretariat!

Buenos Aires, Argentina

'Pasate a LED' - Buenos Aires Lamp Replacement Programme

Buenos Aires is aiming to promote energy efficiency among the residents of the City. It is a lamp replacement program that seeks to promote the efficient use of energy in homes through LED lighting. On the one hand, fluorescent lamps containing mercury undergo a treatment that makes their final disposal safe and, on the other hand, lamps that do not have contaminating material are crushed and used as raw material for the manufacture of the City's tiles. So far, 162,757 households out of the planned 325,000 homes have been reached. 740,613 lamps were delivered in the first phase of the project, which implies an equivalent of 21,367 tCO2e reduced out of a planned 43,000 tCO2e total. Check out to see more at:

https://www.c40.org/case_studies/buenos-aires-pasate-a-led

Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi’s “Green Office” Environmental Management System

Green Office (GO) is an Environmental Management System (EMS) for offices that focuses on awareness-raising and behavioural change in relation to sustainable consumption practices aimed at office workers. These efforts constitute a continuous process of addressing systematic issues in order to reduce the operating costs and environmental impacts of the organizations GO works with, resulting in healthy and friendly working environments. Green Office AIT-VN is suitable for all types of offices, such as Service providers, Manufacturing enterprises (GO applies to back office area), State Agencies, University/School, NGOs & International organizations. This program not only reduces direct and indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but also reduces operational costs through reduced wastage of electricity, water, paper, and other resources. Check out to see more at:

https://www.c40.org/case_studies/green-office-hanoi

Boston, United States

Boston Smart Utilities Vision: Initiating a New Microgrid Policy

Every large-scale in Boston will now be supplied with its own microgrid, to improve the city’s resilience. This policy is an implementation tool of the Boston Smart Utilities Vision, a multi-departmental initiative for more sustainable, resilient, equitable and innovative utility services across energy, water, transit, and telecom. District Energy Microgrids are a novel way of addressing specific vulnerability concerns for large developments. When major flooding or other storm events knock out power on the grid, the district energy microgrid continues to provide both electricity and thermal energy. Check out to see more at:

https://www.c40.org/case_studies/boston-microgrids

Hong Kong, China

Strategic Collaboration for Better Building Efficiency in Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s “ACT” strategies to enhance building energy efficiency have potential to save over 2.2 billion kWh in 2020 (reduce carbon emissions by over 1.5 million tonnes), reducing Hong Kong's energy intensity by 28% in comparison to 2005 levels. The Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) of Hong Kong has launched a series of legislations to mobilize the public and promote energy efficiency and conservation, including Buildings Energy Efficiency Ordinance (BEEO) and the Mandatory Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme (MEELS). EMSD also collaborates with diverse stakeholders, e.g. Dialogue Platform, Energy Saving for All Campaign to encourage community-wide participation. Check out to see more at:

https://www.c40.org/case_studies/hong-kong-building-cooperation

Portland, United States

Home Energy Scoring in Portland's Housing Market

Judging from analyses made by the municipality, Portland’s Home Energy Score has a potential to reduce residential carbon emissions 25% by 2030 (approximately 5 million tons of CO2e). This was initiated as a long-term, market transformation policy that shines a light on previously invisible energy information early in real-estate transactions, when it is most actionable. The policy is intended to stimulate consumer demand for energy efficiency upgrades and reduce carbon emissions. Check out to see more at:

https://www.c40.org/case_studies/portland-home-scoring

(Editor: Adam Xie)