Office of Sustainability

The City of Hartford Planning & Zoning (P&Z) Commission and City Council have formally approved Hartford’s first Climate Action Plan(PDF, 37MB) (CAP)!  Watch our CAP introduction video to learn about the effort. 

A working group of the P&Z Commission, the 34-member Climate Stewardship Council(PDF, 167KB) started meeting in early 2016 to draft a Climate Action Plan that embodies the shared values and goals of our residents and businesses as we work together to tackle climate change. You can learn about the council by watching a video about their efforts: 

The Climate Action Plan identifies goals and strategies within 6 interconnected action areas: Energy, Food, Landscape, Transportation, Waste, and Water. Our hope is to make incremental but consistent progress in each of these areas, using the resources that are available to us and making decisions that are consistent with our 3 shared values: Public Health, Economic Development, and Social Equity.

Every ten years, the City of Hartford updates its Plan of Conservation Development (POCD), a document that guides City planning for the next decade. In 2020, the Planning and Zoning Commission updated the plan, called Plan 2035, with the input of numerous stakeholders including residents, businesses, government agencies, nonprofits, and many more community stakeholders. To view the plan, please visit the Department of Development Services City Plan Page. 

The City of Hartford Office of Sustainability is glad to present the Urban Tree Canopy Action Plan(PDF, 104MB). The Plan was prepared in partnership with nearly a dozen partner stakeholders. It knits together goals, strategies, and best practices related to the state of our urban forest, priority areas for maintenance and planting, and projected costs. The work is rooted in an ideal of environmental justice, and addresses the longstanding efforts of historic underinvestment in environmental protection. 

Our key partners in this effort are the Department of Public Works, the City Forester, and the Tree Advisory Commission. The plan also reflects input from To Design, KNOX Inc., Keney Park Sustainability Project, Department of Development Services, the Planning and Zoning Commission, and Davey Resource Group. 

Trees are critical to the health and safety of our community; our urban tree canopy offers more than $5 million in ecosystem benefits annually. These benefits are critical in the face of climate change, high asthma rates, localized flooding, and the heightened importance of safe outdoor spaces during the pandemic. We also hope to see complementary outcomes such as green job creation and increased support of neighborhood beautification initiatives.

The plan was made possible by generous funding through the national Partners for Places program, with additional support by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.

Hartford-Specific Resources:

• (PPT, 5MB)EID Comprehensive Plan: This plan outlines the goals and identifies potential projects for the Energy Improvement District Board. 
• City DPW Presentation on the Parkville Microgrid (2016)(PPT, 5MB): Presentation on the first public-private microgrid in the state, developed with support from the State Department of Energy & Environmental Protection.
• Office of Energy Efficient Business Report on Hartford Business Outreach (2015)(DOCX, 2MB): A Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology report describing outreach efforts to 2,400 small businesses in Hartford.
• City Energy Plan (2014)(PDF, 677KB): Interim energy plan, drafted by the then-Clean Energy Task Force (which has folded into the Climate Stewardship Council).
• Hartford Public Schools Energy Benchmarking Report (2014)(PDF, 374KB): A report on schools’  energy usage from the Institute on Sustainable Energy using Energy Star Portfolio analysis.
• GHG Inventory (2016):(PDF, 2MB) Environmental Defense Fund Fellow and former Presidio Graduate School student Divya Srinivasan developed a path for Hartford’s GHG inventory, based on EPA’s model.
• Energy Efficiency Standards Research (2019):(PDF, 404KB) This report was completed by Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships to help the Energy Improvement District Board evaluate possible options related to energy efficiency standards.
• Executive Order 3:(PDF, 60KB) The City of Hartford’s Office of Sustainability provided input on CT’s Executive Order 3, which is related to the Governor’s Council on Climate Change, environmental justice, and energy equity.

Regional/State Resources:

• Capitol Region Green Clearinghouse:  An initiative, sponsored by the Capitol Region Council of Governments, which profiles region-wide efforts on sustainability.
• CT Green Bank: An innovative state-chartered bank that offers a range of financing solutions for homeowners, business owners, multi-family property owners, municipalities, and others.
• Eversource: The electric utility company serving the Hartford region, which has partnered with Hartford in various ways, including participating in the energy improvement district and financing special projects like the recent lightbulb swap.
• Eastern Connecticut State University Institute for Sustainable Energy:  An educational institute that participates in Hartford’s climate efforts and promotes energy efficiency and sustainability in Connecticut through education, research, and technical support.
• Home Energy Affordability in Connecticut: The Affordability Gap (2016) : A report prepared for Operation Fuel, examining the home energy affordability issue in the state.

