Conservation of energy is an important aspect of achieving a sustainable community. By using less energy, homes and businesses can help reduce the amount of polluting fuel sources that are used for energy generation. Using less energy also reduces the strain on the electrical grid during peak demand time.

City of Lewisville Efforts

As part of the Lewisville 2025 Plan, city staff continuously takes steps to conserve energy at city facilities and promote energy conservation through energy policy.

• Energy conservation at City facilities annual report
  
• Solar Ready new home ordinance to ensure that new homes are built with roofs that can accommodate solar panels easily.
• Adoption of 2015 Energy Conservation Code and 2015 Residential Code and its appendices in May 2016.
• Since 2013 more than $2 million in energy efficiency improvements have been made to City facilities
  • 20% reduction in energy consumption in City facilities from 2003 to 2012, resulting in savings of over $200,000
  • Use of reflective barrier paint on roofing of City buildings to reduce solar heat gain
  • Installation of Energy Management Systems to monitor energy consumption in largest buildings
  • Replacement of pumping equipment at water facilities with more efficient equipment
  • LED lighting retrofits throughout City facilities (indoor, outdoor, traffic, and street lighting)
  • Purchase of Energy Star appliances and equipment
  • Selection of energy provider using 48% renewable sources and 52% natural gas rather than coal generation
  • Solar powered school beacons, outdoor lighting and outdoor warning sirens
  • Use of lighting motion sensors throughout numerous facilities to turn off lights when they are unoccupied
  • Funding to develop renewable energy strategies for City facilities

Residential Energy Conservation

In general, conservation measures are still more cost effective than energy generation (adding more capacity to the energy grid).

The Department of Energy has a wide range of tips for saving energy at home and recommends doing Home Energy Audits

Home owners are eligible for on-site, renewable energy federal tax credits. These credits cover solar-electric, solar water-heating, fuel cells, small-wind energy, and geothermal heat pumps. To learn more visit the U.S. Department of Energy website.

Interested in solar power? Use a solar calculator to see your location's potential.