Knoxville, TN

Sustainability initiatives are integrated into the Department of Policy & Communications. Progress towards general sustainability initiatives is not formally measured, however the success of individual activities is measured against the specific goals of that activity (i.e., success of ESCO project measured by energy and dollars saved).

We report to the public through a blog, to the adminstration face to face weekly, and to the federal government monthly.  Our almost completed work plan will have metrics built into it to track progress and goal completion.

Recognized best practices: Municipal retrofits and new construction will be energy certified; the City is now looking at streetlight retrofits because the stoplight and energy retrofits have saved so much, and we currently host 2 solar systems on municipal structures.

To date it is still 100% grant funded through August of 2012. Program Manager and Sustainability Coordinator positions, both funded through DOE's EECBG program.

1. Develop Sustainability Plan and Climate Action Plan
2. Maintain updated Sustainability Plan and Climate Action Plan
3. Support city executive and senior management team in the design of overall strategy and process for the project
4. Coordinate and lead City's Green Team
5. Foster, develop, and launch projects in partnership with city departments and external stakeholders
6. Identify and secure funding resources from outside sources (ex. Federal grants) for projects
7. Represent the City at key meetings
8. Develop a multi-faceted communication strategy within the organization and the community to promote the City's efforts locally, statewide, and nationally to gain recognition
9. Develop criteria, policies and procedures for sustainable programs
10. Draft procedural and training manuals, process flow charts, and implementation plans
11. Oversee and maintain sustainability budget
12. Track, monitor, and report utility usage and greenhouse gas emissions of city operations
13. Track, monitor, and report greenhouse gas emissions at the community level
14. Track and report about sustainability programs underway on a regular basis through the City's performance management program
15. Perform financial analysis on ongoing and new projects

We are working hard to institulationize sustainablity by de-centralizing it into all city departments, but there is no policy assurance it will be formally staffed after 2012.  This decision will be made by the current Mayor.