The City of Wooster’s Sustainability Roadmap is a three-year plan that defines the integration of sustainability throughout city operations, develops committed teams, and establishes creative solutions, strategies, and measurable goals along the way. Designed to serve as a communication tool for stakeholders, the roadmap enables the City to link strategic initiatives with business plans, while demonstrating environmental stewardship and social responsibility.
City employees, with support from AEP Ohio’s Community Energy Savers pilot program representatives, led the City of Wooster Sustainability Roadmap efforts. The roadmap leverages existing energy and sustainability initiatives already in the planning or completion phase. The result is an actionable plan that targets environmental, economic and social priorities to achieve the City’s goal of creating a more sustainable and engaged community.
Additionally, the plan offers various tips for residents and businesses to reduce energy consumption and adopt sustainable practices at home or in the business place. The roadmap is organized into three sections, each section highlighting established goals and action steps for achieving those goals, along with targeted timelines and responsible parties.
The Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) identified throughout the Roadmap serve to provide measurable value to demonstrate the City’s effectiveness at achieving key sustainability objectives over a 3-year period.
Strategies for Implementation
The City of Wooster will engage in the activities identified in the roadmap through strategies, including:
- Developing lasting partnerships with local and regional organizations that are committed to promoting energy efficiency and sustainability;
- Maintaining strong working relationships between Wooster and AEP Ohio, and;
- Creating a channel of communication to increase participation and knowledge about energy efficiency practices and programs among residents and businesses in the community.