EPA's Greening America's Capitals Program helps state capitals develop an implementable vision of distinctive, environmentally friendly neighborhoods that incorporate innovative green infrastructure strategies. EPA selects state capital cities through a competitive process and hires a team of designers to help each city with a particular design problem. The team develops options that the cities can consider pursuing.
Lessons From Greening America's Capitals Projects: Five Helpful Hints for Communities Wanting to Be Greener (2013) describes five lessons from the first two rounds of projects that can help all communities incorporate green design strategies into their planning and development.
As these projects demonstrate, green, sustainable design can create and enhance interesting, distinctive neighborhoods that have multiple social, economic, and environmental benefits. These solutions can also help communities improve streets to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians as well as drivers, encourage new economic development, prepare for climate change, build on local history, and create a sense of place.
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