Resilient & Efficient Buildings Municipal Support Program
Resources
Explore the resources that are part of the roadmap designed to support local governments in improving building efficiency and resilience. The roadmap includes different mile markers that are strategies to help communities advance their sustainability goals. Each mile marker provides fact sheets, case studies, best practices, and tools to guide implementation.
Additional resources will be added to this page as they are developed.
Lead by Example
This mile-marker provides information about how governments can demonstrate building resilience and efficiency best practices in their facilities to encourage their communities to do the same. This mile-marker serves as a guide to conducting thorough energy benchmarking, holding government facilities and buildings in the community to high standards, and implementing efficient and sustainable technologies in government facilities. If your government is not yet implementing any of these practices, please read on.
Governments can serve as role models to their communities by demonstrating how to best build sustainable and efficient facilities. Native nations and local governments can employ this strategy, called lead by example, to encourage sustainability, efficiency and resiliency measures in their communities by first implementing such measures within their own facilities and operations. Many governments are already putting this practice into action by installing rooftop solar on their municipal buildings, constructing LEED-certified buildings, and installing EV charging stations at public parking structures.
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This fact sheet provides information about how energy benchmarking of government facilities can inform energy upgrade decisions, and details how ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, a tool developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), can help local governments track and understand their energy use. If a local government has not yet benchmarked their facilities, they should read this factsheet.
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This fact sheet provides information about different third-party certifications that local governments can pursue to certify the sustainability or efficiency of their buildings. Local governments that are committed to building sustainable new buildings and want public recognition should read this factsheet. Some of these certification programs offer certifications for retrofits as well, but they mainly focus on new buildings.
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This fact sheet details different building upgrades that can be considered before major equipment is replaced. The upgrades include measures to ensure that a building is not leaking heat, air and moisture, and measures to make existing equipment function more efficiently. If a government wants to upgrade/retrofit old buildings, these are some great first steps.
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This technology brief highlights how municipalities can use solar photovoltaic (PV) systems and microgrids to save energy costs, ensure reliable power for critical services, and advance community sustainability goals. It discusses key benefits and challenges of these technologies, provides details on cost assessments and funding opportunities, and offers resources, tools, and recommendations to support informed decision-making and effective integration of solar and/or microgrids into local plans.
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This technology brief explains how geothermal heat pumps (GHPs) work, their benefits in lowering energy costs and reducing carbon emissions, and the different types of GHP systems best suited for municipal settings. It also provides practical guidance on assessing system feasibility, addressing installation challenges, and accessing funding opportunities such as grants and incentives to make GHPs more cost-effective and accessible for your community.
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This technology brief describes Variable Refrigerant Flow Systems, which are heating and cooling systems that can be well-suited for a building with multiple tenants but are relatively new for cold-climate applications. If geothermal is not a viable option for your government, and you are interested in innovative ways to decarbonize your heating and cooling systems, read this section.
Local Policies that Prioritize Resilient & Efficient Buildings
This milemarker focuses on local policies role in sustainability, energy efficiency, and long-term community resilience. Resilient policies help local governments mitigate climate risks, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and ensure buildings can adapt to changing environmental conditions. This mile-marker outlines key criteria for evaluating policies, such as effectiveness, feasibility, and community impact, while also identifying common challenges and opportunities.
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The Buildings Policy Tracker offers detailed insights into policies on TIF, Zoning, Sustainable Building Ordinances, and more. It provides concise, government-specific guidance to support resilient and efficient building practices.
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This resource provides a detailed table of grants and funding opportunities for local governments, focusing on sustainability projects for buildings, such as energy efficiency upgrades, solar installations, and other green initiatives.
