Dayton’s 2026 sustainability plan goes beyond climate, focusing on neighborhoods and quality of life

The city of Dayton is developing an updated sustainability plan aimed at creating a healthier, more resilient and more sustainable future for residents.

Building on the 2020-2025 plan, the 2026 Sustainability Plan will establish practical strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, prepare for climate impacts, improve public health, support economic development and advance equity across Dayton neighborhoods.

The plan will outline short- and long-term goals through 2036 while supporting the city’s commitment to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

Community feedback is a key part of the planning process. Throughout the year, the city is hosting workshops, stakeholder meetings and engagement sessions to gather residents’ input on priorities ranging from energy use and air and water quality to the ways sustainability initiatives affect everyday life. For those who cannot attend workshops or meetings, online surveys and information tables at community events are also available.

“What I’m most passionate about is the intersection of the environment and people,” said Meg Maloney, sustainability manager for the city of Dayton. “Because if we’re not taking care of the environment, it’s also harming the people that live within the city. When people think about sustainability, they’re like, ‘recycling and trees.’ And while those are important, our plan is really about the human element of the work that we’re doing.”

The first sustainability plan focused on energy programs that generated savings and additional revenue for the city, which helped fund further sustainability initiatives. From 2020 to 2025, the city’s sustainability efforts saved the city and its residents more than $29 million, reduced more than 364,000 metric tons of carbon emissions and engaged and educated more than 74,000 people across the region.

In the first sustainability plan, the city focused on practical investments that cut waste, improved efficiency and made the community more resilient. Projects included upgrading 17 municipal buildings with modern HVAC systems, converting more than 1,500 streetlights to LED technology and installing new lighting and motion sensors in the Safety Building. Together, the improvements reduced energy use while lowering utility costs.

Those efforts also helped Dayton become the first city in Ohio to earn a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum designation by the United States Green Building Council.

As of 2025, most municipal buildings are powered by 100% renewable energy. Each year, more than 300 million kilowatt-hours of electricity now come from wind and solar instead of fossil fuels.

Now, the updated plan is shifting some of its focus from broad, carbon-focused goals, such as expanding electric vehicles and renewable energy, toward the issues residents encounter in their own neighborhoods.

Canopy coverage, blight and trash in the alleys are among the concerns that have emerged through surveys and community outreach.

The initial community workshop, held in July, focused on the big picture: What would the most sustainable future for Dayton look like?

The second workshop, scheduled for Sept. 29 at Lohrey Recreation Center, will focus on the next step: What projects and actions should the city take to achieve those goals?

Since May, officials have collected input from neighborhoods across the city to establish a baseline understanding of residents’ sustainability priorities.

“I really want residents to engage in the process,” Maloney said. “What are we not doing, and how should we be dreaming bigger? My hope is that by the end of this plan they’ll walk away being like, ‘Wow, this really made a difference,’ and that they’re proud of what we’re doing.”

The planning process will take place in three phases, Maloney said. The first will focus on reducing carbon emissions by reevaluating waste, transportation and energy use. The second will center on neighborhood quality of life, including projects such as expanding tree access and supporting community gardens. The final phase will examine city operations, including purchasing practices, chemical use and employee education about recycling and waste.

By 2036, Maloney said, the goal is to have made meaningful progress across emissions reduction, neighborhood sustainability and municipal operations.

In 2020, former Mayor Nan Whaley called upon the city to create a five-year plan that would push Dayton to be a national leader in sustainability. Officials developed more than 100 projects as part of the plan, with the city meeting more than 80% of its goals. After the success of the first plan, the new 10-year plan sets even more ambitious goals to make Dayton a healthier place to live and strengthen its position as a leader in sustainability.

“Sustainability has a reputation for being expensive,” Maloney said. “But our plan has showcased that you can achieve sustainability and it doesn’t have to cost you money. In fact, it can help save residents and businesses money if you do it. My hope is, while we’re only in the city limits, it’s also an encouragement for our communities around us to adopt something similar.”

Beyond helping shape the plan, residents can also support sustainability efforts through initiatives such as Sustainable Ohio Public Energy Council (SOPEC) and the PACE Direct Program. Opportunities include volunteering, making donations and advocacy.

“I always tell people I cannot do this work without the help of our partners,” Maloney said. “We can only do so much, and a lot of our job is just supporting the people that are already doing this amazing work.”

While the city’s first sustainability plan centered on reducing emissions and improving efficiency, officials say the next decade will focus just as much on neighborhood quality of life — from cleaner alleys and expanded tree canopy to giving residents a greater voice — especially on what’s outside their front door.

“Sustainability is very much alive. There are really cool things happening that are helping people’s lives,” Maloney said. “Our first plan, we really accomplished a lot. I feel like creating a more ambitious plan is going to be a fun challenge. We really need help with folks to be like, ‘What would be the most impactful to you?’”

Visit the city’s 2026 Sustainability Plan website at Daytonohio.gov/1369/2026-Sustainability-Plan.