Brownfields and

Sustainability

Brownfields revitalization

returns abandoned or underutilized

properties to productive use, cleans

up the environment, creates jobs, and

strengthens the social fabric of communities. Although many brownfields 

redevelopment projects have sustainable elements, opportunities exist to 

make even greater strides in sustainable brownfields redevelopment. This 

guide provides resources and contacts for those communities interested 

in redeveloping their brownfield properties in environmentally sound, 

economically competitive, and socially responsible ways.

Chicago Center for

Green Technology

Built on a former illegal dump in Chicago, Illinois, the Chicago

Center for Green Technology meets the highest standards for green

building; it used the latest in green technology to earn a Leadership

in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED) platinum designation.

This 34,000-square-foot building includes 36 percent recycled or

renewable materials, has a “green” vegetated roof, and collects and reuses

rain water onsite. Its energy-saving building components and mechanical

systems use 48 percent less energy than conventional construction. The

Center supports green economies by housing

tenants and programs that are

dedicated to sustainability,

and provide “green” jobs

to the local community.

They include a

manufacturer of solar

panels, an urban landscape

company, and a community

landscaping and job training program. 

Resources

Federal Programs

Many federal agencies recognize the importance of sustainability and have made a commitment to it 

by sponsoring or designing programs to promote sustainable communities. 

n Solar and Geothermal Business Energy Tax Credit (www.mdv-seia.org/federal_incentives.htm)

– allows a 10 percent tax credit on qualified solar energy property

n The Whole Building Design Guide (www.wbdg.org) – a multi-agency sponsored site providing 

resources for planning, siting, designing, constructing, operating and maintaining highperformance and sustainable buildings. Includes resources like the Federal Green Construction 

Guide for Specifiers – a set of over 60 ‘greened’ guide specification sections

(fedgreenspecs.wbdg.org)

n Department of Energy (DOE)

• Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (www.eere.energy.gov) – provides 

information about renewable energy and energy efficiency; in particular the Building Technologies 

section provides a host of useful links to information and resources from DOE’s building programs

• Building America Program (www.buildingamerica.gov) – sets standards for home builders, 

provides technical assistance and builder training programs

• Rebuild America (www.rebuild.gov) – provides technical assistance tools, resources, and 

services on energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies

• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (www.nrel.gov) – a national laboratory, conducts 

research in energy efficiency and renewable energy

n Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

• Smart Growth Program (www.epa.gov/smartgrowth) – extensive resource on smart growth, 

highlighting successful policies and projects from across the country and providing links to other 

resources

• Collaborative Science and Technology Network For Sustainability

(http://es.epa.gov/ncer/cns/) – provides grants for innovative regional projects that apply science in 

decision-making to address sustainability issues

• Green Building Programs (www.epa.gov/greenbuilding) – provides links to relevant EPA 

programs, offers statistics on the impacts of green building and a listing of federal, state and local 

green building funding opportunities

• ENERGY STAR (www.energystar.gov) – offers tools and resources to reduce energy 

consumption in homes and businesses

• Clean Energy Programs (http://epa.gov/cleanenergy/index.htm) – provides information and 

technical assistance on Clean Energy options – EPA Clean Energy-Environment State Partnership 

Guide to Action (http://epa.gov/cleanenergy/stateandlocal/guidetoaction.htm)

• Brownfields Program (www.epa.gov/brownfields) provides grants and technical support for 

brownfields assessment and cleanup

n National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Office of Ocean and Coastal Resource 

Management (www.ocrm.nos.noaa.gov/pcd/communities.html) – addresses sustainability in 

coastal communities

n Federal Transit Administration’s Livable Communities Initiative

(www.fta.dot.gov/11460_11463_ENG_HTML.htm) – Livable Communities Program

n Federal Highway Administration’s Transportation, Community and System Preservation 

