A nationwide initiative to improve the energy efficiency of large buildings in U.S. cities provides a wealth of lessons and guidance for other funders, practitioners and efficiency advocates. Those lessons are summarized in a recently published formative evaluation of the City Energy Project (CEP).

The evaluation – commissioned by Kresge – found that the project has provided demonstrable

benefits to the field of commercial energy efficiency by increasing city-level capacity, supporting the passage of strong local energy policies and practices, and bolstering the relationships and tools necessary to fully engage policymakers and practitioners in effective efficiency policies and programs.

The analysis offers 20 key findings summarizing replicable components of the CEP model and highlighting strategies and tactics for building strong efficiency policies and programming. Case studies from five cities are included in the analysis. They outline best practices and lessons learned from experience in Chicago, Los Angeles, Orlando, Philadelphia and Salt Lake City.

An explanation and analysis of the “hub-and-spoke” CEP model of providing resources, guidance and technical assistance (hub) to participating cities (spokes) was also part of the analysis. It is contained in a separate document, “City Energy Project: A Model for Maximizing Impact.”

The CEP is a joint initiative of The Institute for Market Transformation and the Natural Resources Defense Council, and is supported by The Kresge Foundation, Bloomberg philanthropies, and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation.