MetroFuture will help the region to achieve dramatic reductions in per-capita energy demand: land use, housing mix, and technology application. The plan supports a 38% reduction in per capita energy demand from 2000 - 2030, yielding a 30% reduction in total demand over the same time period.

Much of this reduction would result from more compact land use patterns and more energy-efficient transportation options. With shorter trips and a decreasing auto mode share, the region overall would collectively put 5% fewer miles on its cars and trucks each year (15% reduction per capita.) If average fuel efficiencies increased by 35%, the region would use 38% less energy for passenger transportation.

MetroFuture also emphasizes smaller, more compact housing types that require less energy. As of 2001, the average single family home in New England uses 140 million British Thermal Units (btu) for heating, cooling, lighting, and appliances each year. Smaller units use progressively less, down to 43 million btu for each unit in larger multifamily buildings. Even before accounting for increased efficiency, the per-unit energy demand for MetroFuture’s more compact housing mix would be 77 million BTU per year, 21% less than the average per-unit demand if Current Trends continue. Total energy demand for new residential development would be 12% less than if Current Trends continue, even though total housing production is 13% higher. More of this demand would be in multifamily buildings, where conservation technologies and designs can be applied most cost-effectively; as a result, the energy demand would be even lower than projected. MetroFuture would also support retrofits and improvements to make the region’s existing housing stock, industries, and municipal operations more energy efficient.

Currently, Massachusetts is one of the more efficient consumers of energy in the nation. In 2004, Massachusetts ranked 48th in per capita energy consumption. Massachusetts residents consumed only 255 million btu per capita in 2003, compared to the national average of 350 million btu per capita.

If Current Trends continue, the region’s new housing would demand 30 trillion btu; 55% of this demand would be for larger single family homes on a half-acre or more. In the transportation
sector, total vehicle miles traveled would increase by 16%, with comparable increases in energy demand for fuels.

Objectives:

• Regionwide average annual energy demand for heating, cooling, lighting, and appliances in new housing units will not exceed 75 million btus per unit.
• Total energy demand for passenger transporation will decline by 38%.
• Per-capita energy demand in the residential sector will decline by 38% from 2000 – 2030.
• Non-emergency municipal and state vehicles will be 100% alternative fuel vehicles by 2030.