Hartford-Specific Resources:

• Bike Map (2016)(PDF, 611KB): Map created by City of Hartford Planning & Zoning Commission depicting city’s planning goals for future bicycle facilities (bike lanes or cycle tracks).
• I-84 Hartford Project: Pending project seeking to address the highway’s structural deficiencies, improve traffic operations and safety, and improve mobility, while maintaining access for the City of Hartford and adjacent communities.
• Summary of UConn Research on Effect of Parking on Hartford: A 2014 study calculating that the subsidy for parking lots in Hartford amounts to $50 million/year.
• The iQuilt Plan: An urban design plan for downtown Hartford focused on promoting pedestrian and bike-friendly public space.
• Transition Era Hartford – Using the Past to Plan the Future (2015): Master’s thesis by UConn civil engineering student examining multimodal, pedestrian-focused system that once existed in Hartford.
• Transportation Bill Testimony:(PDF, 132KB) This is Mayor Bronin’s testimony related to a transportation bill entitled AN ACT CONCERNING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF CONNECTICUT’S TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE, which is related to tolls.

Regional/State Resources:

• Capitol Region Transportation Plan (2015): Report outlines a comprehensive plan for improving the region’s transportation system to meet travel needs through the year 2040.
• Capitol Region Council of Governments Bike/Pedestrian Count Project (2015): Report presents a snapshot of bicycling and walking in the region in the region that is used to inform planning efforts.
• Metro Hartford Region Bike Share Plan (2014): This report studied if and where bike share makes sense within the Hartford region and developed a blueprint for moving forward and implementing bike share.
• Bike Walk Connecticut: Statewide nonprofit organization utilizing advocacy and education to promote bicycling and walking.
• Greater Hartford Transit District: Quasi-municipal corporation responsible for ADA Paratransit Service and owns Union Station in downtown Hartford and some parking facilities.
• Connecticut Department of Transportation: State agency responsible for state-owned transportation facilities in the region and is instrumental in providing grants for design and construction of Hartford’s streetscape.
• Volkswagen Settlement Information: Connecticut’s response to the need to create a mitigation plan that takes advantage of a national settlement agreement with Volkswagen to reduce emissions.

Hartford-Specific Resources:

• Metropolitan District Commission Clean Water Project: Overview of stormwater overflow issues facing the City of Hartford and the projects that are being implemented by the MDC to combat them.
• Riverfront Recapture: Organization dedicated to improving central Connecticut’s quality of life and urban vitality through cultural events, entertainment, group sports and recreation in a welcoming environment along the banks of the Connecticut River, as well as ongoing efforts to protect and maintain the Riverfront and make more of it accessible to the public.
• Park Watershed: Organization that aims to improve the Park River regional watershed through community engagement, scientific research, and ecological revitalization, and that contributed to a management plan for the North Branch of the Park River.
• Metropolitan District Commission Presentation on Green Infrastructure Opportunities (2016)(PDF, 17MB): MDC report on the opportunities and challenges of implementing green infrastructure.
• Feds Rate Condition of Hartford’s Levees And Flood Control System As ‘Unacceptable’(2015): Article outlining the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recent evaluation of the Hartford flood-control system.
• The Park River: History of Hartford’s Park River, provided by the Bushnell Park Foundation.
• Hartford – A City On The River (2014): Article offering a brief history of Hartford’s relationship with the Connecticut River over the centuries.

Regional/State Resources:

• ConnecticutRiver.us: Information on the Connecticut River, including a list of recent studies and research.

