City of Dallas partnered with the City of Seattle, U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and over 20 organizations to launch the Playbook for Green Buildings and Neighborhoods - www.greenplaybook.org, a web-based resource that provides strategies, tips, and tools for cities and counties to take immediate action on climate change through green building, green neighborhoods and sustainable infrastructure. Launched at the US Mayors Climate Summit in Seattle and the GreenBuild International Conference, the Playbook is designed both for communities that are considering making the first steps toward green, as well as for those who want to take existing efforts to a new level.

Development partners include various U.S. cities and counties, non-profit organizations, state and federal agencies and utilities to collaborate and 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. To date, 720 mayors representing nearly 76 million Americans have signed the agreement. 

“The agreement commits communities to reducing greenhouse gas emissions to the targets set in the Kyoto Protocol through strategies such as green neighborhood development,” said Jason Hartke, Manager of Public Policy, USGBC. “Buildings consume nearly 40% of U.S. energy, which also means they can be 40% of the climate change solution. Involvement at the city and state level is a key step towards making an impact.”  

The Playbook is designed for elected officials, and senior managers and staff developing and implementing local climate action plans. This resource details strategic actions that build support and assure steady progress. There is specific advice on:  

• Assessing the local risks and opportunities.

• Creating an action-oriented planning process for green projects and programs.

• Information on building local government’s capacity for advancing green buildings, neighborhoods and infrastructure.  

Each section of the Playbook contains “talking points” 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 program guidance and policies and regulatory levers. 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. 

The building industry is the single largest contributor to global warming in the country, and the Playbook demonstrates how green buildings can offer a cost effective solution for achieving measurable reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The Playbook 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 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. The Playbook 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.

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. The Playbook offers an approach and strategic solutions to help advance sustainable infrastructure through collaboration, “quick wins, tool and resources." 

Development of the Playbook was possible through a collaborative process in which partners co-funded and directed the development of this web-based resource. Partners include: Alameda County, CA; Albuquerque, NM; Arlington County, VA; California Energy Commission; Clinton Climate Initiative; Dallas, TX; Denver, CO; Enterprise Community Partners; Grand Rapids, MI; 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; and, U.S. Green Building Council.

For additional information regarding this article, please go to www.greenplaybook.org.

This article was originally posted 11/27/07.