Benefits of Governments Going Green

Green Cities™ events provide opportunities to:

• Enhance employee productivity
• Reduce operating costs (energy, water, resource use)
• Improve transportation options and networks
• Improve air quality
• Expand parks, green space and tree cover
• Enhance river, stream and ecosystem health
• Reduce heat island effect
• Minimize greenhouse gas emissions
• Advance recycling, composting and waste reduction

What Green Cities™ can do for Governments

Green Cities™ events provide planning and implementation tailored to your municipality's specific needs. These events can be in the form of a one day "boot camp", multi-day conference, and/or exposition.  Governments can expect in a Green Cities™ event:

• Insight into the nature of trends, issues, and opportunities for greening your city, county, and community
• High quality education by national, regional, and local experts for elected officials and staff
• Consulting on specific policies, programs, and tools your city can use to go green
• Trainings for staff of other regional or local governments and agencies

Topics for Government Programs

Beginner Level

1. Becoming a Green Municipality 101
2. Community Planning and Land Use
3. Green Building Policies and Programs
4. Citywide Water Conservation
5. Storm water Management
6. Landfill/Incinerator Diversion

Mid-Level

1. Creating or Updating your Master Plan and Zoning Ordinances with Sustainability
2. Green Procurement
3. Retrofitting Public Facilities for Energy Efficiency
4. Water Conservation in Public Facilities
5. Enhancing Parks & Greenspace
6. Sustainable Transportation Planning
7. Brownfields Redevelopment
8. New Urbanism
9. Local Food and Farming
10. Climate Change Mitigation

Advanced Level

1. Climate Change Adaptation
2. Financing Renewable Energy on the Municipal Scale
3. Methane Generation
4. Building the Green Economy
5. Planning for Peak Oil

Target Audience

• Elected Officials
• City and County Planners
• Municipal Procurement
• Municipal Engineering, Facility Managers, and Operations
• Sanitation districts
• Utility districts
• Water agencies
• Waste Management
• Transportation
• Parks and Recreation
• Storm water Management
• Local boards and commissions

Green Cities™ events can be tailored for a specific, city, state, or region. If you are interested in having a Green Cities™ event in your area please contact Sam Ruark, 828-675-0863.