Sustainability Plan
A pivot to carbon neutrality
SouthWest Transit, headquartered in Eden Prairie, MN, recently committed itself to becoming more sustainable. The agency, which provides more than 1 million passenger trips annually and operates around 85 vehicles, initially lacked a strategy for setting and achieving ambitious greenhouse gas emission (GHG) reduction goals. After taking a few small steps — transitioning to LED lighting and subscribing to a solar garden — agency leaders turned to LHB to develop a strategic path to success.
LHB worked with SWT to land on an overarching goal to achieve net-zero GHG emissions by 2050 and produced an action plan that outlined achievable targets and tactics for reaching the goals. The recommendations included:
- Decreasing building energy use
- Switching to renewable electricity use in facilities
- Transitioning to a zero emissions fleet and equipment
LHB provided the following services:
- Facility energy operations analysis
- Solar feasibility analysis
- Sustainability/climate action planning
The plan provides the agency with a roadmap to carbon neutrality by 2050, with clear objectives and actions articulated for the agency’s leaders. With a strategy in place, the agency can plan for the future.
