Washington, DC

Washington, DC was named the world’s first LEED Platinum City in 2017, in part due to the city having the most LEED-certified buildings in the U.S., according to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

LEED is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. LEED for Cities was launched in 2016 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.

In 2022, Washington, DC was ranked the 5th Greenest State in the United States (WalletHub), and the third most ‘future-focused’ city in the US based on 8 sustainability metrics (FinanceBuzz).

The American University is the first urban campus in the United States to achieve carbon neutrality (2018). Seven local universities have significant credentials in sustainability from courses offered to connections to industry and key policy institutes.

Through the Sustainable DC Plan, the District has committed to sending zero waste to landfill and reducing waste generated by 15% by 2032.

Washington, DC is the first city in the USA to establish a ‘Green Bank’ that funds sustainability projects across the city, providing employment and advances in sustainability tactics and technology.

Washington, DC has over 5.7 million square feet of green roofs installed, making the District one of the top cities for green roofs, which provide stormwater management, cooling and more. The largest green roof in DC is the Smithsonian Gardens’ Enid A. Haupt Garden. The National Museum of Asian Art, the National Museum of African Art and several other buildings are underneath.

On top of this, the city also houses 7,800 acres of parkland – the most park space among the most populous cities in the US!

When viewed from above, 37% of Washington DC is covered by trees, providing a canopy that brings cooler temperatures in the summer months, and 24% of the land in DC is reserved for parks!

Washington, DC’s environmental friendliness has a lot to do with its green space, as home to the National Park Service which operates various hiking trails, Memorial Parks, National Mall, Rock Creek Park, Chesapeake & Ohio Canal National Historical Park and more. In May 2022, the Trust for Public Land rated Washington, DC the best big city park system in the USA for the second consecutive year.

From Rock Creek Park to the Potomac River and National Harbor, there are plenty of places to connect with nature in DC, whether you want to get out on the water, have a picnic on the grass, or wander through the trees.

The term “farm-to-table” is more than just a catchphrase in Washington. Many DC restaurants have expanded their sustainability awareness with biodynamic agriculture, local farming and more that goes far beyond the kitchen. All of the delicious farm-to-table restaurants in Farmers Restaurant Group – Founding Farmers, Farmers Fishers Bakers, and Farmers & Distillers – are LEED-certified and have in-house recycling and composting programs that keep 90% of waste out of landfills.

Bresca, a contemporary bistro, has joined ZeroFoodprint in an effort to fight climate change by going carbon neutral. The Right Proper Brewing Company is run completely on solar power, producing almost all the company’s consumed electricity. The company also uses LED lights in the tasting rooms and production facilities and gives spent grain away for free to local farmers.

Washington, DC is the first jurisdiction in North America to launch a bike-share system which now has more than 7,000 bikes, 1,000 electric bikes and more than 700 Capital Bikeshare stations. The city currently offers 30 miles of protected bike lanes!

The city has adopted goals to transition to a 100% zero-emissions bus fleet by 2045. As an alternative to traditional diesel fuel, buses that run on compressed natural gas (CNG) produce roughly 45% fewer hydrocarbons. In Washington, DC, more than 1,400 buses operated by the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) run on alternative fuel that is less harmful to the environment, including CNG, advanced technology diesel fuel, and ultra-low sulfur diesel fuel.

In addition, the DC Circulator costs just $1 (with free Wi-Fi) for all riders along six routes designed for easy-on, easy-off access at points of interest and popular neighbourhoods throughout the District. The Circulator services Adams Morgan, Dupont Circle, Georgetown, Woodley Park, U Street and Capitol Hill.

Transitioning to zero-emission technology requires more than just new buses. Washington, DC will also invest in facility and infrastructure upgrades beginning with the January 2023 groundbreaking of its Northern Bus Garage Reconstruction Project which will become a 100% zero-emission facility upon reopening. The garage is currently being designed and built to accommodate a fleet of 150 electric buses.