In light of the United States withdrawing from the Paris Agreement, individuals from the private sector and local state officials are stepping up to combat climate change.
Green Building United, with support from the City of Philadelphia, launched the Philadelphia 2030 District – an initiative to reduce the city’s environmental impact. The Philadelphia 2030 District educates the Greater Philadelphia community about the importance of improving the sustainability of buildings while challenging and supporting building owners and managers to work together to reduce carbon emissions.
Let’s take a look at what you need to know about the Philadelphia 2030 District.
What is a 2030 District and what is the program’s overall goal?
2030 Districts are private/public partnerships that bring together property owners, managers, utilities, energy service companies, and community organizations to achieve substantial reductions in energy, water use, and transportation emissions by the year 2030. Right now, Philadelphia’s buildings contribute to over 60 percent of the city’s carbon emissions and present the strongest opportunity for reducing carbon emissions. 2030 Districts encourage private sector-leadership to lessen their environmental impact, all while lowering operational costs and improving the overall tenant experience.
Who are some of the big names that have already signed onto Philadelphia’s 2030 District?
Brandywine Realty Trust was the first to sign on its entire portfolio in support of the Philadelphia 2030 District. As one of the largest real estate investment trust companies in the country, Brandywine’s support early on in the project made other companies eager to join. Drexel University has also committed buildings to the District.
How will Philadelphia’s 2030 District contribute to sustainability efforts in the region?
The Philadelphia 2030 District will strongly impact the region by helping to decrease the city’s overall energy and water usage as well as transportation emissions. In terms of long-term goals, the program aims to promote better building practices with a focus on both energy and water conservation. As part of a 2030 District, building contractors, managers, owners, government officials, and private companies can network and share contacts. They are also able to learn best practices surrounding future energy-efficient building solutions and tenant engagement strategies.
The 2030 District will introduce more efficient building practices into the Greater Philadelphia region and is a great example of what state leaders and individuals from private-sector leadership can do to help solve pressing environmental issues. Check out Green Building United’s website for more information about upcoming launches and projects.
Twevle property partners have committed over 18.5 million square feet of building space to meeting the goals of the Philadelphia 2030 District. To learn more about the district or to get involved, please contact Katie Bartolotta at kbartolotta@greenbuildingunited.org