Hartford-Specific Resources:

• Urban Tree Canopy Action Plan: The Office of Sustainability received grant-funding to knit together goals, strategies, and best practices related to the state of our urban forest, priority areas for maintenance and planting, and projected costs. The Plan was prepared in partnership with nearly a dozen partner stakeholders, including the Department of Public Works and Tree Advisory Commission.
• Hartford Public Tree Inventory: The City of Hartford has over 20,000 trees along our streets and in our high-use park areas. This inventory logs their location, species, size, and benefits. 
• Hartford Tree Advisory Commission: The Commission advises the City Forester, the City Council, and the Mayor on tree-related issues in Hartford.
• Hartford Forestry Division: The Department of Public Works Forestry Division maintains and improves the urban forest.
  • Notice-for-Tree-Contractors.pdf(PDF, 311KB): Notice to tree contractors on adhering to the City's tree ordinance.
• Studies on Parks Generally
  • Hartford Parks: The City of Hartford Parks Division maintains 37 parks and over 2,000 acres of public space. 
  • The Park System of Hartford, Connecticut (2007) : In depth report on the history, challenges, and potential future blueprint of Hartford’s park system by The Trust for Public Land.
  • The Picturesque Parks of Hartford (1900) : Short book describing Hartford’s efforts in developing one of the finest park systems in the nation.
• Urban Tree Canopy Assessment & Planting Plan (2014): Report establishes baseline data on the extent and function of the existing urban forest, analyzes recent changes and trends, and provides tools, data, and other resources to guide future community forest management reforestation efforts.
• Hartford’s Birds – Park Habitat Revitalization and Conservation (2016) : Project, spearheaded by Park Watershed, aims to enhance habitat, provide public with information specific to local bird habitat, and to reduce urban migratory bird hazards.
• Green Infrastructure Around the Capitol:
  • Hartford Green Capitols Project: Demonstration to highlight green infrastructure retrofits and low impact development projects supported by DEEP’s Watershed Management Program.
  • Greening America’s Capitals – Hartford, Connecticut (2014): Project to help state capitals develop an implementable vision of distinctive, environmentally friendly neighborhoods that incorporate innovative green building and green infrastructure strategies.
• Colt Park
  • Coltsville National Park “Your Park” Report (2016)(PDF, 4MB): Report that includes the community’s early ideas for the recently authorized Coltsville National Historical Park.
  • Colt Botanical Garden Master Plan(PDF, 33MB): An imaginative plan, completed by Tai Soo Kim and supported by the CT Trust for Historic Preservation, that draws from Colt Park’s botanical history.
• Scholarship:
  • Who Lives in Greener Neighborhoods? The Distribution of Street Greenery and its Association with Residents’ Socioeconomic Conditions in Hartford (2015): Study utilizing Google Street View to examine the relationships between the spatial distributions of residential street greenery and some socioeconomic variables in different block groups of Hartford.
  • Environmental Inequities in Terms of Different Types of Urban Greenery in Hartford (2016): Study investigates disparities in terms of different types of greenery in Hartford.
• Northeast Neighborhood Sustainability Plan (2014): A plan for improving health in one of Hartford’s high-health-needs neighborhoods, designed by nonprofit Community Solutions.
• Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission – Cleanup Guide for Organizers:(PDF, 4MB) A guide listing the resources, tips, and strategies on how to host your own community cleanup event.
• Maps:
  • Impervious Surface Areas (2017), by Neighborhood Revitalization Zone(PDF, 12MB)
  • Atmospheric Brightness Temperature Areas (2017), by Neighborhood Revitalization Zone(PDF, 10MB)
  • Priority Planting Areas (2017), by Neighborhood Revitalization Zone(PDF, 52MB)

Regional/State Resources:

• Connecticut Urban Forest Council: Statewide organization that provides advice, education, information, and support to urban and community forestry professionals, municipal, state and corporate leaders, and volunteers.
• Protecting Neighborhood and Other Roadside Trees (2014): Connecticut Fund for the Environment report compiling best practices from municipalities across the state regarding tree management.
• Connecticut Forest & Park Association: Organization dedicated to connecting people to the land in order to protect forests, parks, walking trails, and open spaces in Connecticut for future generations.

Hartford-Specific Resources:

• MIRA Unveils Connecticut’s First Landfill Based Solar Array: Details regarding the award-winning solar energy-generating facility constructed by the CT Materials Innovation & Recycling Authority atop the capped Hartford Landfill.
• State, Hartford Pondering Future of Trash-To-Energy Plant (2016): A look into the future of Hartford’s aging trash-to-energy plant in South Meadows.
• Trashion Fashion:  A fashion show, started in Hartford, features clothes made entirely of trash and raises awareness about reduction of waste through creative solutions.
• Evolution of the Environmental Justice Movement in Hartford, CT: Case study examining the role of the EPA’s Urban Environmental Initiative and community partners in combatting years of environmental injustice and improving the quality of the environment for Hartford residents.
• Yale Team Study of Wood Resources from Hartford Parks (2010):(DOC, 80KB) A study reviewing financial and community options for revenue sources from available parkland timber.
• Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission – Cleanup Guide for Organizers:(PDF, 4MB) A guide listing the resources, tips, and strategies on how to host your own community cleanup event.

