Solutions for Sustainability in Cities and Counties

Sustainability is good government for the twenty-first century. By creating benefits for the world today, a legacy is established for all tomorrow. Driving your city or county’s progress toward sustainability pays off by:

• Increasing citizen and employee satisfaction
• Strengthening the city’s reputation, both locally and nationally
• Creating a healthier, more livable city
• Reducing risks related to energy, environment, and climate change
• Reducing resource consumption
• Saving money over the long term

Cities and counties throughout the United States and all over the world are pledging to decrease greenhouse gas emissions and reduce their environmental footprint. In growing numbers they are actively committing to climate and environmental initiatives in their own “back yards.”

This mounting enthusiasm and sense of urgency can also prove frustrating, however. Cities and many of the people who run them are not always familiar with sustainability practices and methods for successful implementation. Issues such as energy consumption and conservation, climate change and its impacts, environmental performance, and whole-system thinking often represent new, unexplored territory. Without knowledgeable input and direction from reputable sources, tackling these issues can appear daunting.

RMI can help shorten the distance from the present to the future. We offer strategic solutions to community leaders who are responsible for developing climate and sustainability initiatives. Our expertise in energy and resources, the built environment, transportation issues, and industrial and community processes provides clients with the support they need to drive transformational change. The goal of our work with cities and counties is to build local capacity, assist in the development of realistic, achievable plans, and provide the practical knowledge necessary for community leaders to succeed.

• City and county planners and administrators seeking help with local sustainability and climate initiatives
• Local nonprofit organizations who wish to support or drive local sustainability and climate initiatives
• Architectural and engineering firms who need help navigating local governments and communities

Since 1982, RMI has worked with corporations, governments, and other large organizations to reduce costs, gain competitive advantage, create wealth, and strengthen environmental performance through the more productive use of resources. RMI’s unparalleled interdisciplinary approach includes:

• Whole-System Analysis - Decision-makers too often define problems narrowly, without identifying their causes or connections. To understand why a problem exists or how to leverage a benefit is to understand the part in relation to the whole. For example, identifying and implementing energy-efficiency measures for area housing also provide tangible economic and environmental benefits for the community as a whole.

More on RMI’s approach to Whole-Systems Analysis >>>


• Interactive Partnerships - RMI develops deep mutual-learning relationships with key leaders and officials to establish:
• Critical success factors with solid working strategies
• Strategies and outcomes for planners and managers
• Distinctive solutions for local environmental issues
• A practical plan for reaching sustainability goals on schedule and within budget
  
  
• Convening Skills - RMI’s reputation provides a powerful beacon that attracts participants to important community conversations and ensures the credibility necessary to successfully implement new ideas. RMI combines the sensible wisdom of locals close to the issues with the fresh creativity of outside experts.

Strategic Advice - RMI will assess your city’s or county’s unique situation. In doing so it will understand its operations and programs, leaders’ aspirations, local issues, current and prospective sustainability programs, as well as existing barriers to sustainability — in order to support local leaders in defining a path forward.
This could include:

• Next steps, such as opportunities and alternatives
• Projects, programs, and implementation methods
• Performance measurement (benchmarks, scorecards, community evaluations)
• Solutions to organizational hurdles
• Stakeholder analysis and communication

Solutions – Your city and county sustainability needs extend across energy, climate protection, the built environment, land development, transportation, and infrastructure. RMI has the experience and expertise to address all of the area. An overview of RMI’s capabilities include:

Energy Resources

• Energy efficiency optimization and cost reduction
• Utility restructuring assistance
• Distributed and renewable resources guidance

Built Environment

• LEED expertise and coordination
• Daylighting and energy analysis
• Green materials selection
• Natural ventilation and thermal comfort analysis

Transportation

• Advanced vehicle design, analysis, and implementation
• Sustainable and economical transportation strategies
• Transportation systems analyses
• Advanced technology assessments

Infrastructure

• Energy and resource efficiency analyses
• HVAC, building, and plant optimization
• Waste reduction and reuse advice
• Process efficiency analyses

RMI offers free consultation to explore how its services can best fit with your particular needs. Contact Michael Kinsley by phone, 970-927-7319, or email, mkinsley@rmi.org and make sustainability a part of your city or county’s future.