Abstract: The repeated failures of global agreements for GHG emissions abatement call for a new strategy that involves local communities in implementing effective transitions to sustainability (the Warsaw Climate Change Conference in November 2013 is the last example). This paper investigates the environmental, social and economic consequences of Sustainable Energy Action Plans (SAEP) at the local community level. We provides a case study for Cascina, a small local administration close to Pisa (Italy). The model was built through two participation rounds of causal mapping with the local committee and officers of the administration. We provide a powerful tool to the local authority in order to evaluate the effects of the actions of the SAEP considering also immaterial factors.