City of Bloomington, IN | Climate Action Dashboard
© 2025
Installing on-site renewable energy and improving energy efficiency are about making changes to existing buildings to reduce their carbon emissions. Sustainable development is about ensuring new buildings are constructed in a way that is environmentally friendly and minimizes their long-term contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.
The City of Bloomington has taken several steps to foster sustainable development practices, including passing two major ordinances: the Green Building Program Ordinance and the Sustainable Development Incentives (described in further detail in the dropdowns below).
In addition to the aforementioned pieces of legislation, the City has also sponsored several marquee projects that serve as a role model for other developers for what sustainable development looks like. For example, Hopewell is a new neighborhood that the City is helping plan and build which will be created near the former IU Health Bloomington campus on West 2nd Street.
Hopewell is aiming to achieve LEED for Neighborhood Development certification and the City has hired the Green Engineer to assist with this process. This is an ambitious goal—as only a handful of neighborhoods in the entire country have achieved this certification! In this way, Bloomington is leading by example in fostering sustainable development practices in the community.
Goal EB 5. Increase financing options for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy projects citywide.
Racial & Social Equity
Sustainable development promotes social and racial equity by ensuring that all community members have equal access to clean air, green spaces, and environmentally friendly transportation, thereby reducing disparities and improving the quality of life for marginalized populations.
Economic Development
Sustainable development practices spur economic development by creating green jobs and stimulating innovation in sustainable technologies and infrastructure, which attracts investment and supports Bloomington’s local economy.
Preventative Public Health
Sustainable development can enhance preventative public health by reducing pollution and encouraging healthy lifestyles through walkable urban design and access to recreational areas, thereby decreasing the incidence of chronic diseases and improving overall community well-being.
