District of Columbia: a True Sustainable Leader

In the summer of 2011, D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray announced a broad ambitious initiative to make the city a leader in sustainability, improve the quality of life for residents and create economic growth. The "Sustainable DC" plan has now been released. It spells out a broad range of sustainable accomplishments to be met by 2032.
Photo: sustainable.dc.gov

You've got to hand it to the District of Columbia, no, not the federal government, but the city government. The city has a plan "Sustainable DC" in place to be by 2032 the "healthiest, greenest, most livable city in the nation by using sustainability solutions to address core challenges."

The "Sustainable DC" plan, publicly released February 20, 2013, was developed by a collaborative team of consultants. ARUP, in association with Ayers Saint Gross and with assistance from Partners for Economic Solutions, assisted the D.C. Office of Planning (OP) and D.C. Department of the Environment (DDOE) in writing the plan to guide the transformation within one generation.

Through OP and DDOE, extensive public participation generated more than 1,300 ideas to make the district more sustainable. ARUP developed a rating system to prioritize those community's ideas into quantifiable actions. Arup and Partners for Economic Solutions, with input from Consilience LLC, analyzed the actions for economic benefits including job creation.

D.C., already buying all the energy used by the district's government from renewable sources, is the first U.S. city to pass a law requiring public and private buildings to track and report energy and water performance data. Back in 2006, D.C. was also the first U.S. city to require green building standards for public and private buildings, mandating LEED certification for the commercial sector, and Green Community standards for residences.

Here's some of what D.C. plans to accomplish by 2036:

Cut citywide energy use by 50 percent. Increase renewable energy use by 50 percent. Have three times as many small businesses, and five times as many jobs providing green goods and services.

All new housing to meet "Health by Design" standards.

Reduce greenhouse gas emissions by half; plan for climate change impacts.

Increase wetlands by 50 percent, the tree canopy by 40 percent and have parks or natural spaces within a 10-minute walk of all residents. Cut the citywide obesity rate in half.

75 percent of all commuter trips will be made by a combination of public transit, biking and walking. Reduce commuter car trips by 25 percent. Achieve zero unhealthy air quality days.

100 percent of district waterways swimmable and fishable.

75 percent of landscape to capture rainwater for filtration or reuse.

20 more acres growing food.

Zero solid waste to landfills. Reduce total waste generation by 15 percent. Reuse 20 percent of construction and demolition waste. Increase waste diversion rate to 80 percent.

Expose residents to Sustainable D.C. events and initiatives in their neighborhoods. Teach half of D.C. children about sustainability.