As part of our sustainability/climate services we provide the following kinds of assistance.
Best Practices Research
We identify successful climate/sustainability initiatives adopted that can serve as best practices for a region. We determine appropriate focus areas and study actions under each focus area undertaken by jurisdictions similar in size and characteristics to the region. These actions cover a broad range of sectors including energy, environment, economic development, forestry, land-use, agriculture, transportation, industry, and waste management. This helps in finding actions suited for a region’s Climate Action or Sustainability Plan. We then determine appropriate goals and targets for the Plan.
Determine Funding Options
We research and make recommendations on other jurisdictions’ funding, financial and incentive models that can serve as best practices for a region. We identify mechanisms that could potentially support the Initiatives developed in the Sustainability or Climate Plan. We perform internet research; review publications; interview experts, public and private entities to develop these recommendations. We question these entities about state level, local and utility level loans, rebates, grants and other incentive programs for these initiatives. We seek their input on the kinds of incentives being offered, the types of programs and policies supporting these financial incentives, and the implementation of these programs. We make inquiries about model examples related to program implementation and energy/environmental savings related to initiatives funded through these programs.
Develop Climate, Sustainability Plans
We engage various stakeholders in the development of a region’s Plan by first seeking their input on the kinds of factors that need to be considered for selection of initiatives. Based on these interactions with stakeholders we make assumptions and develop formulas that result in a selection methodology for initiatives, so we can make recommendations for achieving environmental goals. These recommendations could include increased commitments towards existing approaches, specific plans and policies to lower environmental emissions, adoption of new funding and financing mechanisms.
Develop Implementation Plan
We develop implementation plans for each of the identified strategies under a Sustainability/Climate Plan. We create a detailed description of how the initiative will be reached and identify a target date by which the initiative will be completed.
Track Plan Progress
We provide support for measuring, tracking and reporting progress of implementation of a region’s Sustainability or Climate Plan. We measure the emissions reduction impact of each measure and success of each climate effort.