City of Tempe, AZ
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Sustainable Tempe Plans and Reports
Designing the Resilient Desert City
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It is only through breaking silos of expertise and industry that we can truly make headway on our most challenging issues, such as climate change. By partnering with the Phoenix Metro chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) and the Arizona Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA), the City of Tempe hopes to be able to show the transformative possibilities of the Climate Action Plan through physical interventions of architecture, landscape architecture, and mater planning, ensuring the City of its residents will have a greater understanding of the potential impacts of Green Codes, Green Stormwater Infrastructure, and Resilient Energy Hubs.
To learn more about this competition, read the
Designing the Resilient Desert City Competition Brief
Competition Site:
The competition site is located in Tempe, Arizona along Apache Boulevard between Dorsey Land and Chief Jones Way. The sit is comprised of three lots with following parcel numbers (APN): 132-62-148, 132-62-149, and 132-62-005B. Entrants may use one, two, or all parcels as part of their design concept.
Two existing buildings on the project site may be maintained or removed as part of the design concept.
Additional Resources:
2019 Climate Action Plan and 2021 Climate Action Plan Update
Urban Sustainability Directors Network: Resilience Hubs
City of Mesa LID Toolkit and City of Tucson LID and GI Guidance Manual
International Green Construction Code
AIA Framework for Design Excellence
City of Tempe Housing and Affordability Analysis
The Sustainability and Resilience Office focuses on five guiding principles: Fiscal Responsibility, Enterprise, Equity, Engagement, and Effectiveness.
Fiscal Responsibility
- Prioritize investments that maximize community benefit
- Provide cost of inaction when possible
- Consider building the price of carbon into city decision-making
Enterprise
- Support businesses in prioritizing clean air through investments in clean energy and transportation
- Inform and incentivize businesses to adopt energy upgrades, sustainable transportation, and green infrastructure practices
- Incubate and accelerate new businesses that support climate action
Equity
- Consider people and underrepresented groups first in the creation of city programs and policies
- Practice targeted universalism, which means pursuing policies and program that are targeted at underrepresented groups, but that will create benefits for all of Tempe
- Build a culture of belonging where all people feel like they can influence the future of Tempe
Engagement
- Conduct neighborhood- and school-focused engagements
- Employ creative gaming and virtual engagement platforms
- Create a culture of sharing and community support
Effectiveness
- Select evidence-based climate actions known to be effective
- Monitor the impact of climate actions to ensure they have the desired effect
- Partner with Arizona State University to support large-scale research and infrastructure to reduce GHG emissions and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change
In 2015 Tempe municipal government emitted the equivalent of 6,096 homes:
- 40,670 metric tons of CO2 emissions across the entire system
- 28,723 metrics tons of CO2 emissions from electricity use
In 2015, the Tempe community, including all residents, businesses and institutions emitted the equivalent of 549,694 homes:
- 3,667,560 metric tons CO2 emissions across all categories
- 2,023,229 metric tons CO2 emissions from electricity use
Emissions reduction
Energy Efficiency
Tempe over uses fossil fuels which increase carbon emissions and polluting the air. In collaboration with APS and SRP, Tempe is aiming to shift from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources.
Transportation
The transportation sector contributes to about half of all Tempe’s community GHG emissions. A citywide management program and the creation of a Transportation Management Association will work to create a 20-minute city, to reduce emissions.
Resilience
Extreme Heat
Climate change has caused some of the hottest summer temperatures and they will only continue to increase. Tempe needs to prepare, adapt and accommodate for the increase in warm temperatures by adopting green building codes and green infrastructure, both can greatly reduce the urban heat island effect within the city.
Energy Efficiency
In collaboration with the Salt River Project and Arizona Public Service, the City of Tempe is aiming to shift from fossil fuels to clean energy. Tempe can support the clean energy economy through supporting business investment in energy upgrades, solar car charging, and clean energy with storage in the buildings that need it most. The following actions will support Tempe’s efforts to lower carbon emissions created by energy use:
Resilient Energy Hubs: Resilience hubs are fire stations, community centers, schools and churches that are outfitted with solar panels and battery storage. In the event of an emergency that compromises the electrical grid, resilience hubs will ensure that first responders and evacuees have access to electricity.
