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Using EPA Decision Support Tools in Your Community
Citation:
Zambrana, J. AND L. Bloch. Using EPA Decision Support Tools in Your Community. This Way To Sustainability Conference XII, Chico, CA, March 23 - 24, 2017.
Impact/Purpose:
Local governments are at the forefront of addressing environmental and health challenges, but often lack the capacity to move projects forwards; this capacity is abundant and available at local universities through professors and students looking to apply their learning to on-the-ground priority community issues. EPA has been convening local governments and campuses interested in forging sustainability partnerships. As a result of these efforts, 7 new partnerships between California State Universities and local governments were formed between 2015 and 2016, using the Educational Partnerships for Innovation in Communities (EPIC) Framework. The nationwide EPIC Network also provides a long-term venue for EPA to disseminate and share its resources, information, and science-based tools that can be used to advance campus-community efforts to address environmental challenges while also benefitting the economy and well-being. The connection of these partnerships, the EPIC framework, and EPA’s science-based tools will be of interest to regional staff, local communities, academia, and the general public.
Description:
ORD and R9 collaborators will be presenting at the “This Way to Sustainability Conference XII” hosted by California State University-Chico, which formed an EPIC called the “Initiative for Resilient Cities” stemming directly from EPA’s efforts. This presentation will provide an overview of EPA’s mission and activities, its interests in catalyzing campus-community sustainability partnerships, and details on several science-based tools and approach, including Net Zero, the Stormwater Calculator, EnviroAtlas, and C-FERST, that can assist these partnerships in addressing specific community projects to advance sustainability and well-being.
