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Case Studies

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Communities across the United States are anticipating, planning and preparing for the impacts of climate change. Communities are also taking steps to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to the cause of climate change. Below are examples of local, state, regional and tribal communities that have taken action.

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51 results found

American Cyanamid Superfund Site Reduces Climate Exposure

See how American Cyanamid Superfund Site responded to disaster by rebuilding facilities to account for expected climate changes.

Anacortes, Washington Rebuilds Water Treatment Plant for Climate Change

See how a water utility in Washington state partnered with experts to redesign and rebuild a water utility to adapt to sea level rise and other changing climate conditions.

Aurora and Lawrenceburg, Indiana Develop Joint Bike Share Program

The Cities of Aurora and Lawrenceburg collaborated to jointly implement the River Cities Bike Share Program in an effort to revitalize both communities. In addition to providing an environmentally friendly form of transportation and exercise, the Program helps connect urban amenities such as downtown businesses, parks and the Ohio River riverfront.

Ball State University in Muncie, Indiana Replaces Coal-fired Boilers with Campus-wide Geothermal Energy

Ball State University replaced its aging coal fired boilers with a campus-wide geothermal energy heating and cooling system, saving $2.2 – $2.5 million annually.

Barre City, Vermont Accounts for Climate Change within a Brownfield Redevelopment Plan

Barre City, Vermont: Barre City, Vermont used the Analysis of Brownfield Cleanup Alternatives Checklist to better understand the climate vulnerability of a redevelopment project on a brownfield site.

Bedford, Indiana Increases Access to Healthy Food and Spurs Neighborhood-Level Social Change with Community Garden

The City of Bedford, Indiana partnered with local organizations to create a community garden in order to increase access to healthy food and establish an active social space for community members.

Benton County, Indiana, Successfully Sites Wind Energy, Protects Rural Roads from Damage

With the most wind farms in Indiana, Benton County has refined wind farm requirements by clearly articulating road preparation and repair expectations in road use agreements.

Bloomington, Indiana Naturalizes Creek Bank to Manage Stormwater and Establish Native Plants

See how the Parks and Recreation Department in Bloomington, Indiana improved stormwater and erosion control management using native plants and reshaping a local creek bed.

Blue Plains Wastewater Facility in Washington DC Reinforces Facility Against Floods

See how a wastewater utility in Washington, DC is protecting their facility by building a sea wall that accounts for higher river elevations and changing climate conditions.

Boston Raises Wastewater Facility to Avoid Inundation

See how Boston's Deer Island Water Treatment Facility redesigned their facility to account for expected sea levels and routinely evaluates performance under the best-available climate science.

California Prepares for Increased Wildfire Risk to Air Quality From Climate Change

Case Study on California's Preparations for Increased Wildfire Risk to Air Quality From Climate Change

Camden, New Jersey Uses Green Infrastructure to Manage Stormwater

See how Camden, NJ water utility used an EPA tool to assess the climate risks from projected precipitation increases and vulnerability of greater combined sewer overflows.

Chicago, Illinois Adapts to Improve Extreme Heat Preparedness

See how Chicago, Illinois is improving climate resilience to extreme heat events by engaging vulnerable communities and improving disaster response protocols.

Chicago, Illinois Uses Green Infrastructure to Reduce Extreme Heat

See how Chicago, Illinois assessed public health vulnerability to extreme heat events and is adapting by utilizing green infrastructure to reduce urban heat island hot-spots in anticipation of future climate risk.

Cincinnati Inventories Greenhouse Gas Emissions to Help with Reduction Targets

Staff in the City of Cincinnati’s Office of Environment and Sustainability completed two greenhouse gas emission inventories: one of municipal operations and one for the entire city.

The City of Boston Plans for Adaptation

See the process by which the Boston city government assessed vulnerability and developed an adaptation plan to respond to sea level rise and other climate risks.