Revolving fund: An energy upgrades revolving fund begins with an initial pot of money which is used to give out loans for energy efficiency upgrades. The could initially be made available to early adopters, including mom & pop stores and schools interested in saving money by reducing their energy use.
Sustainability platform: The City of Tempe, the Tempe Chamber of Commerce (CoC), Local First (LF), Downtown Tempe Authority (DTA), the utilities (SRP & APS) and other interested parties could create a website providing information to businesses on energy efficiency programs.
Solar Electric Vehicles: A major barrier to putting more solar energy on the grid is that most electricity from solar is generated during the day but most electricity is consumed in the late afternoon and evening. Tempe businesses can pilot electric vehicle (EV) charging in the form of a public-private partnership (PPP) between the city, businesses and the utilities.
Transportation
The transportation sector contributes to about half of all of Tempe’s community greenhouse gas emissions. The city made major investments in transit and bicycle infrastructure. There is a need for additional programs and policies that support the streetcar, light rail, regional bus service, and our Orbit bus system. The following actions can support Tempe in lower our carbon emissions and making sure residents have transportation options:
Transportation Demand Management Program: The city, in partnership with regional/local agencies and area employers, will create a Transportation Management Association (TMA) that will oversee the Transportation Demand Management (TDM) program. This program will allow Tempe employees to work together to utilize alternative transportation methods to reduce congestion and carbon emissions.
Prioritize alternative transportation in projects: The city will increase the number of trips taken by walking, biking or riding transit will improve the per person carrying capacity of our transportation system and reduce our carbon footprint.
Electric vehicle charging: The city will increase the use of electric vehicles and will triple the number of public charging stations by 2022. It will also make amends to building codes to make new buildings “charging station-ready.”
Tempe and ASU researchers will develop a new mobility readiness guide. The readiness guide will provide a comprehensive review of Tempe policies and codes that may help or hinder the adoption of AVs in a way that improves mobility, safety and reduces the carbon footprint of the transportation system.
Resilience Actions
Climate change has caused Tempe to see some of the hottest days ever recorded. Public health, economic and environmental systems are at risk due to extreme heat measure in the city. Tempe needs to prepare, adapt and accommodate for the increase in extreme temperatures. Here are some of the action Tempe will work on to address extreme heat:
Green infrastructure: Tempe can save water and keep our city cool by building landscapes that uses storm water as the primary way to water vegetation. City Council can adopt design standards and policies to ensure that all city infrastructure projects, and private developments use storm water.
IGCC: Tempe is considering adopting the International Green Construction Code to encourage sustainable construction methods and materials, there is an opportunity to use the adoption of this new code to work with local architects and developers to collaborate on additional ways to increase shade and support the use of cool materials.
Urban Forestry Master Plan: The city will soon have an urban forester to support increasing the city’s tree canopy. The city can continue to increase these programs by increasing staff, funding for trees, and by finding resources to improve irrigation through efficient irrigation technology, green infrastructure improvements, and greywater systems.
