December 2022
Photo Credit: Smoot Construction (Rendering of Joy Evans Therapeutic Recreation Center)
As indicated by the District’s first Health Equity Report, social factors have the greatest influence on health outcomes, more than clinical care. This means that having opportunities to stay active in safe, accessible, and enjoyable spaces can play a key role in achieving a healthy lifestyle. While the winter months may find us increasing our down time, there are many ways to start or continue being active.
FITDC is the District’s citywide health and wellness initiative, with free resources and sessions, including a new “Learn to Run” series at the Banneker Recreation Center track for those running for the first time or training for their first race. Running is not the only way to stay active, and the Department of Parks and Recreation offers many programs in the winter for people of different ages and abilities.
Plus, there are exciting developments on the horizon. For example, renovation is underway on the Joy Evans Therapeutic Recreation Center in Ward 7, and it is expected to be complete in 2023. The renovated facility is being designed with an inclusivity and accessibility focus and will host sports and fitness programs for people with disabilities, among other activities. While just one piece of the puzzle, making physical activities available and accessible to all residents can help close the gap on the health disparities within the District.
District Sustainability Awards Applications Open January 2
The annual District Sustainability Awards highlight businesses, individuals, and organizations that are working towards a more sustainable DC. Awardees’ projects and programs support the Mayor’s Sustainable DC 2.0 Plan, which aims to make the District the nation’s healthiest, greenest, most livable city for all residents. Do you have suggestions for a suitable applicant? Keep an eye out for updates on the District Sustainability Awards webpage and note the application period opens January 2, 2023 and closes February 10, 2023.
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Solar Carport at Anacostia Metro Station Coming Online in Early 2023
In early 2023, the Anacostia Metro Station, one of four locations that are part of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (Metro) solar carport project, will be energized. The solar panels at the station will generate electricity equivalent to the power used by 165 homes annually! Metro is using its properties to provide renewable energy to the DC metro area through this innovative and community-oriented initiative, which includes solar canopies covering parking at four stations: Anacostia, Naylor Rd, Southern Ave, and Cheverly. For more information about the Solar Carport Project, visit the project website or subscribe to the newsletter.
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 Hello everyone! It’s your Sustainable DC Ambassador, Washington Spirit player Anna Heilferty, here to update you on what I have been up to this fall.
Highlights
You didn’t want to miss Kingman Island Family Day this year! It was a beautiful fall day that welcomed kids, families, and adults to the island for fun, interactive, and educational stations. At the Washington Spirit table, you got to score a goal, answer a trivia question about the island, and pick out your favorite Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) and Spirit swag. The island is an incredible outdoor space that DOEE and others are working hard to restore, maintain, and make accessible for the public’s use. If you have not been out to Kingman Island, I would definitely recommend it. You can learn more here.
Next up, I got to attend my first ever Fix-It DC event! The goal of each event is to change the “throw-it-away” mentality. You can bring in damaged items (like textiles, woodwork, and small electronics) and get paired with a coach that helps you repair your item and teaches you how to fix it in the future. I brought in two pairs of pants that needed mending and got to tune up my sewing skills in the process! Not only did I get to return those pants back to my wardrobe, but I also prevented 2.3 lbs. of waste from entering the landfill. Take that “planned obsolescence”! Check out future Fix-It DC events hosted at the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library.
Lastly, in honor of Washington Spirit Day - the celebration of our 1st National Women's Soccer League Championship in the organization’s history - Spirit teamed up with DOEE and Living Classrooms for a day among fans, friends, and family to clean up Kingman Island. We got into teams to pick up trash and remove invasive species - we specifically targeted the Bush Honeysuckle. The Bush Honeysuckle is an aggressive species that dominates and reduces the biodiversity on the island. We made a lot of progress from our event, but there is still a lot of work to do. Look out for more clean ups and invasive species removals here.
What I am excited for:
- Heading into 2023, the Washington Spirit will host their first ever Sustainability Night! Fill out this survey to share what you are looking forward to and want to see!
- Looking forward to entering the New Year with DOEE! Start YOUR year right by planning what volunteer opportunities you want to be a part of!
 GRANTS & FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Food Waste Innovation Grants
The Department of Small and Local Business Development is soliciting applications for the Fiscal Year 2023 Food Waste Innovation Grants. These grants will provide support for restaurants, food manufacturers, shared commercial kitchens, and commercial corridors like Main Streets and Business Improvement Districts to minimize their food waste going to landfills and minimize urban rat populations. This will help businesses meet the goals of the Mayor’s Sustainable DC 2.0 Plan and the upcoming requirements of the Zero Waste Omnibus Amendment Act while reducing costs in both food purchasing and waste disposal. Applications are due December 22. For more information, please visit dslbd.dc.gov/foodwastegrant.
