The Sustainable City Playbook: Embedding Change in Daily Operations

Embedding sustainability into the everyday operations of a city requires moving beyond isolated projects and integrating sustainable practices into the core functions of departments. This involves aligning sustainability goals with budgeting, capital planning, procurement, and performance management systems. For example, we worked with our finance department to include lifecycle cost analysis in capital project evaluations. This shifted the conversation from upfront costs to long-term value, supporting investments in energy-efficient infrastructure and green stormwater systems. By framing sustainability as a fiscal responsibility and resiliency strategy, we gained broader support from decision-makers and improved project outcomes.

Another effective approach has been revising procurement policies to prioritize environmental and social criteria. We collaborated with purchasing and legal teams to develop a sustainable procurement policy that includes vendor environmental certifications, recycled content standards, and local sourcing preferences. These changes didn’t happen overnight; they required training staff, piloting changes in specific contracts, and demonstrating co-benefits such as reduced emissions and local economic development. Institutionalizing sustainability in this manner helps ensure long-term consistency, even as staff and leadership change. It also signals to vendors and community partners that sustainability is a priority baked into our operations.

Leveraging Data to Drive Results and Accountability

Data has played a critical role in guiding our sustainability work and demonstrating progress. We invested in developing metrics that are both meaningful and actionable, drawing from sources like the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Inventories (GPC) and the STAR Communities framework to ensure consistency with national and international standards¹. For instance, our energy benchmarking program for municipal buildings helped identify underperforming facilities, leading to targeted retrofits that now save thousands of dollars annually in utility costs. These measurable results have strengthened our case for continued investment in sustainability programs.

We also use dashboards and internal reports to keep teams aligned and foster transparency. Each department has access to monthly updates that show progress toward key sustainability targets, such as waste diversion rates or fleet electrification milestones. By making performance data visible and accessible, we’ve created a culture of shared accountability and continuous improvement. Importantly, we balance quantitative metrics with qualitative feedback from residents and staff, ensuring that our efforts remain grounded in community priorities and operational realities. This dual lens has helped us pivot quickly when programs are not meeting expectations.

Building Community Trust through Equitable Engagement

Sustainability initiatives are more successful and resilient when communities are active participant