Emergency Management Program: A resilience plan for extreme heat could ensure that first responders and residents prepare for extreme heat days and that the city is building infrastructure that keeps residents cool
City of Tempe Resources
- Tempe.gov/SustainableTempe
- Resident and business resources
- Tempe.gov/conservation
- Water educational resources for teachers and kids
- Water conservation resources for residents and businesses
- Water consultations
- Rebates
- Tempe.gov/NeighborhoodAssociations
- Work together with residents to improve and maintain the quality of neighborhoods
- Membership is open to all Tempe residents
- Tempe.gov/volunteer
- Volunteer opportunities
- City of Tempe Boards and Commissions
- Make recommendations on climate action issues
- Apply to serve in an advisory capacity
- Tempe.gov/TempeTrees
- Cost Match Tree Program provides 50% of the cost of a 15-gallon or 24” boxed-sized tree for single family residents in Tempe
- Tempe.gov/compost
- City of Tempe homegrown compost-for-sale
- Tempe.gov/SolidWaste
- Solid waste and recycling programs
Energy Resources
- Check to see if you are eligible for solar rebates and tax credit programs
Conservation Resources
- Arizona Sustainability Alliance: azsustainabilityalliance.com
- Promotes sustainable living through action and advocacy
- Donation and volunteer opportunities
- Central Arizona Conservation Alliance (CAZCA): cazca.org
- Leads engagement, collaboration, and strategy to protect, restore, and promote open spaces
- Donation and volunteer opportunities
- Chispa Arizona (League of Conservation Voters): chispaaz.org
- Citizens’ Climate Lobby: citizensclimatelobby.org
- Focuses on influencing national climate policies
- Donation and volunteer opportunities
- The Nature Conservancy: nature.org
- Tackles climate change and biodiversity loss
- Donation and volunteer opportunities
- Keep Tempe Beautiful: keeptempebeautiful.org
- Commits to ending littering, improving recycling, and beautifying Tempe
- Donation and volunteer opportunities
Food Equity Resources
- Double Up Food Bucks Arizona: doubleupaz.org
- Allocates free fruits, vegetables, herbs, dried beans to SNAP/EBT Card recipients
- Share program information in your community by ordering promotional material
- Farm Express Bus: farmexpress.org
- Provides access to affordable produce to residents with little to no access to healthy food
- Executive Summary
- City of Tempe. (n.d).Sustainable Tempe. Retrieved from https://www.tempe.gov/government/ sustainable-tempe
- City of Tempe. (n.d.). Performance Measures. Retrieved from https://performance.tempe.gov
- Introduction
- Appel, Z., Dietz, R., Gansky, B., Hartland, K., King, J., Lascala, F., Logan, G., Nguyen, T. (2021).January - April Engagement Strategies Report for the Tempe Climate Action Plan 2021 Update Final Report [Unpublished manuscript]. Arizona State University.
- Boogaard, S., Anson Pang, Y. S., Steiner, B., & Dialesandro, J. (2020). (tech.). Tempe Urban Development II: Establishing an Urban Heat Exposure Severity Score for Infrastructure Prioritization in Tempe, Arizona, Using NASA Earth Observations and LiDAR (pp. 1–26). Tempe, AZ: NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server.
- City of Tempe. (2020).Annual Report 2020 Office of Sustainability. Retrieved from https://www.tempe.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/81031/ 637317194785270000
- City of Tempe. (2019).Climate Action Plan. Retrieved from https://www.tempe.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/78674/63711497544410000
- City of Tempe. (n.d.)Equity in Action Equitable Engagement Framework.
- City of Tempe. (n.d). Sustainable Tempe. Retrieved from https://www.tempe.gov/government/ sustainable-tempe
- City of Tempe. (n.d.) Southwest Guide to Developing Climate Action Plans [Unpublished manuscript].
