City of Tucson - Sustainable Energy Standard

Summary

The Tucson Sustainable Energy Standard constitutes the Tucson/Pima County Sustainable Energy Standard and the Ciavano Energy Code. The Tucson/Pima County Metropolitan Energy Commission (MEC) developed the Sustainable Energy Standard through the local energy code committee. This standard requires reducing energy consumption by 50% over the 1995 Model Energy Code. Originally designed to be the minimum energy performance requirement for the Community of Civano, the City of Tucson recently adopted it for all new municipal construction. It is the intention of the Energy Codes Committee that this standard will also serve as a voluntary goal for other buildings throughout Tucson and Pima County.

The MEC is an appointed, all-volunteer civic commission, jointly established in 1980 by the City of Tucson and Pima County to serve the community on energy matters. In mid-1994, MEC initiated Sustainable Tucson Initiatives. MEC has supported and promoted Sustainable Tucson Initiatives through seed grants and partnerships with other organizations to meet the needs of the wider community for more sustainable approaches to development and quality of life.