Pennsylvania Green Communities
Action Resources Here we have assembled some of the best resources from around the state and throughout the country. . .we hope this further serves your vision and efforts. Also see our Green Jobs page for ideas on greening the workforce in your area.
And don't forget the little things that build community: neighborhood parties, taking time to get to know your neighbors, sharing resources, tools, and stories, supporting local businesses, taking walks, and making it beautiful with gardens, trees and places to rest, create, and play. Pennsylvania Resources | .jpg "Grow Green photo") |
PA Home Energy Energy audits for homeowners, institutions, places of worship and others by certified energy auditors. PA Home Energy is a new program that is focused on helping Pennsylvania consumers reduce their home energy use. The program integrates the general principles of whole house performance with green home design. At the heart of PA Home Energy is ENERGY STAR – a joint program of the U.S. Department of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). |  |
Pennsylvania Environmental Council's
Sustainable Communities Program
The Pennsylvania Environmental Council (PEC) is a non-profit that protects and restores the natural and built environments through innovation, collaboration, education and advocacy. PEC believes in the value of partnerships with the private sector, government, communities and individuals to improve the quality of life for all Pennsylvanians.
Sustainable Communities 500 Project
A new project from a partnership of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the Southwestern Pennsylvania Commission, and Sustainable Pittsburgh focusing on sustainable communities in Southwestern Pennsylvania. The project's three goals are (1) Catalogue and highlight examples, and in doing so, demonstrate southwestern Pennsylvania as an emerging sustainability leader nationally and internationally, (2) identify opportunities for new incentives, public policies, funding, tools, links to local planning, and other means to foster even more examples of sustainability, and (3) provide case studies to inspire innovation, focus planning efforts and document emerging best practices.
Green Village Philadelphia
Green Village Philadelphia (GVP) is a 501C(3) public charity whose mission is to foster and support neighborhood development that restores and sustains the community of life for our selves and for future generations. The Green Village will be a diverse community of socially responsible businesses, non-profits, government agencies, and mixed income residents. It will bring together, in one accessible destination, the goods, services and jobs of a local Green Economy that will be integrated into and serve the needs of the neighborhood and wider community.
Alliance for Sustainable Communities-Lehigh Valley
A group of individuals, organizations, small businesses, and farmers concerned about the welfare of the Greater Lehigh Valley. They have come together as the Alliance for Sustainable Communities – Lehigh Valley, to work on sustaining and enhancing the quality of life in their area.
PA Clean Energy Communities Program
A Program of The Reinvestment Fund of Philadelphia and SmartPower, a non-profit alternative energy advocacy organization, that supports southeastern communities in the purchase of clean energy. Twenty communities can receive free solar panels if they meet certain clean energy purchase targets: county government must purchase 20% clean energy and the 7% of the rest of the population (residents and business) must also purchase clean energy equivalent to 60,000 kilowatt hours per month.
Sustainable Community Development Company
Sustainable Community Development Company is a Carlisle, PA-based business formed in 2006 to develop small residential and commercial projects with sustainable attributes. The company’s mission is informed by two trends that require fundamental changes in the way we live, and the way we use the earth’s resources: climate change and petroleum depletion.
National Resources
Smart Communities Network
A Program of the National Center for Appropriate Technology, the Smart Communities Network provides an impressive database of case studies and a superb collection of tools, ideas and other resources communities can use.
Smart Growth Network
Guiding principles, overview of the issues, excellent links to people doing real projects. In 1996, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency joined with several non-profit and government organizations to form the Smart Growth Network (SGN). The Network was formed in response to increasing community concerns about the need for new ways to grow that boost the economy, protect the environment, and enhance community vitality. The Network's partners include environmental groups, historic preservation organizations, professional organizations, developers, real estate interests; local and state government entities.
Rocky Mountain Institute's Community Energy Opportunity Finder (EnergyFinder.Org)
This interactive tool will help you determine your community's best bets for energy solutions that benefit the local economy, the community, and the environment.
EPA's Green Power Communities Program
Leading municipalities across the nation are partnering with EPA to become Green Power Communities (GPCs). GPCs are cities, towns, and villages in which the local government, businesses, and residents collectively buy green power in amounts that meet or exceed EPA's Green Power Community purchase requirements.
PA Local Government Resources & Financial Assistance
Governor's Center for Local Government Services (DCED)
Their stated mission is to "be the principal advocate for local governments, provide vital programs, services and training to local officials and municipal employees, and cut through red tape expeditiously to solve problems at the local level. This site provides links to funding, programs, technical resources and more for local government.
Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy
An up-to-date listing state by state of available financial assistance for alternative energy projects and energy efficiency.