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This briefing by RMI outlines strategies and policy levers to reduce methane emissions from municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills in the United States. It proposes a two-pronged approach: improving the monitoring and control of existing waste and preventing new methane generation by diverting organic waste from landfills. The document advocates for stronger federal standards from the EPA to scale these reductions and protect adjacent communities.

A guide by RMI providing a five-step framework for homeowners to decarbonize and electrify their residences, emphasizing energy efficiency, the use of heat pumps and induction stoves, and the utilization of incentives from the Inflation Reduction Act.

This guide by RMI provides strategic advice for municipalities to renegotiate franchise agreements with electric and gas utilities to advance climate, equity, and resilience goals. It emphasizes moving beyond narrow legal scopes to incorporate specific climate actions, equitable funding, and infrastructure resilience, while highlighting the importance of overcoming informational asymmetries during negotiations.

This briefing by RMI outlines six innovative funding mechanisms used by US cities to finance climate mitigation, resilience, and environmental justice, emphasizing the integration of equity to support marginalized communities.

This case study by RMI examines how developers in Colorado are implementing all-electric, affordable housing projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower long-term costs, and improve resident health. Through examples like Oxford Vista, Kestrel, and 30 Pearl Street, the document demonstrates that avoiding fossil fuel infrastructure can offset higher upfront costs for electric systems, providing a scalable model for sustainable urban development.

This statement from RMI argues that reforming housing and zoning policies in the United States is a critical but overlooked component of climate strategy. The author contends that the current housing shortage and exclusionary zoning drive carbon emissions by forcing sprawl and auto-dependency, while simultaneously exacerbating economic and health inequities. The document calls for a shift toward infill, multi-family, and mixed-use development to reduce transportation emissions and improve affordability.

This guide by RMI provides strategies for maintaining cool indoor temperatures while reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions, particularly during heat waves. It outlines passive cooling methods, natural ventilation techniques, and efficient cooling technologies, supported by two case studies of net-zero and super-insulated homes in Colorado.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) advocates for the implementation of Minimum Efficiency Standards for Rentals (MESR) as a strategy for cities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve residential energy security. Using the 'SmartRegs' program in Boulder, Colorado, as a primary case study, the document provides a seven-step roadmap for other cities to integrate energy efficiency requirements into their rental licensing processes.

This case study describes how the John Madden Company (JMC), a family-owned business in Colorado, implemented a large-scale energy efficiency project across two buildings in its portfolio. By utilizing Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy (C-PACE) financing and bundling various efficiency measures, JMC achieved significant energy savings without upfront capital costs for the landlord or increased costs for tenants.

This RMI fact sheet debunks four industry myths regarding net-zero energy (NZE) leased buildings, asserting that they are more profitable for developers, attractive to a wide range of tenants due to productivity gains, and achievable in existing buildings through a structured process of data gathering and efficiency upgrades.

Boulder Commons is a 100,000 square foot multitenant net-zero energy (NZE) project in Boulder, Colorado, designed to demonstrate the financial viability of NZE leased buildings for developers, landlords, and tenants.

RMI implemented a parking cash-out program at its Boulder, Colorado office, allowing employees to choose cash instead of a parking spot. In a three-month pilot, 64% of employees opted for alternative commutes, leading to a weekly reduction of 415 kg of carbon emissions and 950 single-occupancy vehicle miles. The program leverages a green-lease structure that decouples parking costs from rent, demonstrating a scalable model for reducing urban commuting emissions.

The report 'Door-to-Downtown' details a public-private partnership pilot program in Boulder, Colorado, designed to test the viability of Mobility as a Service (MaaS) as an alternative to personal vehicle use for accessing the city center. By subsidizing rideshare trips to be cost-competitive with driving and parking, the city aimed to reduce parking demand and test the potential for a future transition to electric, autonomous vehicles (EAVs).

This case study describes the 'Door to Downtown' (d2d) mobility services pilot in Boulder, Colorado, which provided discounted rideshare and taxi trips to downtown to test the price elasticity of demand for mobility as a service (MaaS) relative to personal vehicle ownership.

The Community Energy Resource Guide, published by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) in December 2015, provides a comprehensive roadmap for U.S. communities to develop energy action plans. It outlines a collaborative planning process, methods for analyzing energy landscapes, and specific tactics across the buildings, electricity, transportation, and industry sectors to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency.

This report by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) details eight case studies of deep energy retrofits implemented via Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) in federal and municipal settings. It identifies six best practices for achieving significant energy reductions—averaging 58% across the highlighted projects—without upfront capital costs or Congressional appropriations.

The City of Boulder Climate Action Plan Analysis Report, prepared by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) in May 2012, evaluates the cost-effectiveness and emissions impact of 19 demand-side management programs funded by the Climate Action Plan (CAP) tax. The analysis finds that while Boulder has achieved significant energy savings, it will not meet its 2012 Kyoto Protocol-based emissions reduction targets through current programs alone. RMI recommends transitioning toward more comprehensive, integrated, and long-term energy efficiency strategies and suggests that municipalization of the energy supply could significantly enhance the city's ability to reach its goals.

The document contains the minutes of the 23rd Meeting of the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on December 9-10, 2006, in Panama City, Panama. The meeting focused on strategic institutional expansion, the transition between the Collaborative Research Network (CRN) I and II programs, financial status, and the scientific reorientation of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) to better integrate human dimensions and policy relevance.

The IAI Executive Directorate report for May-August 2005 outlines the appointment of a new Executive Director and Program Manager, the pursuit of observer status with the UNFCCC, and the management of scientific projects including CRN I and II. It details the organization of training institutes in Paraguay and Jamaica, the integration of the Amazon Andean GIS Web Portal into the IAI-DIS, and the approval of key administrative manuals.

The document contains the minutes of the 17th Meeting of the Executive Council (EC) of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI), held on June 2-3, 2003, in Boulder, Colorado, USA. The meeting focused on reviewing the IAI's financial status, updating its scientific agenda, and discussing administrative reforms to improve member country engagement and funding stability.