Property Partners will meet the goals of the Philadelphia 2030 District through sophisticated operations, robust tenant engagement, and strategic investments in conservation and efficiency strategies.
Below are strategies to meet the energy use, water use, transporation emissions, and stormwater management goals and guidance on how we measure progress toward those goals.
ENERGY USE
With buildings and industry accounting for 72 percent of carbon emissions in Philadelphia, the 2030 District presents the region’s best opportunity to reduce its impact on climate change. Improved building performance also lowers operational costs, improves indoor air quality and tenant comfort, and enhances the resiliency of the city’s new and existing building stock to the effects of climate change.
Strategies to Meet Goal
Existing Buildings
Benchmarking energy use data is the first step toward understanding your building’s performance.
Green Building United manages the City of Philadelphia’s Building Energy Benchmarking Program and provides technical support to building owners and managers on how to use ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to track their energy use data.
Conduct an energy audit or retrocommissioning to identify areas for improvement in your building.
To get started, visit The Hub, a searchable database of energy efficiency and sustainability services companies in Green Building United’s region.
Start a competition!
Take advantage of Activity Kits, Energy Treasure Hunts, and Guidance Materials from EPA to start and energy reduction challenge in your building.
Take advantage of rebates and incentives to help finance improvements.
Visit PECO Smart Ideas and PGW energysense to see if your building is eligible for savings.
New Construction
Design your building to meet the 2030 Challenge for Planning goals.
For new construction and major renovations, 2030 District members can use the Zero Tool to establish energy baselines and reduction targets.
Take advantage of rebates and incentives to help finance your project.
Visit PECO Smart Ideas to see if your building is eligible for savings.
Progress Toward Goal
Participating properties in the Philadelphia 2030 District achieved an aggregate 43.4% reduction from baseline for site energy use intensity (EUI) in 2020. The district’s aggregate energy use reduction has significant benefits in terms of kBtu reduction and avoided carbon emissions.
There is still progress to be made to meet the 50% energy use reduction goal by 2030.
Partner Spotlight: Two Liberty Place Chilled Water Plant Upgrade
Two Liberty Place’s Chilled Water Plant Project redesigned and reconstructed a 4000-ton thermal plant serving a 58-story building, including multi-tenant office space, residential condominiums, and a restaurant without interrupting chilled water delivery to its tenants and residents. Four new highefficiency centrifugal chillers and twelve new cooling towers were assembled on site, replacing two existing 1000-ton chillers and all of the building’s cooling towers. In addition, a plate and frame heat exchanger for waterside economizing and a chiller optimization program were installed. The project achieved an impressive 47 percent energy reduction during its first 10 months of operation.
Partner Spotlight: SEPTA Headquarters Deep Energy Retrofit
SEPTA is conducting a comprehensive energy retrofit of their headquarters building at 1234 Market Street using an ESCO financing model that pays for itself over time with the generated energy savings. The project’s energy conservation measures include remote lighting and control upgrades, building envelope improvements, motorized shades, air handling system and cooling tower refurbishments, electricity and cooling tower submetering, and a switch from off-site to on-site steam generation. The renovations are projected to produce 19 percent water usage reduction, 33.1 percent energy reduction, 85.4 percent reduction in heating load costs, and a combined annual savings of over $781,000.
WATER USE
Using water efficiently in a building results in both direct operational cost savings and related energy savings, all while helping to improve water quality.
Strategies to Meet Goal
Existing Buildings
Benchmarking water use data is the first step toward understanding your building’s performance.
Green Building United manages the City of Philadelphia’s Building Energy Benchmarking Program and provides technical support to building owners and managers on how to use ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to track their water use data.
Take advantage of existing resources.
Explore the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Savings Initiative and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency WaterSense programs.
New Construction
Take advantage of existing beyond-code resources to design your building to meet the 2030 Challenge for Planning goals.
Consult the Whole Building Design Guide’s Water Conservation resources, the LEED credit library for water efficiency, or the Living Building Challenge’s water petal for strategies.
Progress Toward Goal
Participating properties in the Philadelphia 2030 District achieved an aggregate 29.8% reduction from baseline for site water use intensity (WUI) in 2020.
There is still progress to be made to meet the 50% energy use reduction goal by 2030.
To learn more about baselining and measuring water use in the Philadelphia 2030 District, consult the guidance document prepared by the District’s Water Working Group.