Pilot Program (www.fhwa.dot.gov/tcsp) – provides grants for projects that integrate 

transportation, community and system preservation plans and practices 

n Department of Housing and Urban Development (www.hud.gov) – provides grants and tax 

credits for affordable housing 

n Department of Treasury (www.cdfifund.gov) – New Markets Tax Credit Program

n National Parks Service (www.cr.nps.gov/hps/tps/tax) – Federal Historic Preservation Tax 

Incentives Program

National Programs

Besides federal government support, there are many nationwide private and nonprofit organizations 

promoting sustainable principles in local communities.

n Sustainable Communities Network* (www.sustainable.org) – links citizens to resources and to 

one another to support and build sustainable communities

n Smart Growth Network* (www.smartgrowth.org/sgn/default.asp) – provides extensive information 

on resources, strategies and best practices for smart growth and sustainable development 

n U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED Program* (www.usgbc.org) – provides green 

building standards

n Groundwork USA (www.groundworkusa.net) – network of independent, nonprofit environmental 

businesses called Groundwork Trusts that work with local communities to promote sustainable 

projects

n GreenInfrastructure.net* (www.greeninfrastructure.net) – provides extensive information and 

case studies on how to implement smart conservation programs by identifying and protecting 

critical green infrastructure

n Smart Communities Network* (www.smartcommunities.ncat.org) – developed by the National 

Center for Appropriate Technology, provides examples of successful sustainable community 

projects, model codes and ordinances, technical and financial resources 

n National Association of Home Builders* (www.nahb.org) – provides information on sustainable 

building and a guide for green homes

n Form-based Codes Institute (FBCI) (www.formbasedcodes.org) – Web site created by the FBCI, 

an alliance of form-based coding practitioners who set standards for and disseminate information 

about the code technique

n National Charrette Institute (www.charretteinstitute.org) – provides training and resources for 

conducting a charrette, a planning tool used to design a common vision for

what sustainability means for a community

SMART GROWTH

Smart growth is development that revitalizes 

neighborhoods, protects working lands and open 

space, keeps housing affordable, and provides more 

transportation choices. It is development that is good for 

the economy, community and environment.

 Atlantic Station

Atlantic Station, located in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia employed smart 

growth principles to create a live-work-play development on the site of a 

138-acre former steel mill. Its pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods and mix 

of residential, retail, office and recreational uses allow residents to walk to 

restaurants and entertainment and use mass transit or walk to work.

GREEN ECONOMIES

Green economies support healthy ecosystems 

and communities. They push the boundaries of 

technological innovation to produce services and products 

without degrading water, land or air quality. They cultivate local 

workforces and raise awareness of sustainable choices 

consumers can make to improve the environment. 

EPA cannot attest to the accuracy of information provided by the organizations listed and/or their respective Web site(s). Providing Web addresses to a non-EPA Web site does not constitute an 

BROWNFIELDS endorsement by EPA or any of its employees of the sponsors of the site or the information or products presented on the site.

Brownfields are real property, the expansion, 

redevelopment or reuse of which may be 

complicated by the presence or potential presence 

of a hazardous substance, pollutant or 

contaminant. 

GREEN BUILDING

Green or sustainable building is the practice 

of creating healthier and more resource-efficient 

models of construction, renovation, operation, 

maintenance and demolition.
n Building Codes Assistance Project* (www.bcap-energy.org) – works to save energy in

homes and buildings by promoting the adoption and implementation of building energy codes; 

provides free assistance to states and municipalities 

n Natural Resources Defense Council – Cities and Green Living (www.nrdc.org/cities/default.asp)

– provides strategies for making cities more healthy and livable

n Rocky Mountain Institute (www.rmi.org) – provides resources for green development and 

energy efficiency

n Home Depot Foundation (www.homedepotfoundation.org) – provides environmental grants to 

encourage green building and sustainable design in affordable housing

n The Energy Foundation (www.ef.org) – provides grants for research on energy efficiency and 

renewable energy to nonprofit organizations 

n The Kresge Foundation (www.kresge.org) – Green Building Initiative offers educational 

resources and grants to help nonprofits during the planning phase 

n Rain Forest Alliance (www.rainforest-alliance.org/greenbuilding) – SmartGuide to Green 

