LOCAL | SUSTAINABLE DC, FIRST YEAR PROGRESS REPORT

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graphic from report

In 2011 Mayor Gray and the District Government set out to create a plan, called Sustainable DC, to make DC the most sustainable city in the United States by 2032. This plan was developed through a series of community meetings that formed into 9 public working groups on the topics of built environment, climate, energy, food, nature, transportation, waste, water, and the green economy. With over 143 actions, DC is well underway in achieving this plan. The report lists each action and its status. Some examples:

Equity & Diversity – 1.1 Modernize all public school buildings.
Built Environment –  4.5 Require all new buildings to be net-zero or net-positive.
Energy – 2.5 Develop a wind farm in the region to power District government and private facilities.
Food – 1.1 Adopt the Sustainable Urban Agriculture Act.
Transportation –  2.1 Develop a citywide, 100 mile bicycle lane network.
Waste –  1.3 Ban Styrofoam and non-recyclable plastic containers from food and retail outlets.
Water –  2.1 Install 2 million new square feet of green roofs.

See the full report at Sustainable DC and how you can get involved.

LOCAL | WASHINGTON DC TO BUILD LARGEST URBAN GREENHOUSE

artist rendering | BrightFarms

BrightFarms is partnering with the DC Department of General Services and the Anacostia Economic Development Corporation to build a 100,000 square-foot green house on city-owned land currently used for storage. The urban farm will provide fresh lettuce and other produce to local Giant grocery stores, creating over 100 construction jobs as well as 25 permanent jobs. A “classroom greenhouse” will also be built within the facility to teach kids about health and nutrition.

Read more from The Atlantic City Lab and FastCoexist