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October 2023

Image Credit: University of the District of Columbia

Fall in the District means cooler temperatures, changing leaves, and of course back to school time! And it doesn’t have to be just kids that are strapping on their backpacks and settling in to learn for the next few months. If you’ve been thinking of breaking into the growing sustainability field by getting a formal degree, there are plenty of opportunities to do so. Here is a sampling of available programs in the District:

• The University of the District of Columbia (UDC) offers a B.A. in Urban Sustainability, which is one of the majors approved for the DC Futures program that helps offset tuition costs and provides support services to address barriers to degree completion. In addition, UDC has three Professional Science Master’s Degree Programs focused on urban agriculture, urban sustainability, and water resources management. UDC even offers a Ph.D. in Urban Leadership and Entrepreneurship that includes an urban sustainability and resilience leadership concentration.
• A suite of environmental and sustainability programs is available at American University in its various graduate schools. The College of Arts and Sciences hosts an M.S. in Environmental Science, the School of International Service has M.A. programs in Global Environmental Policy and Natural Resources and Sustainable Development, and the business school has an M.S. in Sustainability Management. 
• The George Washington University has sustainability programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and executive levels that intersect with a wide breadth of topics. These programs include a Masters in Global Environmental Health, J.D. Concentration in Environmental Law and Energy Law, and Certificate in Sustainable Urban Planning.
• Georgetown University offers a relatively new M.S. in Environment and Sustainability Management program,which is currently accepting applications for Fall 2024. Scholarships are considered at the time of application and can cover up to 15% of tuition or $12,000. There is a free preview day on December 2 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. if you’d like to learn more.

Department of Energy and Environment Launches Sustainable Business Registry The Department of Energy and Environment (DOEE) recently launched a new service to assist businesses interested in improving their sustainability and environmental footprint. The Sustainable Business Registry is free for local businesses to join and includes benefits such as free technical assistance and guidance on industry-specific tools, resources, and funding opportunities.

Destination DC Launches Sustainability District Destination DC, the District’s lead organization that markets the city as a tourism and special events destination, has launched a program to serve as a gateway for working with businesses in the hospitality industry that are committed to promoting sustainability. The Sustainability District program includes specific commitments for participating businesses to make based on their industry category, as well as several resources to support them.

Hari Karne – Former DOEE Green Fellow

Dear Sustainable DC Subscribers – It’s been my pleasure writing this newsletter these past few months! From April to September, I had the opportunity to be a Green Fellow with DOEE’s Urban Sustainability Administration and explore a wide variety of topics related to the District’s sustainability efforts. In addition to writing the Sustainable DC newsletter and volunteer newsletter and connecting with residents through the Sustainable DC inbox and social media, I was involved in the Sustainable DC Plan update. It was great to meet some of you through the focus groups, engagement events, and community meetings in wards 5,6,7, and 8 this summer where we gathered input on the priorities you would like to see represented in the next version of the plan. As the Sustainable DC Plan is a broad, cross-agency effort, I was involved with the Sustainable DC team’s engagement with other agencies to make the targets in the next version of the plan more equitable and measurable. I’m currently a graduate student at Johns Hopkins University getting my M.S. in Environmental Science and Policy, and I was able to collaborate with DOEE urban stream restoration experts for a class project to learn more about the successes and challenges of the Nash Run stream restoration. I also had so much fun participating in other environmental initiatives happening across DOEE this summer – I helped at the Anacostia Youth Environmental Summit, visited some cool urban farms in District, volunteered to remove invasive species, paddled and helped clean the river near Kingman Island with the Anacostia Green Boats, toured the American Geophysical Union’s net-zero energy building, helped out at a Fix-It DC clinic, and more! I had a fantastic (and fun!) experience as a green fellow this year! Thank you to DOEE for welcoming me to the agency and for this opportunity. If you are a graduate student in DC area – applications for next year’s (paid) fellowship are open! Learn more and apply at doee.dc.gov/service/greenfellows.

GRANTS & FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

Request for Applications - Climate and Energy Engagement and Outreach 2023 DOEE seeks eligible entities to collect community feedback, understand community priorities, and continue to engage community members, especially low-income disadvantaged communities, around clean energy and climate change. This input will support the development of a federally-funded Priority Climate Action Plan and Comprehensive Climate Action Plan for the District of Columbia to address greenhouse gas emissions while benefitting local communities. The amount available for the project is $125,000. For more information, click here. Applications are due October 31.