Regional/State Resources:

• Connecticut Resources Recovery Authority Resource Links:Sample of valuable resources regarding solid waste management.
• Information about the CT Materials Innovation & Recycling Authority facilities: Website provides information about regional resources located in Hartford, including a single-stream recycling facility and a resource recovery facility.
• RecycleCT: State-chartered fund that combines public and private resources to support the state’s recycling goals.

Hartford-Specific Resources:

• Hartford Advisory Commission on Food Policy Annual Report and Policy Recommendations (2016): Annual report which outlines the progress of the Commission over the past year and highlights recommendations for the future.
• Grow Hartford 2015 Annual Report: Annual report by Grow Hartford, a program of Hartford Food System, which details the group’s current activities and future outlook.
• Hartford’s Zoning: The zoning code embraces community gardens, honey bee keeping, farmers’ markets, and urban farming (including henhouses and composting). See Zoning Regulations §§ 3.3.3, 3.7.2, & 4.20.5.
• Hartford Public Schools Food & Nutrition Program(PDF, 4MB) (2017): Short report, with images, showing robust local effort to increase students’  access to healthy food.
• Hartford Regional Market Master Plan (2014): Report and video laying out a plan to redesign the Hartford Regional Market.
• Forge City Works: Hartford organization using the benefits of fresh food to spur investment, support, good health and future employment for the entire community. 

• Scholarship:
  • The Hartford Food System: A Review of Assets, Challenges, and Opportunities (2016): Master’s Report assessing how Hartford’s food sector is currently functioning so that the City may move in an innovative direction that improves social, health, and economic conditions for residents.
  • Spatial Supermarket Redlining and Neighborhood Vulnerability – A Case Study of Hartford, Connecticut (2015): Study attempts to map and understand the effects of potential spatial supermarket redlining on food access in urban disadvantaged neighborhoods of Hartford, Connecticut.
  • What Role Do Local Grocery Stores Play in Urban Food Environments? A Case Study of Hartford-Connecticut (2014): Examination of the food environment in greater Hartford, comparing stores in Hartford to those in the surrounding suburbs.

Regional/State Resources:

• End Hunger Connecticut: Statewide anti-hunger and food security organization focused on advocacy, outreach, education, and research.
• 2015 Statewide Waste Characterization Study: Study measuring the composition of municipal solid waste disposed within Connecticut – food waste makes up nearly a quarter of total waste.
• Food Solutions New England: A regional, collaborative network organized to support the emergence and continued viability of a New England food system that is a resilient driver of healthy food for all, racial equality, sustainable farming and fishing, and thriving communities.
• Connecticut Food System Alliance: State-wide network of dedicated stakeholders committed to creating broad system change and advancing a sustainable and just food system in Connecticut.
• UConn Extension – Agriculture & Food Systems: provides relevant and timely resources to address the complex issues of the agriculture industry in Connecticut for food producers, stakeholders, and others who need information.
  CT Agricultural Experiment Station: Mission is to develop, advance, and disseminate scientific knowledge, improve agricultural productivity and environmental quality, protect plants, and enhance human health and well-being through research for the benefit of Connecticut residents and the nation.

Looking to get involved in green action in the city? Consider attending a Hartford board or commission meeting. These volunteer-led commissions are an incredible part of sustainability and climate stewardship action here in Hartford. For more information on when they meet or to subscribe to updates, visit MeetingInfo.org. As an overview, here are some of the groups that we work with: 

• Tree Advisory Commission: 
• Advisory Commission on Food Policy
• Complete Streets Working Group
• Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission

RESIDENTS CAN:

• Get a no-cost or low-cost home energy audit through the Energize CT Home Energy Solutions Program
• Finance renewable energy for your home through the CT Green Bank
• Obtain a below-market loan for energy conservation improvements through the Capital for Change’s Low Income Multi-Family Loan programs
• Consider a cool, green, or solar roof 
• Consider other solar solutions for your home
• Switch your light bulbs to LED lighting and save energy. See if you're eligible for discounted ENERGY STAR Certified lighting products with Energize CT. 

