Your Favorite Sustainable Spots

District of Columbia sent this bulletin at 01/17/2023 01:45 PM EST

January 2023

Image Credit: Department of Energy and Environment

Do you have a favorite local green business? What makes you think of them as a “green” business? The truth is, there is no one answer. Since being green is about advancing equity, protecting the environment, and building the local economy, a green business could come in many forms. From restaurants to clothing stores, to hair salons and beyond, the way each business embodies sustainability will differ.

Fortunately, the District offers many support opportunities and resources for businesses, no matter where they are on the path to sustainability. The Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) offers a centralized webpage for sustainability incentives and programs available to businesses, and has staff available to provide guidance. They can be reached by calling DOEE at (202) 535-2600 and asking for the sustainable business program staff in the Urban Sustainability Administration. The Department of Small and Local Business Development includes sustainability resources through its DC Business Toolkit, and keeps an archive of all virtual training sessions, including on topics such as clean energy and urban agriculture.

If any favorite local green businesses come to mind, encourage them to apply for a 2023 District Sustainability Award! We would love to recognize them and help tell their story. More information is below.

2023 Environmental Justice Academy Applications Now Open

Offered through the Anacostia Community Museum, the Environmental Justice Academy will engage 35 young women and non-binary youth of color living in communities along the Anacostia River in exploration of the intersections of community, justice, and environment. Participants will engage in hands-on learning activities related to watershed ecology and environmental justice, as well as receive career development and mentorship. More information, including how to apply, is available at https://anacostia.si.edu/environmental-justice-academy. Applications are due by January 20.

Department of Public Works is Expanding Its Food Waste Drop-Off Program and is Seeking Applications

The Department of Public Works (DPW) sponsored Food Waste Drop-Off (FWDO) Program provides residents with the opportunity to drop off food waste for composting year-round at designated locations throughout the District. DPW currently supports 10 drop-off locations, with at least one in each of the District’s eight wards.

To increase access to food waste composting opportunities, DPW is expanding the program by two sites in Spring 2023 and is accepting applications from dedicated community members to establish, manage, and staff a new FWDO site. All members of the public are encouraged to apply, including nonprofits, faith-based organizations, businesses, business improvement districts, or other interested parties.

To learn more and apply, visit surveymonkey/r/FWDOApp. Applicants must be submitted by January 31. For questions and more information about eligibility and the application process, please email zero.waste@dc.gov.

Greenbuild is Soliciting Session Proposals

Greenbuild hosts the largest annual event for green building professionals worldwide where attendees learn and source solutions to improve resilience, sustainability, and quality of life in our buildings, cities, and communities. Greenbuild 2023 will take place in the District on September 26-29 and include walking tours of local green buildings. The call for session proposals is open and closes January 24. Interested local green building professionals can also apply to join Greenbuild’s Host Committee, and help make the event a success.

District Sustainability Awards Applications Now Open

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? Encourage them to apply at https://doee.dc.gov/service/sustainabilityawards! For more information about the awards, please contact Mary Lynn Wilhere at DOEE’s Urban Sustainability Administration at (202) 870-2924 or marylynn.wilhere@dc.gov. Applications are due February 10.

FloodSmart Homes Pilot Program Launched

DOEE is piloting a program called FloodSmart Homes that will send a professional to your home for a free flood resilience assessment and help identify the best solutions for your flooding concerns to reduce flood risk in your home. The professional will generate a report recommending the most useful and cost-effective resilience upgrades that would be a good fit for your home. If you agree to these upgrades, DOEE will install them at little to no cost to you. An informational webinar about the program will take place Thursday February 16 from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.

You can sign up for the program by:

Completing the online survey here: https://form.typeform.com/to/f6jfQz9j?typeform-source=e4rnnmf0pv3.typeform.com
Emailing flood.risk@dc.gov
Calling 202-535-2600 and asking for the Flood Team

GRANTS & FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Notice of Funding Availability – Enhancing Green Infrastructure Community Benefits

DOEE seeks eligible entities for projects that implement a participatory planning and design process to identify community-identified green infrastructure (GI) benefits for Stormwater Retention Credit-generating projects. GI practices provide many environmental and economic benefits and protect against the harmful impacts of stormwater runoff. A grantee will help one or more communities develop best practices for identifying their desired GI benefits. The amount available for the project is a total of $70,095, available in grant amounts of no more than $40,000. Applications are due February 17. For more information, please visit https://doee.dc.gov/node/1637916.

