Local Net Zero Action Groups

Learn more about zero energy and zero carbon buildings through
Local Action Groups across the country.

Groups all over the country are leading their own getting to zero efforts. They are great resources if you are looking for ways to engage or simply want to know more about what is happening locally in your area.
Are we missing a Local Net Zero group? Email comms@newbuildings.org.

Find a Getting to Zero Local Action Group near you!

East Coast

Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy – Arlington, Virginia

Arlington Initiative to Rethink Energy is focused on comprehensive energy planning in the community including energy efficiency and clean energy use in county operations. Ongoing engagement and education is a key focus.

Boston Clean Energy Coalition – Boston, Massachusetts

A grassroots advocacy organization, the Boston Clean Energy Coalition (BCEC), works to create an organizing space that accelerates efforts in Boston to transition to a clean, green economy. BCEC currently focuses on halting the expansion of fracked gas and other fossil fuel infrastructure while promoting net zero carbon standards for the built environment. It believes this goal can be achieved only by fostering collaboration among all sectors including the City, private developers, community stakeholders, architects, financial investors, academia, labor, environmentalists, and faith-based organizations. It seeks strong, democratic, political leadership and a process that develops sound public policy, recognizing that both require constant vigilance and a concerned eye on the future.

Building Energy Exchange – New York, New York

The Building Energy Exchange (BE-Ex) accelerates the transition to healthy, comfortable, and energy efficient buildings by serving as a resource and trusted expert to the building industry. They connect New York City’s real estate and design communities to energy and lighting efficiency solutions through education, exhibitions, technology demonstrations, and research.

Built Environment Plus -Somerville, Massachusetts

Formally known as the USGBC Massachusetts Chapter, Built Environment Plus is a membership-based community advocating for green buildings at the state and local level. The organization provides green building education, networking, advocacy, and leadership opportunities for the sustainable building practitioner community and beyond.

DC Department of Energy & Environment 

The DC Department of Energy & Environment (DOEE) is the leading authority on energy and environmental issues affecting the District of Columbia. Using a combination of regulations, outreach, education, and incentives, the agency administers programs and services to fulfill its mission. It works collaboratively with other government agencies, residents, businesses, and institutions to promote environmentally responsible behavior that will lead to a more sustainable urban environment.

Energize Connecticut

Energize CT is an initiative of the Energy Efficiency Fund, the CT Green Bank, and the state and local utilities. It provides financing and services for energy efficiency and clean energy improvements. It hosts a zero energy challenge, a design and build competition for residential construction.

Net Zero Energy Coalition – District of Columbia, Virginia, and Maryland

The Coalition’s mission is to drive the National Capital Region towards zero carbon communities. It organizes a coalition of like-minded volunteers to work collaboratively in making sincere and incremental progress towards this goal.

Net Zero Vermont

Net Zero Vermont (NZV) is a non-profit corporation designed to  encourage people to adopt a shared vision for a sustainable future, meaning to re-localize, re-direct and leverage the necessary resources to build model sustainable towns and cities across Vermont and beyond. NZV is committed to education, outreach and public engagement about departing from a century of a fossil-fuel dependent lifestyles and moving to an integrated system of efficiency, conservation, and renewable energy options.

North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association (NCSEA) – NCSEA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that drives public policy and market development for clean energy. Their work enables clean energy jobs, economic opportunities, and affordable energy options for North Carolinians. NCSEA works with its members and partners to transform their state and region’s energy system through market innovation and policy advocacy primarily in ten clean energy technology sectors: alternative fuel vehicles (primarily electric vehicles), biogas, energy efficiency, energy storage, geothermal, hydropower/marine, smart grid, solar, and wind. Their goal is to cultivate a robust clean energy ecosystem that unifies and benefits all of its stakeholders: consumers, businesses, the clean energy industry, and utility energy providers.

NYSERDA Net Zero Housing – New York State

NYSERDA offers support to builders of single-family houses and developers of multifamily buildings that are designed to achieve net zero energy performance.

RePowerPVD – Providence, Rhode Island

RepowerPVD is a voluntary energy challenge program created by the City of Providence’s Sustainability Office. The program is designed to help large buildings in the city conserve energy, save money, and gain recognition for their leadership and contributions to Mayor Elorza’s goal to make Providence carbon neutral by 2050.

Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources

The Office of Energy Resources (OER) is Rhode Island’s lead state agency on energy policy and programs. The mission of OER is to lead Rhode Island to a secure, cost-effective, and sustainable energy future. OER works closely with private and public stakeholders to increase the reliability and security of our energy supply, reduce energy costs and mitigate price volatility, and improve environmental quality.