Building and Wood Sources 

n EcoIQ.com (www.ecoiq.com) – provides media and educational products and services; focuses 

on the strategies, tactics and tools needed by leaders, educators and advocates working for 

sustainability Resources for Communities

Sustainable Reuse

of Brownfields

United States Solid Waste EPA 560-F-06-247

Environmental Protection and Emergency October 2006

Agency Response www.epa.gov/brownfields

Stapleton

At the site of Denver, Colorado’s former Stapleton 

International Airport, the first phase of a 4,700-acre mixeduse redevelopment effort incorporates smart growth

and green building design. Guided by the Stapleton 

Sustainability Master Plan, the project emphasizes diverse 

housing, a walkable community, public transportation, 

energy efficiency, recycling, green building practices, water 

conservation, and environmental cleanup. For example, 

homes must meet federal ENERGY STAR requirements and 

minimize water use. In addition, 1,100 acres of concrete 

from the site’s runway was recycled for use in local construction

 projects. Stapleton is also a good example of green

 infrastructure where the formerly buried Westerly

 Creek will be daylighted as part of the project. This

 will help refurbish natural habitat while

 providing an amenity to future

 homeowners.

Regional/State/

Local Programs

Because community redevelopment and sustainability are in

large part a local issue, a number of communities have developed their own

programs with grants, guides and other resources that are tailored to their particular area.

These resources represent just a few of these types of programs. For more information in your area, 

start by contacting your state Environmental Protection Agency or its equivalent and your local 

planning, economic development, and environmental agencies. 

n NextStep (www.nextstep.state.mn.us) – Web site for the Minnesota Sustainable Communities 

Network sponsored by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency; provides opportunities for 

networking, information exchange, and access to assistance for those in Minnesota interested in 

sustainability

n Green Communities Demonstration Grant Program (www.epa.state.il.us/p2/greencommunities) – Illinois EPA-sponsored grant program that provides grants to communities to 

support community-visioning processes when addressing local environmental issues

n Sustainable Oregon (www.sustainableoregon.net) – provides case studies, event listings, and 

the latest news on sustainability in Oregon, including developments in state government and local 

initiatives

n Virginia Sustainable Building Network (www.vsbn.org) – statewide organization that brings 

together proponents of green buildings and sustainable communities; provides green building 

events, training and technical assistance on green building design, and a clearinghouse and 

resource directory

n Built Green Colorado (www.builtgreen.org) – a statewide voluntary program that encourages 

homebuilders to use technologies, products and practices that promote sustainability 

n Xcel Energy Design Assistance (www.xcelenergy.com) – provides technical assistance in 

ten Western and Midwestern states for designing a new facility or constructing additions or 

renovations with efficiency in mind to lower energy bills; provides rebates and cash incentives

* Web sites with an asterisk provide additional information and contacts for regional, state, and local sustainable resources. 

For additional information on sustainable reuse of brownfields, contact: 

EPA’s Office of Brownfields Cleanup and Redevelopment (OBCR)

(202) 566-2777

www.epa.gov/brownfields

East Gainesville

Depot Park

In Gainesville, Florida, the East 

Gainesville Depot Park Project is

transforming a former rail yard and industrial

area into a community park. At completion, it will

include walking paths and boardwalks, a restored

historic train depot, playgrounds, an amphitheater, a skate

park, and a bird sanctuary. Native vegetation will be planted

to recreate the natural wetland landscape, supporting the city’s

green infrastructure. Two constructed ponds will naturally treat

runoff from city streets, reducing contaminants entering Paynes

Prairie Preserve State Park. This collaborative effort ties together 

environmental 

restoration,

development of rail

trails, historic

preservation, and 

infrastructure 

improvements to 

encourage community 

revitalization in 

Gainesville.

GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

Green infrastructure is the interconnected 

network of greenspace, forests, waterways and 

wetlands providing the ecosystem services fundamental to 

human health and biodiversity. It supports native species, 

maintains and repairs natural ecological processes,

and sustains air and water resources.