Cape Elizabeth could become a “Cool Community” ///to what advantage? what does this mean to the average citizen? who cares?/// if the Town Council in the next few months agrees to sign the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.

The council recently voted to refer a proposal to sign the agreement, promoted by a local citizen group and recommended by the town’s Alternative Energy Committee, to a future workshop. The workshop’s date has not been determined, Town Manager Michael McGovern said.

The protection agreement urges the federal government to enact laws and implement strategies to reduce global warming.

The agreement could make sense for Cape Elizabeth because it is already exploring alternative energy methods to reduce the town’s energy costs at its municipal and school buildings, McGovern said.

Earlier this month, Connecticut-based organization CM3 Building Solutions finished its energy audit for Cape Elizabeth that could save the town up to $15,000 annually in energy costs.

The company spent most of January and part of February auditing the town hall, high school and middle school. It completed a detailed analysis of the 32,000 square feet, studying the electrical, mechanical and water systems, the HVAC systems as well as how much oil the facilities burn, said CM3 Chief Engineer Mike Hansen.

The protection agreement, which currently has 1,000 towns and cities participating, asks these communities throughout the United States to explore retrofitting buildings with energy efficient lighting and urging employees to save energy.

The town is already doing that on its own, McGovern said.

“It’s sort to of a self-pledge to follow these policies that we already have in place,” McGovern said.

Cape Elizabeth resident Carol Hubbard, who is part of the local Cape citizen group “Cool Cape” that explores global warming issues, said the agreement makes sense for the town.

“I am not an expert on this stuff,” Hubbard said. “It doesn’t take an expert to realize how compelling these issues are and how really significant this issue is.”

Becoming a “Cool Community” is one of Cool Cape’s goals, Hubbard said.

“We’re already doing so many good things in terms of energy efficiency, and this is a way to be recognized for that and to join this greater community that exists,” she said.