The Playbook provides local governments with tools and resources to rapidly advance green buildings, neighborhoods and infrastructure. Strategic action in these sectors promotes economic development, builds healthier communities, strengthens energy independence, and supports climate protection.

Cities Helping Cities Build Green

A new tool is available to help local governments advance green buildings, neighborhoods and infrastructure. Called the Playbook, this Web-based resource is designed to help elected officials, senior management and staff develop and implement climate action plans.

A consortium of more than 20 local governments, non-profit organizations, federal agencies and utilities joined together to produce the first phase of the Playbook to help mayors and county leaders who have accepted the challenge set out in the U.S. Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.

The City and County of Denver is proud to be one of the steering committee partners that led its development.

Sharing Best Practices

The Playbook details strategic actions that build support and assure steady progress. There is specific advice on:

• How to assess the local risks and opportunities.
• How to create an action-oriented planning process for green projects and programs.
• How to build momentum and maintain steady progress by moving innovative ideas into the mainstream.
• How to build local government’s capacity for advancing green buildings, neighborhoods and infrastructure.

A Learn, Plan, Act Approach

Each section contains briefings for elected officials and background materials for staff to prime them on the issues, detailed how-to resources gleaned from local governments across the country, and practical strategic guidance.

The Playbook focuses on three primary areas:

• Green Buildings: The building industry is the single largest contributor to global warming in the country, and green buildings can offer a cost effective solution for achieving measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. This section helps to make the case for action, provides guidance on careful planning, and recommends effective policies and strategies to practice and promote green building.
• Green Neighborhoods: Green neighborhoods are great places to live, as well as a terrific opportunity to combat climate change. They reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20 to 40 percent or more per person. This section introduces an approach to build a robust plan around realistic targets, and recommends a comprehensive suite of short- and long-term actions to take and access to useful tools and resources.
• Infrastructure: The infrastructure systems that underpin our buildings and neighborhoods play a strong role in sustainability. Sustainable infrastructure solutions consider a balance between centralized and distributed systems. This section offers an approach and strategic solutions to help advance sustainable infrastructure through collaboration, “quick wins,” tools, policy recommendations, and leading actions.

Promoting Cross-Sector Solutions

By working to address buildings, neighborhoods and infrastructure, local governments can dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, provide wise investment in the social infrastructure of their communities, produce cleaner air, generate more robust jobs and local commerce, and create healthier environments for their citizens and future generations.

Partners for the Playbook include:

Alameda County, CA
Albuquerque, NM
Arlington County, VA
California Energy Commission
Clinton Climate Initiative
Dallas, TX
City and County of Denver, CO
Enterprise Community Partners
Grand Rapids, MI
Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI)
Kansas City, MO
Natural Resources Defense Council
Pacific Gas & Electric Company
Portland, OR
Puget Sound Energy
San Francisco, CA
Seattle, WA
Seattle City Light
Sierra Club Cool Cities Campaign
US Conference of Mayors
US EPA, Climate Protection Partnerships
US Green Building Council

IN-DEPTH:

• To learn more, visit the Playbook at www.greenplaybook.org.
• Read the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement.
• View a map of participating cities.