City of West Palm Beach Achieves Energy Efficiency Milestone
Published on June 16, 2025
June 16, 2025
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contacts: Kathleen Joy, Director of Communications
City of West Palm Beach – Mayor’s Office
kjoy@wpb.org
(561) 822-1411 (TTY: 800-955-8771)
City of West Palm Beach Achieves Energy Efficiency Milestone in U.S. Department of Energy Better Buildings Challenge
WEST PALM BEACH, FL — The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has recognized the City of West Palm Beach for achieving its energy savings goal as a participant in the Better Buildings Challenge. This challenge highlights the successes of cities and partners working to improve energy efficiency. The City reached its second Better Buildings Challenge goal by reducing energy consumption by 16% through enhanced efficiency efforts across its buildings and infrastructure portfolio.
“Congratulations to our Office of Sustainability for helping the City reach these ambitious goals and being named a 2024 Better Buildings Challenge Goal Achiever,” said City of West Palm Beach Mayor Keith A. James. “We continue to implement energy efficiency measures that not only reduce our environmental impact but also improve the quality and cost-effectiveness of the services we deliver to customers, residents, and visitors.”
In 2014, the city achieved its first goal of a 20% reduction in energy intensity by adopting LED streetlight retrofits early and minimizing energy loss. Improvements to the City’s wastewater treatment facility helped surpass the latest energy efficiency goal, achieving a 16% reduction in energy use across all municipal buildings and facilities ahead of schedule. This project has enhanced energy efficiency and operational performance while reducing the city’s carbon footprint and generating cost savings.
The City of West Palm Beach is the DOE’s first partner in Florida and a leader in achieving early goals in the Better Buildings Challenge. The City values its longstanding partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy since 2012, and looks forward to establishing a new ambitious energy efficiency target of a 25% reduction across its municipal buildings’ portfolio by 2030.
The Better Buildings Challenge is a key component of the U.S. DOE’s Better Buildings Initiative, which partners with public and private sector organizations to improve energy efficiency across commercial, public, industrial, and residential buildings. This initiative saves energy and money while lowering emissions and bolstering the economy. Through the program, more than 900 organizations share proven energy-saving strategies, inspiring others to unlock the ongoing potential of energy efficiency.
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About The City of West Palm Beach
The City of West Palm Beach is a vibrant and dynamic city on Florida's Atlantic coast. With a rich history, thriving arts and cultural scene, and a commitment to sustainability, the City of West Palm Beach is a great place to live, work, and play. As one of the three largest cities making up the South Florida region and the central city of Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach is a vibrant, growing waterfront city that seamlessly blends the business advantages available in the area with a more refined and relaxed environment for living and working, making it an exceptional destination for both residents and professionals alike. To learn more about the City of West Palm Beach, visit our official website or follow us on our social media: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), and LinkedIn.
To contact the City of West Palm Beach, please dial (561) 822-1200 (TTY 800 955-8771). For information about the City of West Palm Beach, please visit: https://www.wpb.org/home