Sacramento, CA

Background

Sacramento's metropolitan area is the fourth-largest in California and has been cited as one of the top five most livable regions in the country. Mayor Kevin Johnson is implementing a vision to transform California's capital city into the greenest region in the country and a hub for clean technology. The guiding principles informing work on this effort are strengthening the regional economy; creating green jobs; adopting innovative policies; and raising the region's Green IQ.

Launched in May 2010, the Greenwise Sacramento program established a bold vision for the city that focuses on five key policy areas: energy; waste & recycling; water & nature; urban design & green building; and green & clean technology. The Greenwise Regional Action Plan released in January 2011, notes that "the most significant job creator and potential for emissions reduction in the Sacramento region is the retrofitting of existing buildings. Greenwise Sacramento implementation will include the retrofit of 25% of the region's homes, commercial and office buildings, and school facilities by 2020."