6.4.1 Introduction

Events of the past decade have brought the issue of energy fully into public view. Ever-increasing energy prices, combined with constraints in the development of conventional energy supplies, have forced the public to question and debate the energy future they would like to see. Increasing the efficiency of energy use is predicated on matching needs with resources. Renewable energy systems allow cities to become more independent from the grid and imported fossil fuels, boost the market for renewable technologies, move to more reliable and affordable resources, and display a visible public commitment to a sustainable energy future.

In areas such as Surprise with high summer electricity demands, using small scale renewable energy systems can also protect residents and businesses from the costly effects. In addition, residential and commercial buildings account for over a third of United States energy use and carbon emissions. As construction methods and insulation technology have improved, so too has our ability to build structures that use less energy, contribute to fewer pollutants to our environment, and improve comfort and productivity. Reduced energy in housing, commercial structures, public facilities, and transportation helps maintain local economic vitality and reduces the need for new infrastructure to deliver energy to the city. In addition in a wide variety of ways, local and national governments expend a portion of their budgets (i.e. tax dollars) on energy resources, including expenditures for procuring oil on the international market; paying for hazardous waste clean-up; subsidizing energy research; or simply maintaining local roadways.