Sustainable CT: New and Improved for 2021
We’ve just posted the new and improved Sustainable CT for 2021! Our heartfelt thanks for your partnership and feedback, which shaped these changes. 
We know there's a lot of take in here, but we hope you'll read this whole message and keep it for reference. We look forward to following up with a series of short training videos and interactive webinars on the 2021 version of Sustainable CT. 
What's New in Sustainable CT for 2021?
Simplified Timeframe for Credit. 
We’ve simplified our “credit for past action” framework. You can now earn credit for work completed any time over the past three years for most actions. In addition, actions can either be “New” or considered for “Rolling Credit.” See our “Timeframe for Credit” Guidance document to learn more.
Categories Revised. 
We have expanded and reordered Sustainable CT’s action categories, which are are newly organized as follows:
  1. Inclusive and Equitable Community Impacts
  2. Thriving Local Economies
  3. Well-Stewarded Land and Natural Resources
  4. Vibrant and Creative Cultural Ecosystems
  5. Dynamic and Resilient Planning
  6. Clean and Diverse Transportation Systems and Choices
  7. Renewable and Efficient Energy Infrastructure and Operations
  8. Inclusive Engagement, Communication and Education
  9. Strategic Materials Management
  10. Optimal Health and Wellness Opportunities
  11. Health, Efficient and Diverse Housing
  12. Effective, Compassionate Homelessness Prevention
  13. Innovative Strategies and Practices
Categories Relocated. 
The following actions have been relocated to different categories:
New Categories.
Sustainable CT has added new categories to its action roadmap:
  • The category formerly known as “Strategic and Inclusive Public Services” has been separated into categories 8, 9 and 10 (see "Categories Revised" above).
  • Effective, Compassionate Homelessness Prevention is a new action category, created in partnership with the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness and the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities. Completing an action in this category is not required until 2022, but you may earn certification points in this category now. Additional action opportunities in this category will be added in spring 2021.
Because we’ve added new actions and action categories, action numbering has changed. See our “2020-2021 Program Translation Guide” to help you translate between the new and prior numbering schemes.
Certification Requirements for 2021. 
You must complete at least 1 action in each of categories 1-11 and complete the action Optimize for Equity.
  • Bronze: Complete at least 1 equity toolkit and actions totaling 200 or more points.
  • Silver: Complete at least 3 equity toolkits and actions totaling 400 or more points.
Renaming Feature. 
In your Municipal Dashboard, under “Supporting Documents,” you can easily rename document titles to align with the new numbering scheme. In the parentheses after the document name, click “edit title,” rename your document, then click “update.”
Existing Actions Refined. 
Many actions have substantive revisions to reflect best practices or minor wording changes to clarify. See our “2020-2021 Action Change Summary” and the “Action Updates” section of each individual action write-up.
More Worksheets Added. 
For many actions, we’ve created new action worksheets and templates to promote peer learning through meaningful comparison across submissions and increase ease of reviewing. See our “2020-2021 Action Change Summary.”
Submission Fields. 
By January 2021, each action submission will contain the following fields, with instructions provided on your Municipal Dashboard (*required):
  • Submission Information*
  • Submit Supporting Documents
  • Documentation Details
  • Timeframe for Credit* (NEW for 2021)
  • Partners*
  • Additional Information
  • Understanding the Role of Sustainable CT* (NEW for 2021)
If you have an application in progress or are reapplying...
  • Renumber. Renumber the text in each action submission to reflect the new numbering scheme, including renaming supporting documentation.
  • New Worksheets. Complete any newly required worksheets for 2021.
  • Required Fields. Complete all required fields on your Municipal Dashboard for each action (available in January).
  • Timeframe for Credit. Carefully review each action and update as needed to ensure it falls within the new timeframe to be considered for credit.
  • Submission Requirements. Carefully review each action and update as needed to ensure it conforms with any new submission requirements.
  • Completing Each Category. Complete one action in each of categories 1-11, including any new categories. Action in homelessness prevention is currently available for points but required beginning 2022.
  • Reset to "Planned". By January, the action status for any previously approved action will be reset to "Planned." Once you have renumbered and revised your submission to align with 2021 requirements, set the status to "completed" for review when you next submit.
Trainings on these topics will be available starting in January 2021.
If you need support with transitioning your application to 2021 program requirements, please contact info@sustainablect.org.  
Please Consider Supporting Us.
As you can see, we've been busy responding to your input and requests! Please consider supporting us so we can better serve Connecticut communities.
Sincerely,

The Sustainable CT Team
at the Institute for Sustainable Energy at Eastern Connecticut State University