Playbook for Green Buildings + Neighborhoods | Plan | Infrastructure

A strong plan integrates a number of different elements dynamically, and evolves over time to anticipate and respond to changing conditions.

The Adam Joseph Louis Centre for Environmental Studies was designed to mimic the closed cycles of natural ecosystems through restoration of native aquatic ecosystems (wetland pond) and onsite wastewater treatment and re-use. Photo courtesy of DOE/NREL.

Many city-led energy initiatives revolve primarily around municipal operations, but these represent only a small piece of the climate change puzzle. Municipalities throughout the nation are taking a leadership role with innovative climate change efforts and setting an example for the private sector to follow.

An action plan brings together disparate initiatives and partners, and coordinates your climate change efforts. A good action plan strategy considers:

Scale and jurisdiction: site, district, municipal, regional
Municipal vs. private utilities and servicing
Hot button issues and benefits – e.g. how can greening energy supplies support our climate change commitments and stimulate our economy?

Principal Components of a Municipal Action Plan
Components of an action plan for creating a more sustainable infrastructure break down into two broad areas.

Seattle City Light Neighborhood Power Project

City Light's Neighborhood Power Project is a strategy to effectively deliver multi-agency conservati...

Ordinances Exceeding Building Energy Efficiency Standards

Index of local ordinances exceeding the 2005 building energy efficiency standards.

Guide to Purchasing Green Power

The Green Power Network

The production and use of energy is the single most significant driver of GHG emissions in a community; about 40% of fossil fuel combustion emissions, the primary GHG source, is from the residential and commercial end-use sectors (US EPA, 2007).