In 2011, Washington, D.C. adopted the Sustainable D.C. plan, establishing the capital as a leader in green building and sustainability planning. In 2017, the city is the first in the world to achieve a new mark of distinction for its accomplishments.
Mikaela Lefrak reports: "Washington, D.C. was named the first city in the world to receive a newly-established accreditation for environmental sustainability on Thursday."
"The LEED for Cities Platinum certification recognizes the District as a leader in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, innovating around clean energy and other environmental metrics," adds Lefrak.
Lefrak notes that Washington, D.C. has more LEED-certified projects per capita than any state in the union.
According to a press release from the U.S. Green Building Council announcing the District's recognition, "LEED for Cities was launched last year and enables cities to measure and communicate performance, focusing on outcomes from ongoing sustainability efforts across an array of metrics, including energy, water, waste, transportation, and human experience (which includes education, prosperity, equity and health & safety)."
FULL STORY: D.C. Named World’s First LEED Platinum City
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Advancing Sustainability in Los Angeles County Schools
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HUD may rescind over a billion dollars earmarked for green building upgrades.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
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Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Waymo Gets Permission to Map SF’s Market Street
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Parklet Symposium Highlights the Success of Shared Spaces
Parklets got a boost during the Covid-19 pandemic, when the concept was translated to outdoor dining programs that offered restaurants a lifeline during the shutdown.
Federal Homelessness Agency Places Entire Staff on Leave
The U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness is the only federal agency dedicated to preventing and ending homelessness.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
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Smith Gee Studio
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Harvard GSD Executive Education
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NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service