GreenStep Program

Best Practices for Cities & Tribal Nations

GreenStep Cities is a free and voluntary program that provides a simple pathway to help cities achieve their sustainability goals through implementation of best practices focused on cost savings, energy use reduction, and innovation.

What are the benefits?

  • Resilient communities
  • Efficient use of resources
  • Healthier environments
  • Active community members

What are the best practices?

GreenStep is built around 29 best practices in the following five categories:

  1. Buildings & Lighting: Focuses on energy- and cost-saving strategies addressing public and private buildings, and other city facilities such as street lighting and traffic signals.
  2. Transportation: Encourages efficient city vehicle fleets and infrastructure that enhances connectivity, mobility options, and active living.
  3. Land Use: Provides best practices to promote green infrastructure, natural resource preservation, efficient city growth, and walkable and bikeable neighborhoods.
  4. Environmental Management: Tackles actions ranging from environmentally-preferable purchasing and urban forests to water quality and solid waste.
  5. Economic & Community Development: Targets best practices that promote community resiliency, sustainable economic development and engage local community members to improve quality of life.