Sustainability Ideas Bank

Increasing access to green spaces and parks is linked to a range of positive outcomes for both individuals and communities

ADUs support diverse living arrangements, increase affordability and foster a sustainable approach to urban development

Cash incentives can encourage employees to walk, bike, take public transportation and carpool to and from work

Biodiverse, natural solutions for landscaping, playgrounds, dog parks, gathering areas and sports fields

The parked idling of all motor vehicles in California is estimated to emit 3 million tons of CO2 annually

The ban can speed up the transition to cleaner energy sources

A ban might accelerate the transition to electric vehicles by signaling a decrease in long-term support for gas-powered transportation

Pollination is essential to food security and maintaining a healthy ecosystem

Increase the business license tax for owners of residential rental units to fund affordable housing

Restrict or ban campaign contributions from real estate developers to elected officials

As algae grow in these ponds, they sequester carbon as the bloom expands

Replacing personal waste bins with centralized waste bins in an office encourages recycling, reduces landfill waste and cuts recycling-stream contamination

These programs are vital for informing the public, aiding the achievement of air quality standards, and assessing the impact of transportation on air pollution

A climate funding tax, imposed either through a general tax or a targeted tax on a specific good or service, to raise funds for climate adaptation strategies

Clipper START offers lower fares to lower-income individuals who frequently use transit

Localized microgrids improve the energy independence and offer other benefits

Conservation practices to ensure the water supply remains available for future generations

Business campuses that develop voluntary conservation programs help biodiversity and can receive Wildlife Habitat Council Conservation Certification

By reducing trash, an employer can reduce costs associated with waste hauling and materials management

Allowing the sale of homemade foods directly to consumers helps home cooks and small businesses make a living by selling their creations and improves food access

Deconstruction offers a significant form of waste reduction

To encourage homeowners to change from natural gas to electricity, cities, utility companies and community organizations are offering help with the process

Parking minimums contribute to the overreliance on cars as the primary form of transportation

Biking is a clean method of transportation that can help businesses reduce their carbon footprint

Food has a large impact on the environment over the course of its life cycle

A state-mandated planning tool to address pollution burdens and health disparities in vulnerable communities

Prioritizing the consumption of products and services that reduce impact on climate

Understanding socioeconomic factors can help communities address the challenge of flooding due to climate change

Incentivizing EV chargers through education, financial and technical support

Implementing programs that circumvent families from eviction, promoting long-term housing and financial stability

Housing programs or policies that are designed to ensure the provision of affordable housing units within new residential developments

Teleworking has positive benefits for businesses, employees and the environment

Modular plant platforms clean the water in rivers, lakes, ponds and canals

Participating communities can strengthen flood risk management efforts, improve safety and reduce costs

By measuring the specific dishes wasted, the culinary team can work to create an optimal menu and prepare the proper amount of each food each night

Transitioning to Stabilized Aqueous Ozone greatly reduces plastic waste associated with single-use cleaning containers

Highlight plant-based meal options one day per week to decrease carbon emissions

Green roof can improve building insulation, energy efficiency, aesthetic appearance and carbon offsets

The toolkit provides residents with resources to lower their energy

Housing impact fees incentivize developers and landlords to offer affordable housing and contribute to government funds for affordable housing developments

Centralizing responsibility for heat resilience to protect public health and reduce climate-related risks

Loaning induction cooktops to individuals helps persuade them of the benefits of this alternative to gas cooktops

Minimizing the use of chemical pesticides can protect plants and animals, as well as aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems

A suite of free models that map and value the benefits nature provides to human society

This tax encourages densification and efficient land use, discouraging land speculation

A free or discounted landscape analysis service can help commercial and residential customers transition to water-efficient landscaping

Transitioning away from gas-powered leaf blowers to support environmental justice, public safety and environmental protection

This form of home ownership offers lower-income families a chance to own their homes

Expand the reach of the Bay Area Commuter Benefits Program by requiring employers with 10 to 49 employees to offer similar commuter benefits

