Environmentally sustainable regional planning is critical to the long-term economic competitiveness and public health of regions. Because large metropolitan areas often cross city and even state lines, regional plans that emphasize green space should be developed at the county, state, or multi-state levels.  

Regional planners are increasingly tasked with developing more sustainable approaches to population growth, land and water use, energy production, transportation infrastructure, and pollution-- all of which have major impacts on regional environments. Regional planners are also devising plans to adapt communities to climate change.

The following resources were assembled to aid policy-makers and regional planners in creating environmentally sustainable regional plans, which build up regional environmental assets.

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While city and community planners must confront many of the same issues as regional planners, their immediate attention is often more narrowly focused on environmentally sustainable development at the local level. Environmentally sustainable city and community planning involves integrating population growth, infrastructure, energy, water, and transportation into plans that significantly improve environmental quality in urban built environments. 

The ultimate goal is to reach beyond sustainability and create living or regenerative communities that provide environmental benefits to all citizens.

Common environmental strategies involve:

• incentivizing mixed-use development, which enables communities to become more resilient to environmental change.
• investing in alternative transportation infrastructure that encourage walking and biking.
• expanding green infrastructure, including green roofs, green streets, rain gardens, bioretention systems that reduce stormwater runoff and pollution.
• creating community green spaces and urban parks to encourage healthy, active lifestyles, and recreation opportunities.
• rolling-out urban and community-level agriculture plans that reduce dependency on outside food sources.

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Environmentally sustainable neighborhood planning is critical to creating vibrant community and street life.

Typical strategies for implementing environmentally sustainable neighborhoods involve:

• utilizing low impact development strategies.
• creating mixed-use, mixed-income developments.
• constructing complete (and green) streets that encourage walking and bicycling.
• reducing urban heat island effects by providing ample urban tree canopy and green or cool roof coverage.
• maximizing local energy efficiency and water conservation approaches.
• providing sufficient green space for recreation. 

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Sustainable landscape architecture practices involve maximizing existing natural systems to create productive and healthy environments. These techniques can not only improve energy and water efficiency, but also use plants to eliminate chemical fertilizers, produce food, restore ecosystems, and clean air. Incorporating sustainable landscape materials is key to reducing waste and lowering maintenance costs.

Sustainable landscape architecture techniques are also being applied to redevelop brown and gray field sites, revitalizing communities in the process.

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Green building design utilizes processes and techniques that are environmentally responsible. Green building design ensure that built structures efficiently use energy, water, and construction materials, while minimizing waste, pollution, and environmental degradation. In addition to reducing impact on the environment, green buildings promote occupant health and increase employee productivity. 

Some common strategies for achieving these goals involves employing green roofs, green walls, localized renewable energy sources, low-impact materials, energy efficient appliances and heating sources, and wastewater management and re-use strategies.

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Sustainability Toolkit:

Sustainable Design Resource Guides:

Sustainable Residential Design Resource Guides: