Office of Sustainability
Energy Efficiency & Conservation
Using less energy and cleaner sources of energy are the two main building blocks of a sustainable energy future.

Energy efficiency means using less energy to provide the same service. For example, using an Energy Star certified refrigerator will use less energy to provide the same service that a traditional refrigerator provides, or using a compact fluorescent light-bulb to produce the same light as an incandescent while using less than 1/4 the electricity. Efficiency improvements are often the most cost-effective methods to reduce energy use and carbon emissions; in fact, most energy-efficiency improvements pay for themselves in energy savings relatively quickly.

Renewable Energy

Renewable energy is generated from resources that are indefinitely replenished naturally, including: sunlight, wind, water, hydrogen, biomass, and geothermal heat. While using less energy is very important, cleaner sources of energy will also be vital to creating a more sustainable city.

Each year the City of Pittsburgh purchases 25 percent of its energy from renewable sources, which is enough to power 3,500 homes per year.


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