Partner Spotlight: Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House Water Conservation and Efficiency Strategies
The Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House (PRMH) has implemented several measures to reduce their water use and manage stormwater. Operational efficiency at PRMH is mission-critical, as every dollar saved can be re-invested to support families in need. PRMH outfitted all of their existing fixtures with lowflow toilets, shower heads, and faucet aerators and, as they expanded their main site, installed only low-flow fixtures from the outset. Their dining room is outfitted with a commercial quick-cycle dishwasher. On their site, PRMH has a zoned and programmed irrigation system and uses rain barrels to collect runoff. Lastly, PRMH installed an approximately 5,000 square foot green roof for resident recreational use that is compliant with the City of Philadelphia’s stormwater management requirements.
STORMWATER MANAGEMENT
Green City, Clean Waters (GCCW) is the City of Philadelphia’s plan to reduce stormwater pollution entering its combined sewer system through the use of green stormwater infrastructure (GSI.) The Philadelphia 2030 District will align with the goals of GCCW by communicating the value of GSI and sharing and expanding the resources available to owners and managers of the city’s largest properties to encourage more GSI projects.
Strategies to Meet Goal
New Construction Regulatory Compliance
Review PWD Stormwater Regulations.
Evaluate eligibility for Philadelphia development bonuses and incentives including:
- Green Roof Business Tax Incentive
- Green Roof Density Bonus for New Construction
- FAR Bonus – Callowhill and Delaware Overlay
Consult case studies in Exceeding Intent: A Precedent Library of Exemplary Green Stormwater Infrustructure Projects.
Existing Building Retrofits
Review PWD Stormwater Retrofit Guidance Manual.
Evaluate eligibility for Philadelphia programs and incentives including:
- Concept Design Assistance Program
- Green Roof Business Tax Incentive
- Green Roof Density Bonus for Existing Buildings
- Stormwater Management Incentives Program (SMIP)
- Greened Acre Retrofit Program (GARP)
Consult case studies including PECO’s Green Roof.
Non-Compliance Strategies
Consult PWD’s GSI Infrastructure Tools.
Progress Toward Goal
Public and private stormwater management projects in the Philadelphia 2030 District total 54.3 verified greened acres as of 2020
There is still progress to be made to meet the 100 greened acres goal districtwide by 2030.
To learn more about baselining and measuring stormwater management in the Philadelphia 2030 District, consult the guidance document prepared by the District’s Water Working Group.
TRANSPORTATION EMISSIONS
Transportation is the second largest source of carbon emissions in Philadelphia. Discouraging single-occupancy vehicle commuting in the Philadelphia 2030 District not only reduces transportation emissions but also improves quality of life issues including improving air quality and travel times.
Strategies to Meet Goal
Building Owners/Managers
- Add shower facilities in buildings for tenant use
- Make pedestrian access more attractive
- Increase number of secure bicycle parking spaces
- Increase plaza areas and site design to promote walking
Employers
- Increase opportunities for telecommuting
- Relax dress code to make bike/ped commuting easier
- Expand employer transit benefit programs, including RideECO
- Promote the use of bike share for employees and visitors including Indego
- Set up company bike share for meetings and lunch travel including Indego Corporate Pass Program
- Institute a parking cash out program
- Increase incentives for car sharing/promotion of car sharing firms including through workplace partnerships
- Implement a needs-based parking permit system
- Charge daily as opposed to monthly for parking
- Increase provision of electric vehicle charging parking spots
- Provide free shuttle buses to and from major destinations
Institutions
- Negotiate bulk fare contracts with SEPTA
- Increase provision of electric vehicle charging parking spots
- Incentivize car sharing
- Provide free shuttle buses to and from major destinations
Progress Toward Goal
The Philadelphia 2030 District has reduced transportation emissions by 12.8% from its districtwide baseline as of 2019.
To learn more about baselining and measuring transportation emissions in the Philadelphia 2030 District, consult the guidance document prepared by the District’s Transportation Working Group.
Partner Spotlight: FMC Tower at Cira Centre South
Brandywine Property Trust offers many alternative transportation opportunities for residents, employees, and visitors who come to the FMC Tower on 2929 Walnut Street. Through careful site selection, the tower provides access to high quality public transportation at 30th Street Station, promotes walking on the adjacent Schuylkill River Trail, and encourages biking with on-site storage and changing rooms. In addition, Brandywine Realty Trust partnered with Ride Systems to offer shuttle bus services for those commuting to and from the tower, serving 3,200 riders per month. Brandywine Realty Trust also has a strategic partnership with Lyft rideshare services to offer discounted rates to FMC Tower tenants and visitors.