1. Sustainability Commission
Economy • Environment • Society
Think long-term, act now
“Community Sustainability is the commitment to adopt practices that support and
balance the social, economic and environmental aspects of our region, now and
into our future.”
Groton Sustainability Commission, Winter 2010
Sustainability Commission, Groton Town Hall, 173 Main St., Groton, MA 01450
sustaining@townofgroton.org · (978) 448-1111 · www.SustainingGroton.org
Community Well-being (Happiness) Initiative
In order to inform community leaders and help shape the
developmentof public policy toward a community whose citizens are
“satisfied with life”, the Sustainability Commissionis beginning to
introduce the nationally acclaimed Happiness Initiative derived from
the notion that Gross National Happiness is more relevant to
community well-being than Gross National Product.
“Measuring more of what matters rather than just more.”
The initiative represents a paradigm shift in the language and practice
of sustainability. In other words it represents a whole new language
of sustainability. The Commissionplans to hold a series of public
information meetings to provide information regarding the initiative
and how citizens can be heard through an on-line national survey
whose data will be accumulated for Groton to help us understand
what components of happiness can be improved for our citizens and
supportrecommendations for such improvement.
The ten domains of happiness are:
• Environment and Nature
• Good Government
• Material Well-Being
• PsychologicalWell-Being
• Physical Health
• Time or Work-Life Balance
• Community (Social Vitality and Connection)
• Education
• Arts and Culture
• WorkExperience

2. 16-Jul-167/16/2016 Groton Sustainability Commission 2 of 2
The relationship of the ten domains to the three legs of the
sustainability stool.
For additional information please contact Mike Roberts
redhawkma@gmail.com