Use smart growth principles to develop or redevelop our buildings, neighborhoods, and transportation for sustainability - conserving, connecting, and engaging the community.
Energy and water efficiency improvements to buildings will help reduce GHG emissions. Transit-oriented smart growth has the potential to reduce vehicle miles traveled and the associated GHG emissions. Community redevelopment and smart growth also is an opportunity to implement climate change adaptation strategies.
Smart growth can be used to provide affordable housing, increase mobility and access to jobs, improve health, and help reduce poverty. Energy efficiency upgrades can reduce and stabilize utility costs, which can have a positive impact in particular for small businesses and low income housing.
Smart growth strategies can reduce housing and transportation costs, support local businesses, and create construction jobs.
Energy and water efficiency improvements to buildings will help reduce GHG emissions. Transit-oriented smart growth has the potential to reduce vehicle miles traveled and the associated GHG emissions. Community redevelopment and smart growth also is an opportunity to implement climate change adaptation strategies.
Smart growth can be used to provide affordable housing, increase mobility and access to jobs, improve health, and help reduce poverty. Energy efficiency upgrades can reduce and stabilize utility costs, which can have a positive impact in particular for small businesses and low income housing.
Smart growth strategies can reduce housing and transportation costs, support local businesses, and create construction jobs.
- Develop programs and policies that connect neighborhoods to nearby businesses and open spaces with walking and/or biking trails and sidewalks
- Work with community groups to develop neighborhood Going Beyond Green plans and encourage grassroots implementation and ownership
- Develop a regional Climate Action Plan
- Support smart growth principles: live, work, and shop at developments in your community that follow smart growth principles, such as smaller housing units and denser developments
- Conserve energy: change out your light bulbs for more efficient options, turn off appliances when not being used, and improve the insulation in your house
- Reduce, reuse, recycle: use only what you need, reuse products rather than throwing them away, and take advantage of your neighborhood's recycling offerings
- Practice going beyond green at home: use green practices when renovating your home or landscaping your yard
- Keep the Toledo-Lucas County region beautiful: participate in efforts to revitalize and beautify your community or neighborhood
- Consider alternative transportation options: walk, bike, and use public transportation
- Take advantage of utility energy efficiency programs: both First Energy and Columbia Gas offer programs and financial rebates for their customers to reduce home or business energy use