- Community Actions
- HA Update
- Phoenix, AZ
- Watershed Management Group. (n.d.). Green infrastructure practices take root in Phoenix. Retrieved from https://watershedmg.org/article/green-infrastructure-practices-take-root-phoenix
- Norfolk, VA
- Georgetown Climate Center. (n.d.). Green Infrastructure Toolkit. Retrieved from https://www.georgetownclimate.org/adaptation/toolkits/green-infrastructure-toolkit/regulatory-tools.html
- Oakland, CA
- City of Oakland. (2019). Green Stormwater Infrastructure Plan. Retrieved from https://cao-94612.s3.amazonaws.com/documents/Oakland-GSI-Plan-Final-20190930_sm.pdf
- Tucson, AZ
- City of Tucson. (n.d.). Green Stormwater Infrastructure. Retrieved from https://www.tucsonaz.gov/gsi
- Scottsdale, AZ
- City of Scottsdale. (n.d.). Commercial IgCC Green Construction Code. Retrieved from https://www.scottsdaleaz.gov/green-building-program/green-codes
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory. (2014, December 17). City of Scottsdale - Green Building Incentives (Arizona). OpenEI. Retrieved from https://openei.org/wiki/City_of_Scottsdale_-_Green_Building_Incentives_(Arizona)
- San Jose, CA
- City of San Jose. (n.d.). Green Building. Retrieved from https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/environment/energy/green-buildingCity of San Jose. (n.d.). Private Sector Green Building. Retrieved from https://www.sanjoseca.gov/your-government/departments-offices/environmental-services/energy/green-building/private-sector-green-building
- Israel
- Surkes, S. (2020, December 27). Green building standard becomes mandatory for more construction. The Times of Israel. https://www.timesofisrael.com/green-building-standard-becomes-mandatory-for-more-construction/
- Denver, CO
- Transformation Management & Design, Inc. (2019). RTD Mobility Hub Guidelines. Retrieved from https://www.rtd-denver.com/sites/default/files/files/2019-12/RTD-mobility-hub-guidelines-final.pdf
- Austin, TX
- City of Austin. (2019). Austin Strategic Mobility Plan. Retrieved from https://www.austintexas.gov/sites/default/files/files/Transportation/ASMP/ASMP_Chapters/FINAL_ASMP_LowFormatVersion.pdf
- San Diego, CA
- SANDAG. (2021). 2021 regional plan. Retrieved from https://sdforward.com/mobility-planning/2021-regional-plan
- Orlando, FL
- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. (2021, April 16). Governor Ron DeSantis Announces Nearly $150 Million in Awards to Florida Communities for More Resilient Infrastructure. Retrieved from https://www.flgov.com/2021/04/16/governor-ron-desantis-announces-nearly-150-million-in-awards-to-florida-communities-for-more-resilient-infrastructure/
- Austin, TX
- Athens, L. & Baumer, Z. (2021, August 11). Response to Climate Resilience Resolution 20210408-028 [Memorandum]. Office of Sustainability. http://www.austintexas.gov/edims/pio/document.cfm?id=36537474
- Baltimore, MD
- Curran, C. & Pottiger, M. (n.d.). ‘Resiliency Hubs’ Forming Around Baltimore. Capital News Service. Retrieved from https://cnsmaryland.org/interactives/fall-2019/hubs/index.htmlCity of Baltimore. (n.d.). The Baltimore City Community Resiliency Hub Program. Retrieved from https://www.baltimoresustainability.org/baltimore-resiliency-hub-program/
- Puerto Rico Mercy Corps. (n.d.).United States. Retrieved from https://www.mercycorps.org/where-we-work/united-states
- Phoenix, AZ
- HA Update
- Grants and Partnerships
- Partnerships
- Arizona Forward. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://arizonaforward.org
- Arizona State University. (n.d.)Sustainable Cities Network. Retrieved from https://sustainability-innovation.asu.edu/sustainable-cities/
- Arizona Thrives. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://azthrives.org
- C40. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.c40.org
- CDP. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.cdp.net/en/
- Chispa Arizona (n.d.) Retrieved from https://chispaaz.org
- Climate Mayors. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://climatemayors.org
- Downtown Tempe Authority (DTA). (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.downtowntempe.com
- Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.globalcovenantofmayors.org
- ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.iclei.org
- Institute for Sustainable Communities.(n.d.)Western Adaptation Alliance. Retrieved from https://sustain.org/program/western-adaptation-alliance-waa/
- Local First Arizona. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://localfirstaz.com
- National League of Cities (NLC). (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.nlc.org
- Race to Zero Campaign (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). (n.d.) Retrieved from https://unfccc.int/climate-action/race-to-zero-campaign
- Tempe Chamber of Commerce. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://tempechamber.org
- Unlimited Potential. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.unlimitedpotentialaz.org
- Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN). (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.usdn.org
- US Green Building Council. (n.d.) Retrieved from https://www.usgbc.org
- Partnerships