Archived News Release: June 20, 2024 - A2ZERO, Ann Arbor's aggressive climate and sustainability plan and framework, just rounded out its fourth year and celebrated its fourth A2ZERO week, a seven-day series of events. Now the City of Ann Arbor Office of Sustainability and Innovations (OSI) is releasing A2ZERO's annual report featuring major activities and accomplishments achieved in the previous year. The four-year report highlights the work of OSI, collaborating city departments and dozens of community partners July 2023–June 2024, such as:
Launched community education and engagement initiative regarding the Sustainable Energy Utility (SEU), an optional, supplemental and community-owned utility that can deploy renewable energy in Ann Arbor. Voters will have the opportunity to vote on whether the city should create an SEU on Nov. 5.
Installation of over 250 KW of rooftop- and ground-mounted solar at: Leslie Park Golf Course, Huron Hills Golf Course, Cobblestone Farm, Buhr Park, Ann Arbor Senior Center, Gallup Canoe Livery and Fuller Park. And actively working to design and install another 4 MW.
Secured funding and began actively working to transition the Bryant Community Center into the city's first fully carbon neutral building as well as a living, learning laboratory of decarbonization in action.
Initiated work on a city-wide networked geothermal study to understand the potential for geothermal systems to support the decarbonization of heating and cooling systems in the city
Achieved 25% electrification of city's light duty fleet vehicles — aiming for 50% by end of calendar year 2024
Installed and began operation of the State of Michigan's first curbside public L2 electric vehicle chargers in Ann Arbor and working on strategy to design and install more
Initiated a three-year contract with Elevate to design and launch a Home Energy Rebate program to increase the affordability of building electrification, building efficiency and e-bikes. Local rebate program to launch in summer 2024
Launched the A2ZERO Home Energy Advisor service to help residents determine their next best step on the path to decarbonization. This free service is available to anyone in the city of Ann Arbor.
Launched the Home Energy Rating Disclosure and hired two assessors to help complete home energy scores
Launched the Ann Arbor Green Business Challenge in partnership with SPARK. The Green Business Challenge promotes, recognizes and supports local businesses with improving the sustainability of their operations and businesses. This program is open to anyone in the city.
Funded or supported the installation of 12.1 miles of bike facilities and 21 bike intersection improvements.
Was awarded grant funding to expand resilience hub network in the city and throughout the county
Launched the Ann Arbor Area Sustainable Food Business Coalition (SFBC) to coordinate with the private sector in advancing sustainability across the entirety of Ann Arbor's food system
Reached 8,903 trees planted/distributed through the 10,000 Trees Initiative
Launched sixth A2ZERO Ambassadors cohort – marking the city's 100th Ambassador trained
Launched the A2ZERO Dashboard showing progress on implementing the A2ZERO plan
Launched sustainability-specific social media channels on Instagram and Facebook
And much more
“Year four of A2ZERO was a great year of accomplishment and growth, and year five promises to continue that trend," said Dr. Missy Stults, sustainability and innovations director. “We are honored to collaborate with so many passionate individuals and organizations working toward a more just, equitable and sustainable community for all Ann Arbor residents, and we're looking forward to continuing this work throughout year five."
For more information about A2ZERO, activities underway, or ways to get involved, visit www.a2gov.org/sustainability or email [email protected]. To view the years one, two or three report on A2ZERO activities, please see: a2zero.org.