Washington DC Utilizes Green Infrastructure to Manage Stormwater

See how the Washington, D.C. Water and Sewer Authority will use green infrastructure to reduce combined sewer overflows, maintain water quality, and provide adaptive flexibility to changing climate conditions.

Experts in Northwest Indiana Create an Adaptation Plan to Protect the Indiana Dunes

The dunes on the South Shore of Lake Michigan are beginning to show climate change impacts. The Indiana Dunes Climate Change Adaptation Plan, finalized in May 2018, lists anticipated changes to the dunes and includes strategies for adapting to those changes.

City of Richmond Recycles 96% of Debris from Hospital Demolition

When the City of Richmond, Indiana demolished its old hospital, 96% of the material generated during demolition was recycled or reused, saving the City $1.253 million and diverting 60,654 tons of demolition debris from the landfill.

Fredericktown, Missouri Prepares for Climate Change Drought Risk

See how a water utility in Fredericktown, MO used an EPA tool to assess climate vulnerability for their source water from drought, erosion and sedimentation.

Gary, Indiana Installs Green Infrastructure to Revitalize Blighted Areas, Manage Stormwater

In 2014, the City of Gary, Indiana implemented a neighborhood-focused green infrastructure project with the goals of improving stormwater management and revitalizing blighted areas in the community. The project added .37 acres of green infrastructure in three abandoned lots in the Aetna neighborhood, an area inhabited by more than 80% people of color.

Goshen, Indiana Improves Ecosystem Resilience with Tree Canopy Inventory and Assessment

The City of Goshen, Indiana completed a city-wide tree inventory and canopy assessment in order to strategically and equitably distribute environmental, public health and quality of life benefits from urban trees.

Grand Rapids, Michigan Includes Sustainability as a Core Part of its Strategic Plan

The City of Grand Rapids adopted a four-year strategic plan to align operations and budget items with its key values, one of which is sustainability.

Indiana Youth Propose Climate Recovery Resolutions before City Councils throughout the State

Youth Power Indiana, a project of Earth Charter Indiana, engaged youth to develop and advocate for climate recovery resolutions in several Indiana municipalities, three of which adopted resolutions.

Indianapolis, Indiana Converts Streetlamps to LED

The City of Indianapolis retrofit upwards of 27,000 existing streetlamps with LED fixtures, and used the savings to install 4,000 additional lamps in the city. Estimated savings were $800,000. The project reduces the City’s carbon footprint, saves money that can be used for other City needs, and greatly improves public safety.

Iowa City, Iowa Removes Vulnerable Wastewater Treatment Facility

See how Iowa City, IA responded to riverine flooding risk by decommissioning a vulnerable facility and expanding service outside the floodplain.

Knox County, Indiana Bans the Distribution of 64 Invasive Plants

Local organizations in Knox County, Indiana, along with representatives from the agriculture, horticulture and landscaping industries collaborated with conservation experts to pass an ordinance that banned 64 invasive plant species in the county. County commissioners unanimously passed the ordinance in August 2018.

Lake County, Illinois Stormwater Commission Develops a Tool to Support Wetland Restoration Planning

The Lake County Stormwater Management Commission created an online mapping tool to help plan potential wetland restoration and preservation projects by determining the functions of existing wetlands.

Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts Assesses Climate Vulnerability

See how Manchester-by-the-sea used a EPA tool to help assess drinking water system vulnerability to sea level rise.

Maryland Analyzes Coastal Wetlands Susceptibility to Climate Change

See how the state of Maryland used a modeling tool to assess the vulnerability of salt marshes to projected sea level rise.

Massachusetts Surveys Climate Readiness of Public Health Departments

See how Massachusetts has surveyed local health departments to assess vulnerability to expected climate changes.

Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Identified Smart Growth Strategies for More Resilient Communities

See how the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments developed an adaptation plan with policy options for the consideration of its local jurisdictions.

