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Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments

EPA developed the Sustainable Design and Green Building Toolkit for Local Governments (pdf) (1.13 MB)  (2013) to help local governments identify and remove barriers to sustainable design and green building in their permitting processes. The toolkit can also be used by members of the development community, local government "green teams," and other building professionals. 

The toolkit helps local governments examine codes and ordinances that affect the design, construction, renovation, and operation and maintenance of a building and its immediate site. It contains:

  • An assessment tool. This is an Excel spreadsheet that local governments can use to evaluate their codes and ordinances. Instructions appear on the opening tab:  Excel Tool for Sustainable Design and Green Building Assessment Toolkit (xlsx) (178.25 KB)
  • A resource guide.
  • A guide to developing an action plan for implementing changes to the permitting process. 

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Last updated on May 20, 2025
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