What on earth is sustainability and what does it mean to the city of Indianapolis? What does the City's Office of Sustainability do and what impact is the SustainIndy effort having on the overall health of the city of Indianapolis? Learn some of the answers by watching the slideshow.

1. Sustainability
in Indianapolis
Melody Park, Director
City of Indianapolis –Office of Sustainability

2. What on Earth is The Office
of Sustainability?
Office of Sustainability is a
professional office created by Mayor
Ballard to be the driving force behind
SustainIndy.
2

3. Main Charges of
Office of Sustainability
• Lead sustainability efforts within city government
• Coordinate and collaborate on community sustainability goals -
including acting as primary liaison to the City of Indianapolis Green
Commission, and
• Establish public-private partnership opportunities to move forward
aggressively on achieving the vision of a more sustainable Indianapolis
3

4. What is Sustainability?
Three Pillars
• Environment
– Best practices to create healthy environment
• Economic
– Promote strong economic development
• Social
– Well being of the people
4

5. What is the City’s Effort on
Sustainability?
5
• The City is evaluating and
quantifying the sustainability efforts
so that we can improve on livability

6. Natural Systems
Current Priorities
• Enhance our tree canopy
• Preserve and expand our natural
areas
• Improve outdoor air quality
• Improve water quality and secure
water supply

7. Natural Systems
Programs
• Make Change Indy – Water
Currency Program
– Make Change is a pilot program for
alternative currency in the Mid-North
Neighborhood of Indianapolis. If you
do something good for water you
get Water Currency Coins that you
can spend at local businesses for
their products.
• CSO
– Controlling infiltration

8. Economy & Jobs
Current Priorities
• Target and seek out
opportunities for business
retention and development
• Ensure a robust local economy
with quality jobs and living
wages to promote self-reliant
community with a high standard
of living
• Increase the post-secondary
education attainment and
improve outcomes of workforce
and deployment programs

9. Built Environment
Current Priorities
• Maintain affordable housing
options for all residents
• Develop or redevelop vacant or
underutilized areas in the city
• Enhance public spaces
• Expand transportation options

10. Built Environment
Development
• Market Square Arena
Development
• Lugar Tower
• CityWay

11. Built Environment
Bikeway and Trail Projects
• 71st St. Bikeway – Under construction
• Fall Creek Trail – Monon Trail to Central Ave. – Under construction
• South White River Greenway – Under construction
• Eagle Creek Greenway – Currently being designed
• 46th St / Mitthoeffer Bikeways – Design 2014/2015
• Southeastern Ave. / Prospect – Design 2014/2015
• Airport / Raymond St. Bikeways – Design 2014/2015
• Pennsy Greenway / German Church Rd. – Currently acquiring land
• Pogues Run Greenway – Currently being designed

12. Built Environment
Near-Eastside Neighborhood Sweeps
• Conducts home energy audits in the
near-east side neighborhood of
Indianapolis
• Homes receive targeted energy-
efficiency upgrades, including air sealing
and attic insulation.

13. Built Environment
Ecohouse Loan Program
• Offers qualified applicants up
to $15,000 for home upgrades
– Free home energy audit that helps identify and
prioritize upgrade choices.
– Referrals to licensed trusted contractors and
project managers.
– Discounts on Energy Star appliances.
– Long-term money savings and improved
comfort.
– Up to $3,000 in matching incentives.

14. Climate & Energy
Current Priorities
• Reduce greenhouse gas
emissions
• Diversify and green our energy
supply
• Increase efficiency of city
buildings and infrastructure
• Encourage green building
• Decrease overall waste and
encourage recycling

15. Climate & Energy
Programs
• Car sharing
– $35 million all-electric vehicle system
– 500 cars
– 200 rental stations
– 1200 charging stations
• Bike sharing
– $1 million
• City-County Building LEED Certification
– Implementing prerequisites for the LEED
certification process.
• Greening America’s Capitals
– A design workshop was held March 19-21 to
incorporate green design features into the east
plaza of City Market and south plaza of CCB.

16. Education, Arts & Community
Current Priorities
• Improve and increase high-
quality education options for all
residents
• Broaden the range of arts and
culture resources
• Create opportunities for
community interaction and
community building
opportunities
• Share information about
community issues and services
• Celebrate diversity in our
community

17. Education, Arts & Community
Art Council Grant
• $1 million grant funded by the
City of Indianapolis & Capital
Improvement Board
– Enables arts organizations to provide
arts programming and educational
opportunities
– Promote Indianapolis as a cultural
destination
– Enhance economic development
– Build the capacity and stability of
Indianapolis’ arts and cultural
organizations
– Share arts programs and activities
with underserved audiences

18. Heath & Safety
Current Priorities
• Encourage active lifestyles
• Promote nutritious eating and
local food production
• Improve emergency prevention
and response
• Reduce natural and human
hazards

19. Heath & Safety
Indy Food Fund
The Indy Food Fund has announced its first-
ever grant awards totaling $49,450 to eleven
organizations undertaking transformative
food projects across Marion County.
• Improve access to healthy food for
Indianapolis residents
• Spur economic development and create
jobs
• Create a sense of place, foster civic
engagement, and beautify our
neighborhoods
• Increase the amount and demand for
food grown locally
• Create a sustainable metropolitan area

20. Heath & Safety
The Indy Public Safety Foundation was
created with the goal of becoming a support
system for the police and fire departments
and the city’s EMS and emergency
communications agencies.
• Business and community leaders
volunteering their expertise
• Money raised will support extra training,
additional equipment and youth leagues

21. Equity & Empowerment
Current Priorities
• Encourage civic engagement and
participation in local decision-
making
• Reduce environmental and
health hazards
• Enhance access to foundational
community assets
• Ensure human services program
are available to guarantee basic
needs

22. Equity & Empowerment
New Wishard Hospital
• Indiana’s Largest Public Health System
• Will rank among the most advanced hospital in energy efficiency
and environmental design in the US
• 85% of Marion County voters approved construction of the new
Wishard Hospital
• Wishard handles more than 1.2 million outpatient visits annually

23. Equity & Empowerment
Indianapolis Cultural Trail
• 8.0 mile trail that serves as the hub for the
City’s greenway and trail system
• Estimated economic impact $864.5 million,
estimated jobs created 11,372(based on study
by the Indiana University Center for Urban
Policy and the Environment, 2008)
• No local tax money used for this project

24. Equity & Empowerment
City’s Minority, Women, Veteran and Disability
Business Enterprise Program
• Promotes meaningful business opportunities
• Builds productive partnerships
• Creates successful integration of M/W/V/DBE firms
within the business infrastructure of the City of
Indianapolis

25. Thank you!