Small Town, Big Vision: Inside Canton’s Sustainable Transformation
Canton’s energy overhaul saved $2M and serves as a roadmap for preserving small-town charm while powering modern innovation.
There are many reasons why Canton, Georgia, calls itself the “Coolest Small Town in America.” It’s where throw-back appeal meets big-city bustle. Where scenic views of the Etowah River beckon nature lovers, cyclists, and hikers alike, while historic landmarks and a vibrant food scene make downtown Canton a welcoming cultural hub.
So it’s no wonder that when Canton Mayor Bill Grant introduced the “City of Canton’s Roadmap for Success” in 2020, a commitment to “Enhancing Historic Downtown Canton” and “Sustaining Our Natural Environment” were both key tenets of his strategic plan to guide Canton’s future success. This roadmap wasn’t just a vision; it was a playbook for forward-thinking action.
Two years ago, the City launched a widespread sustainability and historic preservation project to reduce energy and operations costs in city facilities by 28%, ultimately saving $2 million over the next 20 years.
Having completed the core elements of the project in 2025, the City can now boast a double win of achieving its historic building preservation goals alongside sustainability and operational efficiency.
How did they achieve this balance? By breaking the cycle of deferred maintenance through a proactive, turnkey approach to upgrades.
Historic Buildings, Future-Ready Systems
Given that Canton is a rapidly advancing Atlanta suburb, having grown in population by more than 17% since 2020, this project is an essential part of future proofing the City’s buildings by making them more sustainable. It’s also a compelling reason for younger, environmentally-conscious residents to choose Canton as their new home.
“When your city is as committed to historic preservation as the City of Canton is, it is important to marry the beauty and style of yesteryears with the innovations of today,” said Billy Peppers, Canton’s City Manager.
Canton adopted an outcome-oriented partnership with Schneider Electric, a global company specializing in energy management and industrial automation solutions, to implement a series of facility modernizations across the city’s historic municipal buildings.
Top of the list was upgrading the iconic City Hall building’s old (20+ years) HVAC system, which typically ran 24/7 to ensure the building could maintain a comfortable temperature during the day—a highly inefficient and costly way to manage energy. Now, new units (atop a new roof) have improved energy efficiency, comfort, and cost savings. Similarly, the outdated heat pump system serving the Public Safety Complex, which regularly dealt with leaking water lines, has been replaced by a variable refrigerant flow system to improve operation and efficiency. A new building automation in both facilities increases efficiency even more.
“Using solar and energy-efficient HVAC systems, we were able to boost the efficiency of key buildings to lower the City’s bottom line over time—something all taxpayers can agree on,” said Peppers.
Canton used an innovative funding model to bring the plan to fruition: an energy savings performance contract (ESPC). This financial approach enabled a small city like Canton to go big on accelerating its sustainability journey by passing financial risk on to the solutions provider (i.e., Schneider Electric). Indeed, this model has proved to be a win-win scenario. Other cities throughout Georgia can adopt this low-risk, budget-sensible paradigm of upgrading infrastructure.
A Roadmap for Sustainable Transformation
But Canton’s leaders did not stop there. The City pushed ahead to become a certified Atlanta Regional Commission (ARC) Green Community in January 2025.
The city’s comprehensive approach to facility modernization has boosted Canton’s sustainability, efficiency, and resilience. Anyone who visits today’s Canton will experience the tangible and intangible benefits of this sustainability project—from the solar tree at Etowah River Park to the preserved Main Street buildings modernized “under the hood” with efficient infrastructure. What’s more, 70KW rooftop solar arrays at City Hall bring this hub for city operations close to a net zero footprint.
All the while, City leaders have engaged the community at every step by installing interactive kiosks for residents to get regular updates about the Canton’s sustainability initiatives and have the chance to provide dynamic feedback.
All these efforts showcase the fact that sustainability can lead to economic growth, improved quality of life, and increased equity. Need proof? Just mosey over to Canton, to experience a lively, thriving community where Main Street charm converges seamlessly with future-proofed, modern technology.
