Durham Sustainability Pilot Research

Background

EPA research is developing tools and data to help communities make strategic, sustainable environmental decisions. The tools are developed to identify ways to balance social, economic, and environmental tradeoffs, thereby maximizing the benefits of environmental resources and ecosystems. They incorporate a suite of issues, including infrastructure, land use, transportation, and waste management.

To inform that work, EPA has formed a partnership with Durham County and the City of Durham, North Carolina to implement and evaluate the tools and approaches Agency researchers have developed. During the Durham Pilot, communities and stakeholders will use those to track and explore sustainability. Feedback will be used to improve a suite of user-friendly tools that incorporate environmental apps, sensor technology, and crowd-sourcing.

EPA's goal is to ensure that the approaches and tools developed and piloted will help Durham and other communities protect the environment, natural resources, local economies, and the health and well-being of their residents.