DeKalb Clean Energy and Transportation Transition Plan: Community Survey

What do you want to see prioritized in DeKalb’s clean energy transition?

The effects of climate change are fast upon us, as extreme weather events and rising temperatures continue to take a toll on the lives of residents. DeKalb County recognizes that climate action is a top priority for residents, businesses, schools, non-profits, and places of worship and believes now more than ever that it is time to act. The County has begun the process of researching and drafting a Clean Energy Plan aimed at setting incremental goals to transition DeKalb away from fossil fuels, with a focus on improvements in energy efficiency, low or zero-carbon transportation, and renewable energy production.

Community feedback is extremely important in the clean energy planning process. Residents and DeKalb stakeholders play a huge role in identifying priorities and preferences on which policies they would like their County to implement. The purpose of this survey is to do just that - help inform the County on how to best serve DeKalb’s needs through effective, clean, and renewable energy policies, programs, and technologies. All responses to this survey will remain anonymous.

Initial Thoughts

1. Did you know DeKalb is planning a transition to clean and renewable energy sources? If so, how did you hear about that?

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

2. If you answered yes to the question above, knowing what you know right now, how supportive are you of transitioning to cleaner energy?

3. How much do you know about how electricity is generated for and used in DeKalb County?

4. Do you think DeKalb should completely phase out its use of fossil-fueled energy sources, such as coal and natural gas?

5. Which of the following do you consider clean and renewable energy sources? (If there are clean and renewable energy sources you don't see below, please list them in the comments box.) Check all that apply.

Biogas captured from the breakdown of sewage at wastewater treatment plants or garbage at landfills, manure from agriculture, or plant crops
Energy efficiency including reducing energy waste by using efficient appliances, lighting, and improving buildings
Hydropower captured from the energy of fast-moving or falling water
Nuclear energy
Solar power
Wind power
Wood or wood waste biomass
Other - Write In

6. When you hear the phrase “clean and renewable energy,” which of the following do you think of? (If you think of something not listed below, please write it in the comments box.) Check all that apply.

7. The County has committed to 100% clean and renewable energy by 2050. How confident are you in the County to achieve this goal?

8. As we transition to clean and renewable energy, DeKalb County is going to focus on affordable, clean, and renewable energy options. Moving to clean and renewable energy may have other positive community-wide impacts. In your opinion, how important is it for DeKalb County to also prioritize each of the following?

Space Cell	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Not So Important	Not At All Important
Protect the environment	Protect the environment: Very Important	Protect the environment: Somewhat Important	Protect the environment: Not So Important	Protect the environment: Not At All Important
Improve residents' health and well being	Improve residents' health and well being: Very Important	Improve residents' health and well being: Somewhat Important	Improve residents' health and well being: Not So Important	Improve residents' health and well being: Not At All Important
Ensure all DeKalb residents receive the benefits of clean and renewable energy	Ensure all DeKalb residents receive the benefits of clean and renewable energy: Very Important	Ensure all DeKalb residents receive the benefits of clean and renewable energy: Somewhat Important	Ensure all DeKalb residents receive the benefits of clean and renewable energy: Not So Important	Ensure all DeKalb residents receive the benefits of clean and renewable energy: Not At All Important
Create local jobs	Create local jobs: Very Important	Create local jobs: Somewhat Important	Create local jobs: Not So Important	Create local jobs: Not At All Important
Use local sources of clean and renewable energy	Use local sources of clean and renewable energy: Very Important	Use local sources of clean and renewable energy: Somewhat Important	Use local sources of clean and renewable energy: Not So Important	Use local sources of clean and renewable energy: Not At All Important
Ensure communities that faced past environmental harms receive the benefits first	Ensure communities that faced past environmental harms receive the benefits first: Very Important	Ensure communities that faced past environmental harms receive the benefits first: Somewhat Important	Ensure communities that faced past environmental harms receive the benefits first: Not So Important	Ensure communities that faced past environmental harms receive the benefits first: Not At All Important
Reduce energy costs across entire community	Reduce energy costs across entire community: Very Important	Reduce energy costs across entire community: Somewhat Important	Reduce energy costs across entire community: Not So Important	Reduce energy costs across entire community: Not At All Important
Reduce energy costs for communities who struggle most with energy expenses	Reduce energy costs for communities who struggle most with energy expenses: Very Important	Reduce energy costs for communities who struggle most with energy expenses: Somewhat Important	Reduce energy costs for communities who struggle most with energy expenses: Not So Important	Reduce energy costs for communities who struggle most with energy expenses: Not At All Important

Residential and commercial buildings are DeKalb’s largest consumers of energy. To help all buildings get to clean and renewable energy, how important is it for DeKalb County to do each of the following?

