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Local Actions
Related Links
EPA
- State Emissions
- Near-Term Reduction Initiatives
- Clean Energy - State and Local
- Local Action Plans Matrix
- Smart Growth
- WasteWise
- Voluntary Programs Database
International Council for Local Environmental
Initiatives (ICLEI) 
Local governments across the U.S. are taking a variety of energy efficiency and renewable energy actions that can have multiple benefits including saving money, creating jobs, promoting sustainable growth and reducing greenhouse gases and air pollution.
Read on to learn about specific actions that local governments can take and refer to the Local Resources page for more information.
Local Governments Have Many Opportunities to Save Energy and Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions:
- Improving Energy
Efficiency in Buildings and Equipment
- Municipal buildings represent a substantial opportunity to achieve cost-effective reductions in local greenhouse gas emissions.
- Highly reflective roofs can help make cities cooler, reduce the formation of smog, reduce air-conditioning loads, and save money. Highly reflective roofs and surfaces can reduce home or building owners' air-conditioning bills by 10 to 50 percent.
- By purchasing copiers, fax machines, computers, scanners, exit signs, heating and cooling products, windows and other equipment with the ENERGY STAR® label, local governments save money while reducing energy-related greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
- Using Green Power
- Purchasing or generating green power for local government facilities and operations is an effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution.
- Lowering Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Effective public transportation systems can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution, while at the same time reducing congestion.
- Local governments can buy fuel efficient or alternative fuel vehicles for their fleets, including, buses, passenger vehicles, etc.
- By creating pedestrian and biker friendly travel routes, cities and towns can often decrease the number of vehicles on the road, leading to less congestion, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.
- Reducing Waste
and Recycling
- Charging residents for the collection of household trash based on the amount they throw away creates a direct economic incentive to recycle more and waste less. Reducing the amount of trash sent to landfills can lower greenhouse gas emissions. Recycling reduces the amount of energy needed to produce products.