OHIO — A recent report ranks 75 metropolitan cities on energy efficiency, and multiple Ohio cities made the list. 

However, they ranked among the bottom half of the list.

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) released its 2024 City Clean Energy Scorecard this week. The rankings base cities on not only their energy efficiency, but also how they're reducing greenhouse gas emissions, energy policies that advance racial and social equity, building policies and transportation politics.

The report identifies the best-performing cities, the most improved and those with room for improvement.

Here's where Ohio cities placed:

• No. 32: Columbus
• No. 46: Cleveland
• No. 49: Cincinnati
• No. 72: Toledo
• No. 75: Akron

Columbus fell in points from the previous scorecard. Here's how it ranked:

• Community-wide initiatives: 15/45 points
• Building policies: 11.5/70 points
• Transportation policies: 15/70 points
• Community energy infrastructure: 18/40 points
• Local government operations: 12.5/25 points
• Equitable practices: 19.5/85.5 points

Recommendations provided from the report include: 

1. "Create more incentive and financing programs designed for disadvantaged communities
2. Work with utilities to formalize partnerships with community-based organizations
3. Create or expand bike networks that connect people with a variety of destinations
4. Update zoning code to facilitate location-efficient development
5. Advocate to state officials for building energy performance standards
6. Adopt a policy requiring efficient outdoor lighting"

Cleveland also fell in points from the previous scorecard. Here's how it ranked:

• Community-wide initiatives: 11.5/45 points
• Building policies: 6.5/70 points
• Transportation policies: 18/70 points
• Community energy infrastructure: 13.5/40 points
• Local government operations: 11.5/25 points
• Equitable practices: 17.5/85.5 points

Recommendations provided from the report include: 

1. "Adopt energy benchmarking and retrocomissioning policies
2. Take an equity-driven approach to shared, distributed energy systems
3. Adopt a policy requiring efficient outdoor lighting
4. Adopt energy benchmarking and retrocomissioning policies
5. Take an equity-driven approach to shared, distributed energy systems
6. Adopt a policy requiring efficient outdoor lighting"

Cleveland also fell in points from the previous scorecard. Here's how it ranked:

• Community-wide initiatives: 16/45 points
• Building policies: 10/70 points
• Transportation policies: 10/70 points
• Community energy infrastructure: 9/40 points
• Local government operations: 10.5/25 points
• Equitable practices: 15/85.5 points

Recommendations provided from the report include: 

1. "Adopt energy benchmarking and retrocomissioning policies
2. Take an equity-driven approach to shared, distributed energy systems
3. Set and track progress toward VMT reduction goals
4. Work with utilities to formalize partnerships with community-based organizations
5. Update zoning code to facilitate locationefficient development
6. Implement clean energy workforce development initiatives targeting disadvantaged communities"

Unlike other Ohio cities on the list, Toledo rose in rankings from the previous scorecard. Here's how it ranked:

• Community-wide initiatives: 3.5/45 points
• Building policies: 3/70 points
• Transportation policies: 4.5/70 points
• Community energy infrastructure: 8/40 points
• Local government operations: 4/25 points
• Equitable practices: 9.5/85.5 points

Recommendations provided from the report include: 

1. "Implement comprehensive retrofit strategies for municipal buildings
2. Implement clean energy workforce development initiatives targeting disadvantaged communities
3. Set and track progress toward VMT reduction goals
4. Implement low-income energy incentive and financing programs
5. Formalize inclusive procurement and contracting processes
6. Update zoning code to facilitate location-efficient development"

Akron came in last place out of all the cities on the list. Here's how it ranked:

• Community-wide initiatives: 0/45 points
• Building policies: 2/70 points
• Transportation policies: 4/70 points
• Community energy infrastructure: 8.5/40 points
• Local government operations: 5/25 points
• Equitable practices: 10/85.5 points

Recommendations provided from the report include: 

1. "Implement comprehensive retrofit strategies for municipal buildings
2. Encourage and incentivize energy efficiency building retrofits
3. Set and track progress toward VMT reduction goals
4. Implement low-income energy incentive and financing programs
5. Update zoning code to facilitate location-efficient development
6. Work with utilities to formalize partnerships with community-based organizations"

For the full rankings, click here.