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JOBS
Department of Energy and Environment – Program Analyst
The Urban Sustainability Administration at DOEE is hiring for a brand new position to launch the District’s new Environmentally Preferable Products and Services (EPPS) certification process, a next step in advancing the District’s commitment to sustainable purchasing. The Program Analyst will collaborate with District government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and other jurisdictions to establish an EPPS certification process and support strategies to increase sustainable purchasing. The deadline to apply is December 19. For more information, visit this webpageand search for the role using job ID 19865.
Office of Planning – Food Policy Analyst
The DC Office of Planning Food Policy Division is hiring a Policy Analyst to conduct research, data analysis, and policy development and analysis, centering their work on resident input and racial equity best practices. This position will include public speaking and presentations, organizing public forums, and interagency and intra-agency collaboration, with a heavy emphasis on relationship and trust building. The deadline to apply is December 21. For more information, visit this webpage and search for the role using job ID 19809.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Department of Public Works Seeks Final Public Input on Upcoming Zero Waste DC Plan
The Department of Public Works (DPW) Office of Waste Diversion recently released the latest draft of the upcoming Zero Waste DC Plan in pursuit of the Mayor’s Zero Waste goal of diverting 80 percent of the District’s waste away from landfills and incineration by 2032. DPW is now soliciting final feedback from the public, through a 45-day comment period that ends December 30, 2022. Community members across the city are invited to voice their concerns, share their ideas, and help build a zero waste future. To learn more about the Zero Waste DC Plan and see how to provide feedback, visit zero waste.dc.gov/zwdcplan.
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Public Comment Period Open for District’s First Racial Equity Action Plan
On November 16, the initial draft of the District's first-ever Racial Equity Action Plan was released and opened for public comment. Led by the Office of Racial Equity, the action plan is a three-year roadmap outlining actions that the District will take to close racial equity gaps and measure progress toward a more equitable DC. Written comments can be submitted online, via email, by mail, or at DC library locations. To view the Racial Equity Action Plan and learn how to submit comments, visit ore.dc.gov/actionplan. Comments are being accepted until January 2, 2023.
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Public Comment Period Open for Adoption of California Vehicle Emission Standards
Proposed regulations for adopting California vehicle emission standards are open for public comment. The proposal would reduce vehicular greenhouse gas emissions by adopting stricter emission standards for light-duty vehicles. The proposed regulations, instructions on how to provide comments, and information about a December 20 Clearing the Air webinar on this topic are available at doee.dc.gov/node/1634001. All comments must be submitted and received by 4:00 p.m. on January 9, 2023.
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Ready2Play is Open for Public Comment
Ready2Play, the Department of Parks and Recreation’s new 20-year master plan is now open for public comments through January 31, 2023. To submit your comment, go to ready2playdc.com/ and click on the document in the relevant section and a comment window will pop up. If you need assistance in a language other than English, please email ready2play@dc.gov.
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EVENTS
Swapping for the Holidays
Help close the circle on waste around holiday gift-giving by swapping clothes you love but no longer use for new items. Climate Classes DC is hosting the swap event on Saturday December 17 from 12:00 to 3:00 p.m., in collaboration with several partners. Quality, well-maintained clothes and accessories will be accepted. To learn more about this and other reuse events, visit the Reuse DC events page.
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January Fix-It DC Event
Let’s celebrate repair! Come and learn to disassemble and troubleshoot your broken objects at the next Fix-It DC event. Fix-It DC is a program which includes all-ages community events where people bring their broken household items and learn how to assess, disassemble, and repair them instead of sending them to the landfill.
Attend the upcoming Fix-It event at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library Labs on Wednesday, January 18, 5:30–7:30 p.m. Registration is opening soon and the link will be available on doee.dc.gov/service/fixit.
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Our Places: Connecting People and Nature
The Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History is hosting an exhibit called “Our Places”which focuses on how peoples’ experiences with nature inspires them to make a difference. It features personal stories from several local leaders, including from Friends of Anacostia Park, Urban Adventure Squad, and Friends of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. The exhibit is open through July 1, 2024.
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The District is fortunate to have organizations and individuals doing outstanding work on sustainability. Each month for the next couple months, we will highlight one of the winners of the 2022 District Sustainability Awards. This month, we are featuring Children's National Hospital, a third time award winner. Children’s National Hospital reduced greenhouse gas emissions and saved thousands of dollars by safely reducing flows of volatile anesthetics.
The hospital is part of Practice Green Health and other networks focused on sustainability, allowing it to learn from peers and be positioned for success. Congrats to Children’s National Hospital for being a 2022 District Sustainability Award Winner!
To learn more about all the winners, check out this short film.
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 D.C. Council’s Next Climate Moves — And Why They Might Matter for Equity: This article touches on the equity implications of shifting to electric appliances and increasing electric vehicle chargers.
7 Day Trips You Can Take Along Metro’s Expanded Silver Line: See which new activities and parks you can explore courtesy of Metro’s silver line, without having to leave public transit.
A Breakdown of How the Inflation Reduction Act Could Impact the District: The DC Sustainable Energy Utility explains how upcoming tax credits and rebates for climate change measures will affect District residents and businesses. |
