Sustainability Plan

City Council adopted the Dunwoody Sustainability Plan in 2021. The Sustainability Plan describes what our ideal city looks like in terms of conservation, waste reduction, ecology, health and wellness, and economic prosperity. It includes a work plan with measurable goals and objectives based upon community feedback that support and implement the City’s vision for a sustainable future. The plan was created as a joint effort between City of Dunwoody staff and the Dunwoody Sustainability Committee, with input from city residents and stakeholders. It is designed to work cohesively with other planning initiatives pursued by the city. There was a previous Sustainability Plan adopted in 2014.

Read the 2021 Sustainability Plan

For more information, contact Allegra DeNooyer.

ARC Green Communities

The Atlanta Regional Commission’s (ARC) Green Communities program is a voluntary certification program that helps local government implement measures to reduce their environmental footprint. Dunwoody was among the first communities to apply and be certified under this program, earning and maintaining gold level since 2014. The ARC recertified Dunwoody as a gold level community in 2023. Some measures that earned Dunwoody certification points include:

• Retrofitting all city streetlights to LED, resulting in an 80% reduction in energy compared to traditional street lighting.
• Installing an EnergyStar-certified cool roof on its city hall which saves on energy costs for the building.
• Addressing stormwater flooding issues through bioswales at Pernoshal Park. The stormwater benefits of bioswales include an approximate reduction in stormwater runoff of 48%.
• Partnering with Georgia Power and EnviroSpark Energy Solutions to install and operate thirteen Level II (220-240V) electric vehicle charging stations.
• Launching Solarize Dunwoody, a community-based solar panel bulk-purchasing program where 52 solar panels were installed on homes and business throughout the city, avoiding 640,838 pounds of carbon dioxide annually and saving participants $163,000.

View all Dunwoody Sustainability Policies and Initiatives in effect.

View or download the Dunwoody Policy Packet cited in PDF above.

Solar Energy Permitting

Did you know that Dunwoody offers an expedited permitting process for residential rooftop PV panel installations? Download the Solar Energy Permit Application. Dunwoody fully supports the use of solar energy as one of the most clean, affordable, and low maintenance forms of energy for homeowners and businesses in Georgia. City ordinances explicitly allow solar panels in residential settings and the permitting process for rooftop solar has been streamlined. The Sustainability Committee participated in the Solarize Dunwoody campaign, which brought solar to 52 residences, and we continue to explore options for city-owned solar installations.

For help completing the permit, call the city at 678-382-6800, or if you would like to speak to a resident that is benefiting from rooftop solar, contact Tina Wilkinson.

Electric Vehicles

In May 2016, Dunwoody installed the first EV charging stations for use by the public. In 2022, the City of Dunwoody partnered with Georgia Power and EnviroSpark Energy Solutions to install more Level 2 EV chargers in public spaces. New charging stations were installed at Dunwoody City Hall, Brook Run Park, Pernoshal Park, Spruill Center for the Arts and the Dunwoody Nature Center.

Funding for the electrical infrastructure costs necessary for installing the chargers was covered through the Georgia Power Make Ready Program. EnviroSpark charges $2 per hour on average to users. An hour of charging typically gives about 25-30 miles in range.

ENERGY STAR Partnership

In order to improve the energy efficiency of buildings, the City of Dunwoody has committed to being an ENERGY STAR Partner, which includes spreading the word about the importance of energy efficiency, measuring and tracking the energy performance of city facilities where possible, and achieving energy savings with the ENERGY STAR Guidelines for Energy Management. For more information about ENERGY STAR and their Partnership program, please visit their website.