Benchmark energy and water usage, identify savings opportunities in consultation with state programs, utilities and others to implement cost-effective energy and sustainability improvements.
The GreenStep 29 best practices
The GreenStep 29 best practices
- Make planning and tracking easier download this spreadsheet that lists all unique actions – approximately 175 – for all 29 best practices.
- Cities that implement a minimum number of best practices organized into these five topical areas will be recognized as Step Two and Step Three GreenStep Cities. See What are Step Two and Three Recognition Minimums?
- Cities should claim credit for best practices already implemented. Adding best practices over time will garner additional recognition.
- For each best practice, and depending on city category (A, B or C), a city needs to complete one or more actions from a list associated with the best practice. See What category is my city in?
Buildings and Lighting 
2. Efficient Existing Private Buildings
Provide incentives for energy, water and sustainability improvements in existing residential, not-for-profit and commercial buildings/building sites.
4. Efficient Outdoor Lighting and Signals
Improve the efficiency and quality of street lighting, traffic signals and outdoor public lighting.
5. Building Redevelopment
Create economic and regulatory incentives for redevelopment and repurposing of existing buildings.
Land Use 
6. Comprehensive, Climate and Energy Plans
Build public support and legal validity to long-term infrastructural and regulatory strategy.
7. Resilient City Growth
Increase financial and environmental sustainability by enabling and encouraging walkable housing and retail land use.
9. Efficient Highway- and Auto-Oriented Development
Adopt commercial development and design standards for auto-oriented development corridors and clusters.
10. Design for Natural Resource Conservation
Adopt development ordinances or processes that protect natural systems and valued community assets.
Transportation 
11. Living & Complete Streets
Create a network of green complete streets that improves city quality of life, public health, and adds value to surrounding properties.
14. Demand-Side Travel Planning
Implement Travel Demand Management and Transit-Oriented Design in service of a more walkable city.
Environmental Management 
15. Sustainable Purchasing
Adopt environmentally preferable purchasing policies and practices to improve health and environmental outcomes.
16. Community Forests and Soils
Add city tree and plant cover that conserves topsoils and increases community health, wealth, quality of life.
17. Stormwater Management
Minimize the volume of and pollutants in rainwater runoff by maximizing green infrastructure.
18. Parks and Trails
Increase active lifestyles and property values by enhancing the city's green infrastructure.
19. Surface Water
Improve local water bodies to sustain their long-term ecological function and community benefits.
20. Efficient Water and Wastewater Systems
Assess and improve city drinking water and wastewater systems and related facilities.
21. Septic Systems
Implement an environmentally sound management program for decentralized wastewater treatment systems.
22. Sustainable Consumption and Waste
Increase waste prevention, reuse and recycling, moving to a lower-consumption, more cyclical, biological approach to materials management.
23. Local Air Quality
Prevent generation of local air contaminants so as to improve community health.
Resilient Economic and Community Development 
24. Benchmarks and Community Engagement
Adopt outcome measures for GreenStep and other city sustainability efforts, and engage community members in ongoing education, dialogue, and campaigns.
26. Renewable Energy
Remove barriers to and encourage installation of renewable energy generation capacity.
28. Business Synergies and EcoDistricts
Network/cluster businesses and design neighborhoods and developments to achieve better energy, social, economic and environmental outcomes in service of a more circular and equitable economy.
29. Climate Adaptation and Community Resilience
Plan and prepare for extreme weather, adapt to changing climatic conditions, and foster stronger community connectedness and social and economic vitality.