JOBS

PolicyLink and the University of Southern California Equity Research Institute – National Equity Atlas Fellowship

The National Equity Atlas Fellowship is a year-long program designed to equip advocates of color with skills and tools to leverage data to advance racial and economic equity in their communities. During the experience, fellows will increase their skills in data analysis and visualization while producing data products to use in equity campaigns. Applicants must already be employed by qualifying community-based organizations that use power-building strategies for campaigns focused on systems and policy change. Organizations will receive a $7,500 stipend to support their fellow’s participation in the program. The deadline to apply is January 21. For more information, visit this webpage.

Department of Energy and Environment – Green Fellows

Applications for DOEE’s Green Fellows Leadership and Development Program are now open. The fellowship is a competitive paid opportunity designed for graduate-level students who are currently enrolled in a Master's degree study program. Green Fellows perform a variety of assignments designed to enhance their public service values, environmental knowledge, critical leadership skills, and project management abilities. Fellows will have several opportunities to come together with their cohort to participate in cross-disciplinary and professional development trainings, collaborative group projects, field work, volunteerism, field trips, and other value-added opportunities. The deadline to apply is January 27. For more information and to apply, visit this webpage.

Department of Public Works – Office of Waste Diversion Program Analyst

DPW is hiring a Program Analyst to execute visual communication solutions that support the branding, communication, marketing and advertising efforts of the Office of Waste Diversion, Zero Waste DC, and the city’s zero waste brand campaign. The incumbent will work in coordination and collaboratively with the management and project teams to carry out waste diversion initiatives, including education and outreach to residents and businesses. The deadline to apply is February 18. For more information, visit this webpage and search for the role using job ID 20337.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Public Comment Period Extended 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 https://ore.dc.gov/actionplan. Comments are being accepted until January 31.

Ready2Play is Open for Public Comment

The DC Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) is pleased to announce that Ready2Play, the agency’s new 20-year draft master plan, is now open for public comments through January 31, at https://ready2playdc.com/. To submit your comments, simply click on the document in the relevant section and a comment window will pop up. DPR looks forward to your feedback, which will help shape the future of parks and recreation in the District for years to come. Should you have any additional questions or concerns, don't hesitate to contact DPR's Customer Care Center at (202) 673-7647 or email the planning team at ready2play@dc.gov.

Proposed Battery Stewardship Plan Open for Comments

People in the District will soon have new options to safely and conveniently recycle their batteries, through a battery stewardship program. Call2Recycle, the District’s only battery stewardship organization, submitted a proposed battery stewardship plan and DOEE must approve or disapprove it. Before making that determination, DOEE is accepting public comments on the plan through February 13. For more details, please go to https://dcregs.dc.gov/Common/NoticeDetail.aspx?NoticeId=N128792 and click on “View text” for ways to view the plan and submit comments.

EVENTS

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. Register to attend through the DC Public Library event listing.

eCYCLE Collection Events

By recycling used electronics, individuals can help recover valuable resources and properly manage potentially hazardous materials. eCYCLE DC, through manufacturers’ collection and recycling plans, is bringing District residents more options for recycling their electronics.

The following items are banned from the trash and are collected at the eCYCLE DC collection events: computers and monitors, tablets, e-readers, mice, keyboards, DVD or VCR players, printers, televisions, game consoles, and portable music players. For more information, check out this fact sheet.

Saturday, January 28, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Near 2500 Georgia Ave NW (Ward 1, near Banneker Community Center)
Saturday, February 4, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Near 1801 23rd St NW (Ward 2, near Mitchell Park)
Saturday, February 11, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Near the corner of 39th St NW & Newark St NW (Ward 3, near Newark Park)
Saturday, February 18, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Near the corner of Van Buren St NW & 4th St NW (Ward 4, near Takoma Community Center)

Please visit the eCYCLE DC website to check for any updates closer to the event date.

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 Ariel Trahan, Director of River Restoration Programs at the Anacostia Watershed Society. Ms. Trahan engages students in hands-on activities, such as raising wild rice in their classrooms and planting it in the Anacostia River, tree plantings, and meadow restorations.

She is an environmental educator passionate about all District (and watershed) residents having opportunities to engage with their local natural resources in ways that are meaningful to them. Congrats to Ariel Trahan for being a 2022 District Sustainability Award Winner!

To learn more about all the winners, check out this short film.

Right Tree, Right Species, Right Place: This interactive website tells the story of how tree planting decisions in the 1800s continue to affect today’s urban forest and how the District uses climate and pest threat information to create a diverse and resilient canopy.

3 Tangible Ways to Engage Your Community and Tackle Big Problems: Read about how cities around the world are thinking outside the box and using creative engagement methods to address climate challenges.