June 2023
The 2023 Sustainable DC annual progress report is now available on the Sustainable DC website!
Sustainability is about balancing the environmental, economic, and social needs of the District of Columbia today as well as the needs of the next generation, and the one after that. District Government agencies and our partners have been working to do just that – introducing new programs and expanding existing ones to make the DC the healthiest, greenest, and most livable city for all our residents! This year’s progress report highlights key achievements from the past year from three interconnected plans: Sustainable DC 2.0, Clean Energy DC, and Climate Ready DC. Working in parallel, these three plans show how sustainability can be put into practice, by both confronting our environmental and climate challenges and doing it in a way that addresses inequities and builds out a robust green economy.
The progress report helps us hold ourselves, our partners, and our city accountable to the sustainability goals we have set – and of course celebrate the great work done all around the District! Here are just a few highlights:
- Mayor Bowser signed the Clean Energy DC Building Code Amendment Act of 2022, demonstrating the District’s leadership on sustainable buildings by requiring new construction for most building types to meet a net-zero energy standard beginning in 2027.
- The Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) released Keep Cool DC, the District’s extreme heat adaptation strategy.
- DOEE launched its FloodSmart Homes program, which provides free resilience assessments of homes to determine which retrofit measures are most needed and cost-effective.
- The Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) launched Certified Business Enterprise (CBE) Green, a grant program to support CBEs pursuing energy efficiency and other green building market contracts.
- The District reached 10,013 registered solar systems, over three times greater than the number of systems in 2017.
- The District released its Transportation Electrification Roadmap and was awarded nearly $17 million in federal funds to scale up electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
To read the full report, visit https://sustainable.dc.gov/progress.
2023 District Sustainability Award Winners Announced!
The District Sustainability Awards highlight businesses, individuals, and organizations that are working towards a more sustainable DC. Awardees’ projects and programs support the Sustainable DC 2.0 Plan, which aims to make the District the greenest, healthiest, most livable city in the United States. This year, five winners were announced – four District Sustainability Awards and one Clean Energy DC Award. Check out case studies of the awardees and the YouTube short film featuring each of the five winners describing, in their own words, why they chose sustainable operations and practices!
- Winners of the District Sustainability Award
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Winner of the Clean Energy DC Award
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Richard Jackson is Appointed Acting Director for the Department of Energy and Environment
Director Jackson began his career at DOEE in 2008 and has more than 20 years’ experience in the chemical and environmental engineering fields, including hazardous waste management, chemical production and processing, nuclear power plant maintenance, occupational safety, and quality assurance auditing. Director Jackson recently served as DOEE’s Interim Director, providing strategic guidance and leadership to a workforce of more than 450 environmental professionals and overseeing the daily operations of five administrations that work collaboratively to protect the environment and conserve natural resources in the District. A proud veteran, Director Jackson served more than two decades in the U.S. Navy as a nuclear-trained submariner.
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GRANTS & FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
Request for Applications – District Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences: Overnight and Nature Near School
DOEE seeks eligible entities to continue DOEE's commitment to provide MWEE to fourth and fifth-grade students enrolled in DC Public Schools and DC Public Charter Schools. The MWEE program offers District students the opportunity to learn about their local watersheds and the Chesapeake Bay, while immersed in an urban and non-urban environment. This hands-on outdoor program also provides professional development for teachers, advances the integration of environmental literacy into classroom curriculum, and helps prepare District students to be competitive in the green economy. The amount available for the project is $600,000. The deadline for application submissions is June 30. For more information, visit https://doee.dc.gov/node/1660561.
Request for Applications – Middle School Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences
DOEE seeks eligible entities to continue DOEE's commitment to provide Middle School Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MS MWEE) to sixth, seventh and eighth grade students enrolled in DC Public Schools and DC Public Charter Schools. The MWEE program offers District students the opportunity to spend a significant amount of time learning about their local watersheds and the Chesapeake Bay, while immersed in an urban environment. This hands-on outdoor program also provides professional development for teachers, advances the integration of environmental literacy into classroom curriculum, and helps prepare District students to be competitive in the green economy. The amount available for the project is $25,000. The deadline for applications is July 14. For more information, visit https://doee.dc.gov/node/1664816.
Request for Applications – Community Stormwater Solutions Evaluation and Expansion Grant
DOEE seeks eligible entities to continue and expand DOEE’s commitment to fund innovative watershed-focused initiatives; build capacity among new and low-capacity community-based organizations and small businesses; and support the advancement of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the grant award-making process and in environmental work. The amount available for the two-year project is $700,000, with an opportunity for DOEE to extend for another two years, at its discretion. The deadline for applications is August 11. For more information, visit https://doee.dc.gov/node/1666121.
