Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is home to approximately 315,000 residents, making it the third largest city in Ohio, and it serves as a significant cultural and economic hub in the region. Through the Green Cincinnati Plan of 2023 (GCP), the City has committed to advancing climate action on a pathway to carbon neutrality by 2050. To achieve their climate targets, the City plans to focus on building decarbonization and electrification as key elements of the strategy, and is committed to engaging and investing in communities disproportionately impacted by environmental injustice.
Cincinnati Programs, Policies, and Strategies
By 2030, Cincinnati aims to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30% while expanding access to clean energy and electrifying homes across the city. Cincinnati is working to ensure that the benefits of decarbonization and resilience reach the communities most impacted by environmental and economic challenges. The City is embedding equity using tools and resources in its climate action planning, such as the 2021 Cincinnati Climate Equity Indicators Report, which provides data about demographics, human health, the built and natural environment, and socio-economic statuses for all 52 neighborhoods in Cincinnati, which the City uses to inform strategies that can reduce the impact of climate disasters on vulnerable populations while reallocating benefits from climate investments.
To address both housing and climate goals, BEI, in partnership with Elevate, is supporting the City’s BuildReady initiative. BuildReady will streamline environmentally sustainable housing development proposed along transit corridors by creating pre-approved plans, which will help accelerate housing development and reduce the city’s deficit of over 40,000 units of housing in the coming years. BEI and Elevate are working with City staff to incorporate decarbonization and energy efficiency principles into pre-approved designs for small (2-4 unit) multifamily residential projects. This includes exploring the feasibility of all-electric new construction for fast-tracked permitting to help accelerate citywide decarbonization while also lowering housing development costs. This project aligns directly with Mayor Aftab Pureval’s key priorities: make housing affordable, tackle the climate crisis, and improve the local economy.
With BEI’s partnership and support, Cincinnati’s pre-approved housing permits can deliver affordable and decarbonized homes that lower housing costs, utility bills, and GHG emissions – serving as a model for integrated housing and climate strategies for cities across the country.
