Local governments have the means and authority to affect how energy is used in some key sectors:
- Road transportation – a high degree of influence through urban form, growth policies, transportation planning, investment in public transit, cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, municipal vehicle fleets, and other programs (e.g., anti-idling)
- Residential buildings – moderate influence through urban form, growth policies, district heating, renewable energy policies, infrastructure and landscape planning, and support for retrofit programs
- Commercial and institutional buildings – a high degree of influence through building retrofits, green building design, infrastructure and landscape planning, and district energy systems,
