Pathways to Happiness are tools for communities and governments seeking to address air quality. They include model statutes, ordinances, reports and other resources. The full set for every domain of happiness can be found at http://www.happycounts.org/happiness-policies.html

1. Pathways to Happinessinthedomainofour
air quality
environment

2. Pathways to Happiness are ways
protect air quality
a city, town or region can

3. Overall, we
are relatively
happy with
our
environment
100= happiest

4. Let’s look at one aspect of environment:
air quality

5. On average,
we feel
satisfied with
our air quality
A score between 40- 60 means indifference, a score between 60- 80 means satisfied, a score between 80-100 means very satisfied

6. Courageous
Policies

7. Increase Use of Public Transportation
Incentives to increase use of public transportation – lower fairs, free zones, park
and rides
Increased provision of services – more buses, trams, ferries & more stops on lines
with long distances between stops
Public awareness campaigns to encourage people from all walks of life to use
public transportation

8. Resources for Increasing Use of Public
Transportation
Online encyclopedia: Victoria Transport Policy Institute Public Transit
Encouragement
http://www.vtpi.org/tdm/tdm112.htm
Report- EU Commission’s Increasing peoples' awareness and use of public transport
through active mobility consultancy with focus on feeder systems (SmartMove))
https://ec.europa.eu/energy/intelligent/projects/en/projects/smartmove
Report- Cheong & Loh’s Transport Policies and Patterns: A Comparison of
Five Asian Cities
https://www.lta.gov.sg/ltaacademy/doc/13Sep069-Loh_ComparisonOfFiveAsianCities.pdf

9. Closed Loop & Living Buildings
Requirements and Ordinances
Create habitat for critters in the natural environment
Change negative environmental impacts to positive – water, air,
biodiversity, soil
Decrease costs by increasing market and economies of scale

10. Resources Closed Loop & Living
Buildings Requirements and
Ordinances
White paper on closed loop buildings:
Closed loop building approach to sustainability challenge into the future of urbanization by
Glukhova, Cividini and Erimasita
http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:824211/FULLTEXT02
List and links to city green building ordinances:
State of California’s State and Local Government Green Building Ordinances in California:
http://ag.ca.gov/globalwarming/pdf/green_building.pdf
EPA Region 9’s State, Tribal and Local Green Building Codes:
https://archive.epa.gov/region09/newsletter-archive/web/html/existing.html

11. Solar Energy & Green Energy
Development
Increase energy self-reliance and resilience
Reduce greenhouse gas emissions and impacts on ecosystems
from hydro, coal and oil

12. Resources for Green & Solar Energy Development
Solar energy in Germany analysis- Solar Energy Industries Association’s
Social Energy Support in Germany- A Closer Look:
http://www.seia.org/research-resources/solar-energy-support-germany-closer-look
American Planning Association’s Planning and Zoning for Solar energy Packet:
https://www.planning.org/pas/infopackets/eip30.htm
Department of Energy Template Solar Energy Development:
https://energy.gov/savings/template-solar-energy-development-ordinance

13. What’s it
going to
take?

14. Living Building Awareness Raising
Encourage city and regional policy makers to adopt practices
for city structures – new builds and renovations
Inform and educate policy makers about other area’s
activities in policy and practice

15. Neighborhood leadership
Increase awareness of feasibility to other areas and local
policy makers
Community organizers work together to form buying and
installing cooperatives at the neighborhood level.

16. Other policies in the Pathways to Happiness tool series
Campaign finance reform
Guaranteed basic income
Media reform
Massive public transportation
Local food reliance
Village living (cities and rural)
Multi-use zoning
Public spaces
Political festivals
Participatory governance
Participatory budgeting
Anti-corruption policies
Transparency in government
Compassion training for police
Community-based monitoring
Sousveillance
Vote holiday
Vacation laws
Family & Sick leave laws
Flex time and job share laws
Telecommuting policies
Babies at work policies
Intergenerational care
Department of Neighborhoods
Volunteer programs
Mindfulness practice in schools
Social justice awareness raising
Mental health –priority counseling
Same Sex Marriage Laws
Public child care
Age-friendly cities
Loneliness awareness campaign
Heritage Programs
Rural Colleges
Arts & Culture Policy
Lifelong Learning Programs
War on Adult illiteracy
Low Cost & Tuition Free College
Conservation Easements
Expansion of Parks
Adult & Kid Park Programs
Parent Support Program
Self-Discovery Programs
Job Placement Programs
Urban Growth Boundary Ordinances
Urban Stream Daylighting
Green and Living building ordinances
Solar and Green Energy Development

17. We envision a world where all beings can thrive.
Can you envision it too?
happycounts.org