Public Buildings Portfolio Management: Missoula, MT

Shortly after the City’s 2009 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, Mayor John Engen moved from research to action and convened the Conservation & Climate Action Plan Task Force. The volunteer Task Force, a group of citizen experts made up of small business owners, city staff, conservation professionals, and University of Montana representatives, was charged with creating emissions reduction goals for municipal operations and developing a path to achieve those goals while maintaining and improving the City’s high level of service to citizens.

The City of Missoula Conservation & Climate Action Plan (CCAP) is the culmination of a long history of energy conservation and climate action. It serves as the road map to maintain progress in the City’s commitment to reducing energy and fuel consumption, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, practicing fiscal responsibility, and being good stewards of natural resources, environment, economy, quality of life, and community. The City’s emissions goals are to achieve:

• 10% Carbon reduction from 2008 baseline by 2015 • 30% Carbon reduction from 2008 baseline by 2017
• 50% Carbon reduction from 2008 baseline by 2020
• Carbon neutrality by 2025

The City realized that by more carefully managing their own building portfolio, they could demonstrate leadership-by-example in their community. They identified key strategies to accomplish their carbon goals and assigned staff to implement them. The approach includes establishing a data monitoring and reporting system as well as developing a budget and financing strategy. What Missoula lacked was a mechanism to identify inefficient buildings, prioritize upgrades, and guide policy.