Sustainability in Cincinnati

Sustainabiltiy is not hard to find in Cincinnati. Below is a rendering of the Wasson Way, a bike trail currently under renovation in the rails to trails federal program. The trail will be an important part of the Crown the Queen movement for cycling infrastructure in Cincinnati. Eventually, this trail will connect Xavier to the nearby Little Miami Scenic Trail and the Ohio to Erie bikeway. Below is a list of accomplishments for the region in sustainablilty.

Cincinnati is a Great American City, one reason is due to its Sustainability Culture. Here are just a few examples:

• Cincinnati has been named #1 Metro Area for Sustainability by Site Selection Magazine two years in a row (2017, 2018) and #2 in 2019; recognized for leadership in brownfield redevelopment and green building
• The City of Cincinnati is currently constructing what will become the Nation's largest municipally owned solar array -- 100 MW of capacity once complete
• 2030 District Membership - Facilitated by Green Umbrella, Cincinnati has committed to the 2030 District to further sustainable initiatives in the city in order to reduce water use, transportation emissions and energy use by 50% by the year 2030. Cincinnati's 22 members have already committed 180 buildings and over 20 million square feet with these goals in mind.
• The Cincinnati Aggregation Program offers residents 100 percent green electricity, an abatement of approximately 250,000 tons (CO2 equivalent) per year, removed from Cincinnati's carbon footprint
• The City has received international recognition for its accomplishments; Cincinnati participates at United Nations Climate Conferences, is a member of the Urban Transitions Alliance, and is heavily involved in the International Council on Local Environmental Affairs (ICLEI), among many others
• Cincinnati Corporate Sustainability is a strong part of our success; we are home to the headquarters of 10 Fortune 500 companies, many of which have robust Sustainability programs
• Green Umbrella, our regional sustainability alliance, brings citizens, professionals, teachers, students and others team together to promote sustainability across the region in action areas including energy, local food and outdoor recreation.
• Home energy retrofits-the Greater Cincinnati Energy Alliance completed energy retrofits on more than 1,000 buildings across the region saving its clients more than $500,000 per year on energy bills
• In 2012, the league of American bicyclists recognized Cincinnati as a bronze level bicycle friendly community.
• The Greater Cincinnati Green Business Council, formed by key sustainability leaders from Cincinnati area corporations, seeks to "to inspire the business community to deliver a better social, economic and environmental future."

To learn more about sustainable efforts in Cincinnati, visit the City of Cincinnati Office of Environment and Sustainability and the Green Cincinnati Plan, which began in 2008 to help make Cincinnati a greener, healthier city. Since 2008 there has been multiple revisions and updates to the Green Cincinnati Plan, the latest being in 2018!

The update of the Green Cincinnati Plan has been a multi-faceted process. Hundreds of residents have participated in over 25 public meetings, contributing to a process that considered over 1,400 recommendations. Xavier Economic Sustainability Students assisted writing the Plan. The Green Cincinnati Plan, in its final form, includes over 80 high-impact recommendations designed to make Cincinnati more sustainable, equitable, and resilient. The Plan was passed by Council in mid-2018.

An article with more information on sustainability in Cincinnati!