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How to Make a Community Green
Act Locally: Implementing Sustainability in Local GovernmentsMore and more community leaders and citizens are re-thinking how local systems operate and realizing the environmental, financial and community health benefits of creating a more sustainable future for their citizens. Considering the ways electricity, water, sewage treatment, trash removal and other basic services are provided in your community is the first step when assessing the impact your community has on the environment. Another important component to a sustainable community is creating Green Schools.
What You Can Do
Act Locally: Implementing Sustainability in Local Governments - Across the country, cities are going green and sharing their successes. Graduate students from Columbia University designed a handbook to help your city go green.
No matter who you are, you can help make your community more sustainable. If your community is ready to start building toward sustainability, EPA’s Green Communities program is a five-step planning process that provides tools and goals to help our neighborhoods and municipalities move towards a more sustainable future. If you want to find out how to green your school, check out our Green Schools page.
Resources
Local Governments for Sustainability 
New York City’s 2030 Plan
Sustainlane's best practices for State and Local Government
EPA's Guide to Action for State and Local Government
