Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy
Communities across the United States and in other countries are looking for opportunities to decrease energy consumption, this has led to the development of green building standard-setting organizations.
Philadelphia Sustainability Plan—GreenworksIn Mayor Michael Nutter's January 2008 inaugural address, he pledged to make Philadelphia the number one green city in America.
Renewable Energy Development/RE-Powering InitiativeElectricity production will need to increase by nearly 30 percent over the next two decades to meet growing demand. As communities become more concerned about the environmental impacts of fossil fuels, renewable energy technologies will play a greater role in meeting future electricity demand.
SEPTAinable Transit Sustainability Plan"SEPTAinable The Route to Regional Sustainability " is the sustainability plan for the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), which provides public transit for 5 Pennsylvania Counties, including Philadelphia.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) established the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) as part of the Kyoto Protocol.
Climate and Green BondsClimate and green bonds are fixed-income financial instruments that are issued in order to raise capital for the implementation of environmental projects, often climate change mitigation- or adaptation-related activities or renewable or energy efficiency projects, and therefore allow investors to report to their members on how their secure investments are also contributing to addressing environmental challenges.
Energy Service Company (ESCO) ModelThe ESCO model was developed to recoup the savings from implementing more energy efficient strategies onto commercial and industrial properties.
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)PACE programs can help home and business owners pay for the upfront costs of green initiatives, which the property owner then pays back by property taxes increased by a set rate over about 20 years.
Sustainable Public-Private Loan StrategyPublic-private loan structures can support sustainability projects that might not otherwise take place.
The goal of the Big Green Block project was to transform the sites of the Shissler Recreation Center and the Kensington High School for the Creative and Performing Arts and the surrounding area into the biggest, greenest block in Philadelphia.
BigBelly Trash CompactorsIn 2009, Philadelphia replaced 700 public wire trash baskets with 500 BigBelly-brand solar trash compactors.
Car Sharing ServicePhiladelphia began using a private car sharing service to meet the transportation needs of municipal employees in 2003.
Green Buildings at the Navy YardEvery building developed in the Philadelphia Navy Yard, a rapidly developing area, is required to meet and will be registered for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification.
Green Districts Program: Ilha do Bom JesusIn order to stimulate innovation and concentrated economic development, the State of Rio de Janeiro has developed the concept of "Green Districts."
Greenfield SchoolGreenfield Elementary School is a model of sustainable site improvement and community involvement in Philadelphia.
Hybrid Diesel BusesThe City of Philadelphia is using hybrid buses to improve air quality and reduce pollution.
Improving Energy Efficiency of City-Owned FacilitiesThrough the Guaranteed Energy Savings Act or GESA, the City of Philadelphia engaged a qualified Energy Service Company (ESCO) to determine the feasibility of energy conservation measures to be implemented in City's "Quadplex" buildings (City Hall, Municipal Services Building, One Parkway and the Criminal Justice Center).
Morar Carioca "Verde": Greener DevelopmentThe Rio de Janeiro Municipal Secretariat of Housing (SMH) made respect for the environment a core principle of their interventions in the "favelas" (slums) of the city.
PWD Biogas Cogeneration FacilityIn 2012, the Philadelphia Water Department and the company Ameresco, Inc. announced an agreement to develop and maintain a cogeneration facility at PWD's Northeast Water Pollution Control Plant.
Solar Panels at the Southeast Water Pollution Control PlantIn 2011, The City of Philadelphia installed a 250 KW solar array at the Water Department's Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant.