BUSINESS OWNERS CAN:

• Participate in the Energy Improvement District
• Finance smart energy improvements – and potentially save thousands per year – through the Energize CT Business Program or through the CT Green Bank C-PACE programs
• Switch your light bulbs to LED lighting and put fixtures on automatic dimmers and switches

RESIDENTS CAN:

• Minimize your household’s carbon footprint by reducing the number of cars owned by your family, using car sharing services, or investing in low carbon electric or hybrid vehicles – often eligible for federal and state financial incentives
• Utilize these tips and (and these for cold weather) while driving to maximize your fuel economy and save money at the pump
• Learn how to stay safe as a pedestrian, cyclist, or driver. Watch For Me CT, a joint effort between the CT Department of Transportation and CT Children's Injury Prevention Center, provides educational resources and services such as presentations, tabling, walk audits, events, and more. 

BUSINESS OWNERS CAN:

• Consult the CT Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's guide for greening your business
• Provide locker rooms/changing facilities on site to encourage bike commuting among employees or residents
• Update your fleet of vehicles with low carbon electric or hybrid models and provide electric vehicle charging stations on-site
• Offer commuter benefits to your employees. CT Department of Transportation's CTRides has free Employer Services that can help you make it happen. 
• Note the minimized car parking requirements and increased bicycle parking requirements in Hartford’s updated zoning code

RESIDENTS CAN:

• Fish, kayak, or walk along our city’s riverfront trails
• Consult this guide on Low Impact Development, which can inform you about Rain Gardens, Rain Barrels, Pervious Pavement, Green Roofs, and Vegetated Riparian Areas
• Volunteer with Riverfront Recapture
• Use these tips to conserve water in the home and yard and save money on your utility bill
• Employ the principles ofsustainable landscaping in your yard

BUSINESS OWNERS CAN:

• Consult this this guide on sustainable landscaping
• Save water, energy, and operating costs with these resources

RESIDENTS CAN:

• Join a park group to stay informed of upcoming events and volunteer opportunities: Bushnell Park Foundation, Friends of Colt Park, Elizabeth Park Conservancy, Friends of Goodwin Park, Friends of Keney Park, and Friends of Pope Park, among others
• Sign up to plant a tree in your neighborhood or on your property
• Volunteer your time with a community organization like Elizabeth Park Conservancy, Knox Green Team, and Riverfront Recapture
• Report instances of improper dumping, vandalism, ATV riding, and tree trimming/removal to the proper authorities to the city or the police
• Check out this guide(PDF, 4MB) to learn more about keeping Hartford clean and green with community clean ups

BUSINESS OWNERS CAN:

• Support activities in parks, such as Nightfall, community yoga, or any of the cultural and entertainment festivals and events taking place in Hartford parks each year
• Sponsor a park group, such as: Bushnell Park Foundation, Friends of Colt Park, Elizabeth Park Conservancy, Friends of Goodwin Park,  Friends of Keney Park, and Friends of Pope Park, among others
• Improve landscape on your property:  plant trees, designate low-mow areas, and convert unnecessary parking spaces into green space
• Become a corporate volunteer with Knox

RESIDENTS CAN:

• Read up on Hartford’s policies regarding acceptable recyclable items and disposal of hazardous waste
• Use these tips for reducing waste in the home
• Use this guide(PDF, 4MB) to organize and host a community clean up

BUSINESS OWNERS CAN:

• Utilizethese resourcesto better manage and reduce waste in your building

RESIDENTS CAN:

• Buy organic, locally-produced products from farmers’ markets and Connecticut farms, eating seasonally when possible
• Participate in community gardening
• Learn how to compost with information from the US EPA
• Prevent unnecessary food waste at home with these tips
• Consider minimizing your environmental impact by eating more plant-based meals

BUSINESS OWNERS CAN:

• Reduce food waste, especially if you work with large quantities of food (restaurants, cafeterias, hotels, etcetera)
• Donate food to organizations like Foodshare and the Connecticut Food Bank, and receive tax incentives
• Phase out single-use plastic and paper bags
• Utilize a composting service, or learn to compost as an office on your own