Michigan City, Indiana Reduces Energy Use and Generates Cost Savings from Water Treatment Operation Efficiency Updates

The Sanitary District of Michigan City conducted an energy efficiency audit and updated their wastewater treatment and lighting infrastructure, resulting in energy use reductions and cost savings.

Minnehaha, MN Creek Watershed District Assesses Stormwater Management Climate Vulnerability

The Minnehaha Creek Watershed District, responsible for Minneapolis, Minnesota, considered climate projections to better understand climate threats and vulnerability to stormwater management capabilities.

Minnesota Assesses Climate Risk to Public Health

See how Minnesota has assessed projected public health risks from climate change across the state.

New York City Adapts To Deal with Projected Increase of Heat Waves

See how New York City has used its vulnerability assessment to anticipate and prepare for changing conditions by using adaptation strategies to reduce extreme heat vulnerability.

New York City Assesses Extreme Heat Climate Risk

See how New York City, NY assessed climate risk from extreme heat and is undertaking efforts to reduce current and future vulnerability.

Pennsylvania Protects Coldwater Fisheries and Water Quality from Climate Change

See how Pennsylvania is planning to adapt to climate threats to water quality criteria and protect ecosystem health, particularly for cold water fisheries.

Quinault Indian Nation Plans for Relocation

See how the Quinault Indian Nation is considering climate (sea level rise, storm surge, and river flooding) and non-climate (tsunami) risks together to form a village relocation plan.

Salt Lake City, Utah Adapts to Improve Air Quality Through Smart Growth

See how Salt Lake City is implementing strategies that are reducing air pollutants in anticipation of increasing threats from climate change.

San Juan Bay Estuary Program Assesses Vulnerability and Targets Low Risk Adaptation Measures

See how the San Juan Bay Estuary Program assessed climate risk to the bay and identified adaptation strategies to reduce ecosystem vulnerability from changing climate conditions.

School District in East Chicago, Indiana, Purchases Propane Buses to Address Local Public Health Concerns

Following local environmental crises affecting children’s health in East Chicago, the local school district decided to purchase propane school buses as a healthier and less air pollution alternative to diesel.

Smart Growth Along the Riverfront Helps Manage Stormwater in Iowa City, Iowa

See how Iowa City, Iowa used smart growth strategies to increase climate change resilience by removing vulnerable structures and managing stormwater along the riverfront.

South Bend, Indiana Uses Smart Sewer Technology to Monitor and Manage Increased Water Levels

The City of South Bend, Indiana installed innovative smart sewer system technology to monitor and regulate wastewater levels, resulting in reductions in sewer overflows, significant savings for the City and reductions in street-level flooding.

Southeast Florida Compact Analyzes Sea Level Rise Risk

See how South Florida counties and municipalities partnered to develop a comprehensive sea level rise assessment.

Southern Nevada Water Authority Assesses Vulnerability To Climate Change

See how the Southern Nevada Water Authority used an EPA tool to better assess climate vulnerability to drought and harmful algal blooms.

Southwest Florida Assesses Salt Marsh Vulnerability to Sea Level Rise

See how Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program and Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council assessed the sea level rise climate vulnerability of marshes and wetlands and identified potential adaptation strategies.

Tampa Bay Diversifies Water Sources to Reduce Climate Risk

See how a Tampa, FL water utility reduced vulnerability and evaluated climate threats to sea level rise exacerbated saltwater intrusion.

Vigo County, Indiana Improves Resilience to Energy Disruptions with Solar Power

In 2017, Vigo County completed the construction of its solar-powered Solid Waste District Management building. Most of the year, 50 solar panels provide 100% of the building’s energy needs and support two solar-powered generators.

White County, Indiana saves money and boosts the economy with wind energy

White County worked with a wind developer to install more than 350 turbines, with more on the way, to boost their economy and climate resilience.

Whiting, Indiana Reduces City Operating Expenses by Recycling More

The City of Whiting, Indiana’s Street Department changed their collection process to increase recycling in the community, reducing expenses by $75,000 in the program’s first year.

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