Small and Accessible Sustainability Grant Program DOEE has announced the 2024 Small and Accessible Sustainability Grant Program in partnership with the Chesapeake Bay Trust. The 2024 program provides two funding opportunities: The Donation and Reuse Award Program provides up to $10,000 in funding for donation, reuse, and repair projects, programs, and services in the District. The grant program will support community-oriented projects that are designed to meet the needs of the community and/or encourage behavior change around donation, reuse, and repair of household items and food recovery. The Urban Agriculture Small Award Program provides up to $10,000 for urban farms to expand operations and infrastructure capacity in the District. This funding specifically targets farms led by historically underrepresented farmers, and farms that directly benefit communities with low access to grocery stores and fresh food. A range of applicants are encouraged to apply; please check the Request for Applications for each program for specific eligibility information. The deadline to apply to either program is November 9 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern.

Keeping It Cool Grant Program The Keeping It Cool – Round 2 Grant Program, available through the Nourish DC Collaborative, will provide $425,000 in grants ranging from $10,000 to $50,000 to support cold storage infrastructure and equipment needs of food businesses and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations providing food-related goods and services in the Washington, D.C. region. Having available and efficient cold storage is one of the key ways food-serving entities can prevent food waste. For more information, click here. Applications are due November 10.

JOBS

Department of Energy and Environment – Green Fellows

Applications are now being accepted for the Fiscal Year 2024 Green Fellows Leadership and Development Program. This Fellowship is a competitive paid opportunity designed for graduate-level students who are currently enrolled in a Master's degree study program at a college or university located in Washington, DC OR a DC resident enrolled in a Master's program at a college or university located in the DC metro area. The cohort will consist of five Fellows:

• Policy and Implementation Fellow
• Renewable Energy and Clean Transportation Fellow
• Urban Sustainability Fellow
• Watershed Protection Fellow
• Air Quality Planning Fellow

For additional information and to apply, please visit the Green Fellows Leadership and Development Program web page. Applications close November 3.

Department of Energy and Environment – Policy Advisor

This position is located in the Energy Administration, Policy and Compliance Division, Renewable Energy and Clean Transportation Branch. DOEE is seeking a highly motivated individual who will serve as a technical authority on energy and utility matters to help the District of Columbia achieve its innovative and climate change-driven energy goals (e.g., sustainability, affordability, reliability, and resilience) through its activities before the District of Columbia Public Service Commission proceedings as well as through DOEE’s projects and initiatives. For more information and to apply, visit careers.dc.gov and enter Job ID# 23892. Applications close November 3.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Request for Data - Ambient Water Quality Monitoring

DOEE is requesting data from ambient water quality monitoring programs, special water quality studies performed by universities and community groups, and all data related to water quality for waters within the District. Please submit data by November 10. For more information, click here.

Survey for Electric Vehicle Owners

If you are a DC resident and own an electric or plug-in hybrid vehicle, DOEE wants to hear from you! Fill out the short survey at ev.doee.dc.gov to share your experience with charging your vehicle in the District. You can even share your experiences with specific charging stations. Survey responses are being accepted on an ongoing, rolling basis.

EVENTS

Energy Efficiency Incentives Webinar Are you a District resident curious about how to make your home more energy efficient? Join DOEE for a webinar on Tuesday November 14 from 12 to 1 p.m. to learn about incentives available to make these upgrades more affordable! Many residents and landlords want to participate in the clean energy transition, which can be expensive, but there are credits, rebates and other incentives to make these upgrades more affordable. DOEE invites residents, landlords, and clean energy stakeholders to join an informational webinar with EnergySage to learn about the resources available! To register, click here.

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: Wednesday, November 15, 5:30 –7:30 p.m. at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library (901 G St NW) – Registration Opening Soon Here 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.

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.

• Saturday, Oct 28, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Collection vehicle expected to be on Calvert St NW between 40th Pl NW & 39th Pl NW (Ward 3, near Stoddert Recreation Center)
• Saturday Nov 4, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Collection vehicle expected to be on Pennsylvania Ave NW between 19th & 20th St NW (Ward 2, near James Monroe Park)
• Saturday Nov 11, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Near 1812 Erie St SE (Ward 8, near Fort Stanton Recreation Center)
• Saturday Nov 18, 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Near corner of D St SE & 3rd St SE (Ward 6, Southeast of Folger Park)

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

Anacostia Urban Waters Federal Partnership Overview: This short video highlights initiatives as part of the Anacostia Urban Waters Federal Partnership, featuring Anacostia High School students advancing local environmental work.

D.C. Area Gets Tens of Millions In Funding For ‘Tree Equity’: Several local nonprofits have been awarded federal funding to plant and maintain trees in disadvantaged neighborhoods that lack tree canopy.

Walter E. Washington Convention Center Awarded Prestigious LEED Green Building Certification: Coinciding with its 20th anniversary, the Walter E. Washington Convention Center has achieved certification for incorporating a variety of green features.

New Act Incentivizes E-bikes to Increase Sustainability: The DC Council passed an act to establish a program to offset the cost of electric bikes and associated accessories such as locks.