USGBC National Capital Region Market Leadership Advocacy Board – Washington, DC

The Local Market Leadership Advisory Board represents a diversity of local leaders who advise on strategic and tactical activities implemented as part of USGBC’s global work plan. This leadership group works collaboratively within a larger network of Market Leadership Advisory Boards to develop and implement integrative, consistent, and effective local work plans in all strategic markets. This structure further reports local metrics that contribute to the global success of the USGBC community.

West/Midwest

Colorado Communities for Climate Action

Colorado Communities for Climate Action is a coalition of 30+ counties and municipalities across the state that advocate for stronger state and federal climate policy. CC4CA is governed by a steering committee of representatives from member communities. Unanimous consent among members is required to set the coalition’s policy priorities.

Greenest Region Compact – Chicago, Illinois

The Greenest Region Compact (GRC) promotes sustainability in Chicago communities across the region with an emphasis on building strong and vibrant communities. The foundation of the GRC are 49 high-level goals that have been reached by consensus; not only are the goals aligned with important local, regional, national, and global goals, but they also have support from 127 communities and 4 countries that have adopted the GRC. These consensus goals guide municipal action, support mayors in their role as environmental leaders, and foster collaboration that will have positive impacts on the region.

Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation

The Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation was established in December 1999 as an independent foundation with a $225 million endowment provided by Commonwealth Edison. Its mission is to improve energy efficiency, advance the development and use of renewable energy resources, and protect natural areas and wildlife habitat in communities across Illinois.

Illinois Green Alliance

The Illinois Green Alliance, the local affiliate of USGBC, is a membership-driven nonprofit that works to promote green buildings and sustainable communities. The organization is committed to advancing the latest in technology and design through education, advocating for new policies, and conducting community engagement initiatives that involve thousands of volunteer hours.

Sustainability Exchange – St. Louis, Missouri

The Sam Fox School, College of Arts & Sciences, and School of Engineering & Applied Science at Washington University launched the Sustainability Exchange in 2015. It is a unique course bringing together students from across campus to work in interdisciplinary teams to tackle real-world challenges in energy, the environment, and sustainability. Using the campus and community as a living laboratory, the course was created by an interdisciplinary team of deans and faculty to create an upperclassman experience.

West Coast

California Energy Alliance

California Energy Alliance is a leading advocacy organization for California’s energy stakeholders. Their work focuses on advocacy, outreach, research, and evolution of codes, standards, and policy.

Getting to Zero San Diego

San Diego Gas and Electric (SDGE) is delivering key zero net energy educational resources for the San Diego region to help build the ZNE market there. New Buildings Institute is supporting the development of zero net energy fact sheets and educational webinars specific to Southern California. Getting to Zero San Diego is funded by California utility customers and administered by San Diego Gas & Electric Company under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission.

ICLEI USA Race to Zero – Pacific Coast

Race To Zero is a global campaign established by United Nations Climate and UK COP26 Climate Champions during Fall 2020 in order to rally ambitious leadership from all sectors of society — businesses, cities, regions, investors — in order to secure a future of warming that exceeds no more than 1.5 °C.

King County-Cities Climate Collaboration – King County, Washington

King County-Cities Climate Collaborative (K4C) aims to coordinate and enhance the effectiveness of local government climate and sustainability action. Through the collaborative, county and city staff are partnering on outreach, coordination, solutions, funding, and resources. All King County cities are encouraged to join.

Menlo Spark – Menlo Park, California

Menlo Spark is an independent nonprofit working to help Menlo Park become climate neutral by 2025, as it advances community prosperity, economic vitality, and strong civic heritage. It collaborates with local government, businesses, residents, and top experts to apply proven sustainability measures to Menlo Park through community engagement.

Shift Zero – Washington State

Shift Zero is an alliance of green building, energy efficiency, and climate action organizations and businesses advocating for zero net carbon buildings for all in Washington State. Together, they form a collective voice to advocate on behalf of zero net carbon buildings; educate policymakers at local, regional, and state levels; and link their efforts and support organizations representing communities disproportionately harmed by pollution and climate change.

ZERO Coalition

The ZERO Coalition is working to create market conditions and regulatory framework for every newly constructed or significantly renovated building in Oregon to be built to zero energy and zero energy ready standards. Read how ZERO Coalition is helping to educate the state legislature on why buildings are important in the climate fight.

Zero Emissions Building Exchange – Vancouver, BC

ZEBx is a collaborative platform that strengthens the public, private, and civic capacities for zero emissions buildings in Vancouver and British Columbia. It is an industry hub that facilitates knowledge exchange to accelerate market transformation.