Durham County Council, UK saves $310k annually moving services online

In Durham County, a previous initiative to move away from paper-based, in-person services had taken more than a year to implement. The result was a single new digital process. Staff turned to Granicus govService to make digital transformation happen for more than 90 services, quickly. The branded self-service portal offers residents the ability to access services themselves instead of relying on the telephone or in-person interactions, freeing up those call centers to focus on special cases.

Horsham District Council, GB promotes local sustainability efforts with Community Climate Fund

The fund provides three tiers of funding to local organizations that create new sustainability programs. Qualifying proposals fit within council priorities including decreased water usage, increased biodiversity, and renewable energy. Council officials require applicants to provide their programs to the public with funding plans beyond the initial grant. Five rounds of funding by 2022 will help Horsham District Council approach its carbon-neutrality goal.

Exeter City Council, GB kicks off Passivhaus council home initiative for more sustainable living

The city-owned Exeter City Living built nine council homes in Whipton that are compliant with Passivhaus standards. Council leaders plan to build at least 500 Passivhaus homes throughout the city by 2025. Passivhaus homes use features like exhaust heat recovery, passive climate control, and floor insulation to reduce energy costs. Exeter's push for new council homes reduces household emissions in a more cost-effective way than retrofitting older buildings.

Holdfast Bay, SA initiates suburban food waste collection trial to lessen landfill contributions

The council selected 1,000 households across four suburbs to participate in the year-long trial. Each household receives a weekly collection of their food and organic waste bin. Council officials switched applicable households to biweekly general waste collections during the pilot. Holdfast Bay supplied participation bin stickers, compostable bags, and program guides at the outset. The collected waste is converted into fertilizer for local farms rather than adding to the landfill.

Macedon Ranges, VIC highlights community resiliency during COVID-19 with In This Together podcast

The weekly podcast presents stories of how local residents and organizations have adjusted to the pandemic. Each week features a topic with recent episodes covering sports, sustainability, and creativity. Macedon Ranges weaves these stories into discussions of council services and programs that address the topic. In This Together is supplemented by a long-form interview podcast called Humans of Macedon Ranges that spotlights interesting residents.

Clay County, FL Launched a New Online Customer Service Platform in 3 Weeks

Staff were given less than a month’s notice that their public records management and citizen request management systems would no longer be supported by their previous vendor. Within three weeks, Samantha Radomski, Administrative and Web Content Specialist, was trained on Granicus govService and built the first two services: Public Records Request and ReportIt, which is a 311-type service where citizens can report a pothole, a downed tree, a lost animal, missed garbage collection, and more.

Onkaparinga, SA collaborates with other councils on renewable energy hub at shared landfill

Onkaparinga, Holdfast Bay, and Marion invested in solar and biogas energy at the Southern Region Waste Resource Authority (SRWRA) landfill. The 1,780-panel installation and the biogas plant produce up to 25,000 megawatts of electricity per year. Council officials estimate the landfill creates enough electricity to power 4,400 homes. The SRWRA landfill achieves emission-neutral operations by eliminating 135,000 tons of greenhouse gases each year.

West Torrens, SA educates public on green infrastructure with Rain Garden Interpretive Trail

West Torrens produced an interactive map with a narrative about the council's 10 public rain gardens. Each garden on the map includes photos, an explainer on native plants used, and a description of challenges and benefits. The gardens were placed at speed bumps, medians, and parking lots in local suburbs to filter stormwater before it returns to waterways. Council leaders created the interpretive trail to promote active travel and indigenous plant use.

Coventry City Council, GB develops all-electric bus fleet in partnership with national government

Coventry and Oxford were selected to become the United Kingdom's first local governments with all-electric fleets. Each government receives £50 million for plug-in buses and equipment to be implemented by 2025. Local officials will use additional funds for ride-share programs in outlying areas, high-frequent bus lanes, and other initiatives. The switch to all-electric buses allows both councils to meet emission and air quality goals while upgrading public transit.

Canterbury City Council, GB works with Co-wheels on all-hybrid car-sharing club

The Canterbury Car Club stations five Toyota hybrids in the city center. Residents use the Co-wheels app to reserve vehicles for as little as 30 minutes. An introductory membership rate of £1 and hourly rates under £5 help residents without cars stay mobile. Co-wheels includes fuel, insurance, and sanitization with each reservation. The club facilitates low-emission essential trips during COVID-19 and reduces traffic congestion.

Lane Cove, NSW offers eco-friendly design advice through Sustainable Building Advisory Service

Residents planning, designing, or actively building new homes qualify for this free service. Each participant schedules a one-on-one plan review with an architect versed in sustainable design. The SBAS issues a report for each plan recommending design alterations that enable eco-friendly living. Builders receive recommendations beyond basic upgrades including innovative home layouts and passive climate control that reduce energy use while improving owner comfort.

Flagstaff, AZ collaborates with neighboring governments to create Northern Arizona Solar Co-op

Flagstaff, Sedona, and Coconino County are working with Solar United Neighbors (SUN) to recruit at least 75 households for membership. SUN will work with participants on a competitive bidding process for an exclusive solar installer contract. Co-op partners provide technical assistance throughout the bidding and installation process. The combined spending power of members opens affordable pathways to solar panels, EV chargers, and future renewable energy innovations.