Energy management is emerging as an important component of municipal economic development strategies, John Spencer of Villages Without Borders wrote in an opinion piece on the Governing website.

“More and more, cities around the globe are using this strategy as they work to attract and retain valued businesses and the jobs and tax revenue they bring,” Spencer writes. “It’s not hard to see why this is happening…building owners and their tenants in cities that recognize and practice effective energy management can save as much as seven times the energy costs of those in cities that don’t make such an effort.”

The most effective strategies combine energy competitions and challenges with disclosure and benchmarking requirements, he notes. “Whatever approach they take—the carrot, the stick or both—it’s clear that cities that take an aggressive approach to energy management are the ones that stand to reap some of the biggest benefits in building their economies.” (h/t to Midwest Energy News for pointing us to this story)