Winter 2010

Sustainable Skylines Initiative

The Sustainable Skylines Initiative (SSI) is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) program designed to use air quality regulatory needs, climate action goals and other local environmental priorities as the catalyst for integrated sustainability actions. These actions can provide communities with a range of complementary benefits for their people, their prosperity and the planet.

The SSI is a collaborative effort that brings together the resources of the EPA, other government agencies, nonprofit and private organizations to support individual communities. Initial SSI programs are underway in Dallas, Texas; Kansas City Kansas and Missouri; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. SSI programs are designed to meet the local circumstances of participating communities. Each program can also provide lessons that will be shared through and beyond the national SSI program network.

While the primary focus of SSI is air, communities are encouraged to select activities that will result in synergistic reductions from all medias such as water, hazardous/solid waste, and energy. In addition, SSI projects may address and mitigate environmental justice issues. It is important to connect with communities who have been historically underrepresented in decision making, including the disenfranchised in cities and rural areas, communities of color, Native Americans, people disproportionately impacted by pollution, and small businesses.

The SSI is not a regulatory program nor is it an in-lieu of regulatory program. A strong performance accountability mechanism is incorporated into the framework for both the community and all participating partners. This framework can help communities achieve measurable emissions reductions within three years. The activities selected by a SSI city do not have to be completed within three years. However, they must be able to quantify initial benefits within a three-year period. To develop an integrated plan to promote a culture change, communities must select at least one activity in five of the following seven categories:

1. Renewing community livability (e.g., decrease amount of heated surfaces, increase permeable surfaces, revitalization, addressing environmental justice issues, as well as children’s health concerns)
2. Climate change and energy efficiency  (e.g., enhancing energy efficiency in public buildings, incentive programs to increase power generation from renewable energy)
3. Land use and transportation strategies (e.g., increased public transportation, reduction in vehicle miles traveled, converting parking lots to parks)
4. Fossil-fueled engine and motor sources – on and off-road/gas and diesel (e.g., reduction in idling, retrofits, small off-road equipment replacement programs)
5. Green buildings and development (e.g., link green building techniques with affordable housing initiatives)
6. Facilities and businesses (e.g., conduct pollution prevention audits for small business to reduce energy consumption and environmental impacts)
7. Innovative and sustainable practices (e.g., education and outreach programs)

The EPA has drafted Sustainable Skylines Building Blocks for Success – A Step-by-Step Implementation Guide (available at http://www.epa.gov/sustainableskylines/overview.html#progsumm) on how to get started. This guide contains the SSI framework that includes a four-step process:

Step 1 – Building the Foundation
Step 2 – Making Project Plans
Step 3 – Implementing and Feedback Loops
Step 4 – Evaluating and Recognizing Program Success

EPA serves as a facilitator to help communities identify local issues, build partnerships within the community, and provide a framework of technical expertise and resources to help achieve project objectives. In addition, EPA will make available to all SSI cities a resource pool including:

    * Technical Support
    * Training
    * Communication and Coordination
    * Technical Support Network
    * Funding

If you are a potential partner interested in joining, you can complete a Partner Application (available at http://www.epa.gov/sustainableskylines/overview.html#progsumm) and submit it to the contact below. If you are a city or an individual interested in learning more about the program or interested in getting involved please contact:

Yvonne W. Johnson
USEPA, OAQPS
Mail Code C304-03
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Telephone: (919) 541-3921
Fax: (919) 685-3320
Email: johnson.yvonnew@epa.gov