JOBS
Department of Energy and Environment – Program Analyst, Equity and Engagement (Job ID: 22308)
This position is in the DOEE’s Urban Sustainability Administration and will advise and support coordination within the agency and District Government, including the Office of Racial Equity. This position will work with community partners to broaden and strengthen inclusive resident engagement and maximize equitable outcomes related to urban sustainability, including co-leading DOEE’s role in supporting the District’s resilience hub pilot. This position will act in an advisory role to the Director, DOEE program staff, and the agency’s Racial Equity Committee to further agency’s internal equity training and implementation goals. Strong facilitation, community engagement, communications, project management, and analytical skills are required in addition to experience in, and knowledge of, equity theory and practice. Applications are due June 30. For more information, visit Careers - dc.gov and search for job ID 22308.
Department of Public Works – Program Manager, Waste Diversion (Job ID: 22169)
This position is in the Solid Waste Management Administration (SWMA), Office of Waste Diversion (OWD). The Solid Waste Management Administration is responsible for providing environmentally healthy municipal services that are both ecologically sound and cost effective. The services of OWD include business process reengineering, monitoring, and evaluating the effectiveness of the waste diversion programs in the District. The position develops programs to support the agency’s recycling and waste diversion goals and helps make it easy for people to participate; sets standards for best practices that are environmentally sustainable and economically feasible for the District government and residents; is responsible for coordinating the implementation of agency strategic Waste Diversion plans and policies; and reports work progress and status to the agency head as necessary. Applications are due July 1. For more information, visit Careers - dc.gov and search for job ID 22169.
Casey Trees – Several Open Positions
Casey Trees is a Washington DC-based nonprofit committed to restoring, enhancing, and protecting the tree canopy of the nation’s capital. To fulfill this mission, the organization plants trees; engages thousands of volunteers of all ages in tree planting and care; provides year-round continuing education courses; monitors the city’s tree canopy; develops interactive online tree tools; and works with elected officials, developers, and community groups to protect and care for existing trees and to encourage the addition of new ones. Visit Casey Trees’ jobs page to learn more about the following open positions:
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Sustainable DC is Getting a Refresh - Take the Survey Now!
The District is updating its Sustainable DC plan to support a healthy environment, further equity, and expand economic development opportunities. The survey to provide input on the plan is now available, both in English and in Spanish. Please visit https://publicinput.com/u3366#1 to take the survey. Your responses will help ensure the next version of the Sustainable DC plan appropriately reflects community priorities to advance climate justice, racial equity, and economic justice.
In addition to the survey, community members are being engaged through focus groups and in-person events. Dates for these additional engagement events will be posted on https://publicinput.com/u3366#2.
EVENTS
To Live and Breathe: Women and Environmental Justice in Washington, D.C.
Women have led the environmental justice movement. Women are often the ones who notice patterns of disease in their communities, fight to protect their families and neighbors, and bear the burden of health disparities. In this exhibition from the Smithsonian's Anacostia Community Museum running May 19, 2023 – January 7, 2024, explore how local women of color draw on a long history of activism and advance environmental justice efforts not only in D.C., but across the country and beyond.
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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. See below for upcoming eCYCLE DC events around the District.
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Saturday, July 8, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Collection vehicle expected to be on Columbia Rd NW between Champlain St NW and Ontario Rd NW (Ward 1, near Unity Park)
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Friday, July 14, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Collection vehicle expected to be on Anacostia Ave NE between Dix St NE & Benning Rd NE (Ward 7, near Anacostia Baseball Fields)
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Saturday July 22, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Collection vehicle expected to be near 1333 Emerson St NE (Ward 5, near North Michigan Park Recreation Center)
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Saturday July 29, 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Collection vehicle expected to be south of Petworth Farmers Market on Taylor St NW east of 9th St NW (Ward 4)
Please visit the eCYCLE DC website to check for any updates closer to the event date.
Fix-It DC
Fix-It DC events are community repair events dedicated to changing the “throw-it-away” mentality. Visitors bring their broken items to the Fix-It DC event where volunteer Fix-It coaches provide guidance in troubleshooting how to repair each item. The next event is:
- Saturday, July 15, 1–3 p.m. at Mt Pleasant Library (3160 16th St NW) – Register Now
DOEE is also looking for coaches to help other residents try to repair their small household items. If you are interested in coaching, please sign up here.
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‘It’s Just Calm:’ How Community Organizers Harness Nature For Youth Healing In Ward 8: With the help of an environmental justice grant, DC resident Victor Battle founded Right Directions earlier this year, aiming to spark curiosity and entertain kids while also teaching them about ways to preserve the natural environments in their own neighborhood.
Ears and Eyes of the Environment Podcast: The official podcast of DOEE, focusing on giving in-depth insight and discussion on the energy and environmental concerns that exist within the District of Columbia, has a new episode out. It focuses on the history and prospective future for flood issues in the District. Check it out and the four prior episodes! |