Space Cell	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Not So Important	Not at All Important
Provide incentives for voluntary clean and renewable energy upgrades in buildings (e.g., funds for better insulation, more efficient appliances, and/or solar panels)	Provide incentives for voluntary clean and renewable energy upgrades in buildings (e.g., funds for better insulation, more efficient appliances, and/or solar panels): Very Important	Provide incentives for voluntary clean and renewable energy upgrades in buildings (e.g., funds for better insulation, more efficient appliances, and/or solar panels): Somewhat Important	Provide incentives for voluntary clean and renewable energy upgrades in buildings (e.g., funds for better insulation, more efficient appliances, and/or solar panels): Not So Important	Provide incentives for voluntary clean and renewable energy upgrades in buildings (e.g., funds for better insulation, more efficient appliances, and/or solar panels): Not at All Important
Require that all existing residential and commercial buildings implement clean and renewable energy upgrades	Require that all existing residential and commercial buildings implement clean and renewable energy upgrades: Very Important	Require that all existing residential and commercial buildings implement clean and renewable energy upgrades: Somewhat Important	Require that all existing residential and commercial buildings implement clean and renewable energy upgrades: Not So Important	Require that all existing residential and commercial buildings implement clean and renewable energy upgrades: Not at All Important
Establish an energy code that outperforms state requirements for new buildings	Establish an energy code that outperforms state requirements for new buildings: Very Important	Establish an energy code that outperforms state requirements for new buildings: Somewhat Important	Establish an energy code that outperforms state requirements for new buildings: Not So Important	Establish an energy code that outperforms state requirements for new buildings: Not at All Important
Require that commercial buildings above a certain size threshold track and publish annual energy use data	Require that commercial buildings above a certain size threshold track and publish annual energy use data: Very Important	Require that commercial buildings above a certain size threshold track and publish annual energy use data: Somewhat Important	Require that commercial buildings above a certain size threshold track and publish annual energy use data: Not So Important	Require that commercial buildings above a certain size threshold track and publish annual energy use data: Not at All Important
Educate residents and businesses about clean and renewable energy opportunities	Educate residents and businesses about clean and renewable energy opportunities: Very Important	Educate residents and businesses about clean and renewable energy opportunities: Somewhat Important	Educate residents and businesses about clean and renewable energy opportunities: Not So Important	Educate residents and businesses about clean and renewable energy opportunities: Not at All Important

10. Are you aware of energy savings and clean and renewable energy programs provided by your electric and/or natural gas utility?

11.

What should your electric utility do to help DeKalb County get to clean and renewable energy? (If you have a suggestion not listed below, please write it in the comments box.)

12. Do you have anything else to add regarding DeKalb’s goal to reach clean and renewable energy?

Your Contribution

Here are examples of what DeKalb County residents are doing to move toward clean and renewable energy:

• Installing energy efficient light bulbs, insulation, HVAC systems, and appliances

• Installing rooftop solar panels

• Renting or buying a highly energy efficient "green" certified home or apartment

13. When deciding how you can get to clean and renewable energy, how important are each of the following?

Space Cell	Very Important	Somewhat Important	Not So Important	Not at All Important
Upfront cost	Upfront cost: Very Important	Upfront cost: Somewhat Important	Upfront cost: Not So Important	Upfront cost: Not at All Important
Long-term cost savings	Long-term cost savings: Very Important	Long-term cost savings: Somewhat Important	Long-term cost savings: Not So Important	Long-term cost savings: Not at All Important
What my neighbors are doing	What my neighbors are doing: Very Important	What my neighbors are doing: Somewhat Important	What my neighbors are doing: Not So Important	What my neighbors are doing: Not at All Important
My environmental impact	My environmental impact: Very Important	My environmental impact: Somewhat Important	My environmental impact: Not So Important	My environmental impact: Not at All Important
Effort on my part	Effort on my part: Very Important	Effort on my part: Somewhat Important	Effort on my part: Not So Important	Effort on my part: Not at All Important
Availability of incentives such as rebates and tax credits	Availability of incentives such as rebates and tax credits: Very Important	Availability of incentives such as rebates and tax credits: Somewhat Important	Availability of incentives such as rebates and tax credits: Not So Important	Availability of incentives such as rebates and tax credits: Not at All Important

14.

For your home electricity consumption, would you transition to clean and renewable energy?

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

15. If you already purchase clean and renewable energy, which 100% clean and renewable energy product do you have?

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

16. In addition to your monthly energy bill, what is the maximum amount you could or would spend to receive clean and renewable energy?

17.

Are you informed of policy incentives or levers aimed at reducing air pollution or improving energy efficiency measures such as SPLOST funds, carbon taxing, Green Banks, or Solarize?

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

18.

Do you own an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle?

19.

What would be the biggest factor in you considering an electric or plug-in hybrid as your next vehicle?

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

20.

If you currently use natural gas appliances in your home or business, what might convince you to switch to electric appliances?

Please enter an 'other' value for this selection.

21. Now that you’ve gotten a better idea of DeKalb’s clean and renewable energy goals, how supportive of this transition are you?

22. Do you have a comment regarding what you are willing to do to move toward clean and renewable energy?

A Little More About You

The following information is being collected to ensure that we reach a representative group of DeKalb stakeholders across age, race, income, and housing types. Hearing from everyone will help the County make sure DeKalb’s Clean Energy Plan truly reflects our community’s values and priorities. As stated above, all answers will be anonymous.

23. Do you reside in DeKalb County?

24. What is your residential ZIP code?

25.

Do you work in DeKalb County?

26. If applicable what is your work zipcode?

27. What is your gender?

28. What is your race/ethnicity?

29.

Which category includes your age?

30. Which category includes how much all the members of your household earned pre-taxes in 2022?

31. Is your living space owned by you or someone in your household, rented, or occupied without payment of rent?

32. What best describes you? Check all that apply

I am a resident of DeKalb
I am a business owner in DeKalb
I attend a place of worship in DeKalb
I have children that attend schools in DeKalb
I frequently shop and dine in DeKalb
I partake in volunteer opportunities in DeKalb

Are You Interested in becoming a Community Climate Champion?

In the coming months, we will be hosting a series of community engagement events to collect community feedback on achieving a clean and renewable energy future, and we want to hear from people like you. Three additional sessions will be hosted in-person and should take 1.5 hours each. At the end of the series, we will host a graduation ceremony and networking event for participants. Your input will help shape DeKalb County’s path forward to achieving our clean and renewable energy transition. Please provide your contact information so we can inform you about follow-up opportunities to engage on the Plan.

33.

Do you want to participate in community roundtable conversations?

34.

If you answered yes above, please provide the following contact information:

	First and Last Name
	Email
	Phone

35.