Tempe Sustainability projects honored at Arizona Forward Environmental Excellence Awards

Tempe's Microgrids Master Plan: Resilient Energy Hubs received the prestigious Crescordia Award in the Heat Mitigation Strategy category. Led by Sustainability Program Coordinator Carissa Fowler, the plan establishes a comprehensive roadmap to improve energy resilience, advance sustainability, and strengthen community preparedness in response to growing climate risks.

"The Microgrids Masterplan reflects our commitment to building a more resilient and sustainable energy future for all of Tempe," Fowler said. "It reinforces the importance of investing in new solutions and technologies that not only reduce greenhouse gas emissions but also strengthen reliability and support during power disruptions. We are so proud to see this work acknowledged as an important next step toward long-term community resilience."

The report assesses 27 city-owned and community-serving buildings to evaluate their potential to function as a network of energy hubs. These hubs would be outfitted with solar panels and battery storage to ensure power during outages. By utilizing existing public facilities, the hubs aim to support Tempe's renewable energy goals and act as trusted neighborhood lifelines, providing reliable energy, cooling, and essential services during emergencies. The study also outlined the costs, partnerships, and infrastructure required to develop these hubs.

Tempe also received an Award of Distinction in the Sustainable Built Environment category for the recently completed Tempe Municipal Operations Center Phase I (TMOC). TMOC was one of three buildings that helped develop and customize the 2018 International Green Construction Code (IgCC), which was later adopted by the Tempe City Council as the mandatory standard for all new city buildings.

"This recognition exemplifies the collaborative work of city staff, leadership, and partners, as well as the impact of thoughtful, sustainable design," said Shawn Swisher, Chair of Tempe's Sustainability Commission and a local architect. "It underscores Tempe's ongoing commitment to reducing environmental impact while creating communities that are cooler, safer, and more resilient. Building with the International Green Construction Code is an investment in Tempe's future, ensuring the places we design today continue to support and protect our community for generations."

The IgCC encourages urban cooling, energy and water efficiency, renewable energy, and waste reduction. Tempe's Building Safety Division is updating all building codes from 2018 to 2024, including the IgCC, which will be voted on at the April 16 City Council Meeting.

Key sustainable features of TMOC include electric vehicle chargers for staff, a decomposed granite parking lot that reduces heat gain, and integrated pedestrian and bicycle pathways. The project was a significant interdisciplinary effort, involving design professionals, engineering and construction project managers, and sustainability and building safety staff who provided vital guidance on the IgCC.

Several local partners helped advance these projects - Tempe would like to thank RSP Architects, Quest Energy Group and Solar Island Energy.

The City of Tempe is proud to be recognized for its forward-thinking work to create a more resilient, sustainable, and climate-ready community.