Using concrete that stores CO2 can significantly decrease global carbon emissions and make buildings stronger

A rent registry requires property owners/managers or landlords to annually report data regarding residential rents and other relevant information to a citywide database

Minimum lease terms provide rental property owners and tenants a guaranteed contract length that promotes housing stability

Missing middle housing increases the affordability and availability of housing

Affordable housing can be built faster and cheaper with modular construction than with conventional construction

On-site water reuse systems make buildings more sustainable and resilient in their water use

Permeable pavement promotes more sustainable landscaping decreasing runoff and erosion

Simplification of permitting process for solar panel and EV charger installation accelerate adoption of these green technologies

Default choices can substantially reduce meat consumption, lower emissions and normalize sustainable eating habits

Paving roads with asphalt strengthened by waste plastic keeps plastic out of landfills

Bringing solar energy within reach of renters and apartment dwellers through simple, plug-and-play technology

Overhauling current policing practices and standards can reduce the harmful impacts of police brutality and ensure the safety of all people

Planting vegetation that attracts pollinators on solar farms can help increase biodiversity and support pollinator populations

Rehabilitating existing units can be more cost effective than building new housing

Quick-build projects can spur the development of more walkable and bikeable streets

Financial incentives for rain barrels increase rainwater reuse

Rain gardens absorb runoff water up to 40% more efficiently than a standard lawn

Requiring the use of recycled water for irrigation, landscaping and toilet flushing can result in dramatic water savings

Sustainable farming practices can help restore soil health, thereby capturing carbon and improving the water cycle

A cap on rent increases that helps reduce displacement

Enable renters to earn equity in exchange for contributing to the management of their apartments

Electronic waste recycling keeps materials out of landfills and reduces the demand for extraction of raw resources

The idea that individuals and third parties should be allowed to and able to repair electronic devices in order to avoid having to continually replace electronics

Rubberized asphalt concrete is made by mixing crumb rubber with asphalt

A decentralized water treatment system handling water treatment needs at a smaller scale

Empowering schools to lead on sustainability, reduce emissions and prepare students for a climate-resilient future

With hundreds of students in a school and thousands in a single school district, millions of plastic items can be diverted from the waste stream

Endorsing Seamless Bay Area?s seven guiding principles can improve regional transportation

These novel services, enabled by advancing technology, increase the number and type of available alternative transport modes

Employer-sponsored shuttles can drastically decrease traffic congestion and carbon emissions by reducing solo driving during peak commute hours

Plastic waste will be reduced dramatically, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, terrestrial and marine pollution, and needed landfill space for end-of-life disposal

Closing some streets can encourage more sustainable and healthy modes of transportation

Smart Glass has the potential to cut heating, ventilation and air-conditioning

Solar-powered EV charging stations offer a renewable, off-grid solution for vehicle charging, reducing emissions and alleviating grid demand

Simplifying requirements for gray water systems can encourage residents to participate in water reuse and conservation

Provide more public EV charging stations via LED streetlights that have excess electrical capacity

By making retirement plan options more sustainable, employers ensure that this often overlooked part of their operations is brought in line with the rest of their sustainability objectives

Establish the first right of refusal for tenants when their home or building is being sold

Constructing low square footage promotes greater housing affordability and environmental sustainability

Nonprofit, member-controlled organizations that coordinate and implement transportation demand management

Utilizing the natural filtration and absorption capabilities of plants and microorganisms to improve air quality and reduce heat islands

Urban gardens provide an innovative way to cultivate community relationships and hyper-local produce in dense city environments

There are a variety of ways to prioritize planting trees, which offer countless benefits

Wildlife corridors enhance biodiversity by facilitating migration, providing secure passages across roads, and maintaining connected populations for reproduction

Year-long program trains high school students to take climate action into their own hands

Zero percent loan programs increase the accessibility of transitioning to more energy-efficient infrastructure

Include zoning requirements that make development more flood resilient to protect people’s safety and reduce repair costs