Rapid growth in Cranberry has built a substantial tax base for the local government. To maintain that position, the township is investing in sustainable growth policies it hopes will help continue growth for years to come.

Cranberry contracted Sustainable Pittsburgh, a local nonprofit organization that advises businesses and governments on sustainable environmental, economic and social equity programs, to assess its current operations and recommend new initiatives in a broad report that covered many aspects of the township's business practices.

"They are in a position where they want to implement the best practices to ensure that the good life is around for a long time in Cranberry Township," said Court Gould, executive director for Sustainable Pittsburgh.

On Aug. 13, Sustainable Pittsburgh released a 200-page Sustainability Assessment of Cranberry Township. The report was compiled by experts in 10 different fields, who integrated their findings into one large assessment.

John Trant, planning officer for Cranberry, said the report covered a variety of short- and long-term changes on an array of topics ranging from human resource management to affordable housing and renewable energy.

Some of those changes are quick and easy, Mr. Trant said. Cranberry has started to switch traffic light bulbs in the township to more energy-efficient LED bulbs. It also has purchased more recycling bins for township facilities.

Other proposals in the report would take much longer to implement. Mr. Trant cited the possible use of wind energy as an example of one of Sustainable Pittsburgh's long-term proposals.

"We don't have to be proactive, but we have always thought that planning was important," Mr. Trant said. "Thinking about 25 years down the road is important."

Mr. Trant said that sustainability is a high priority for Cranberry residents, and a factor that young professionals often consider when choosing a community.

He also said the report is just one aspect of Cranberry's effort to produce an atmosphere that is conducive to sustainable development.

Cranberry council adopted a set of sustainability principles for planning and decision-making in March. And even before its partnership with Sustainable Pittsburgh, Cranberry had been a model for sustainable growth, Mr. Gould said.

Cranberry was one of the first townships in the area to impose transportation impact fees on new developments when it implemented the policy in 1990.

Mr. Trant said he believes residents are more willing to embrace sustainability policies on the local level because they feel the goals are more attainable.

"It's not the federal government, it's the (local) government you interact with on a daily basis," Mr. Trant said. "Our residents are very engaged with the township, and when we offer a program to make things more sustainable, they feel it's realistic."