The resolution outlines specific tools, standards, and programs the City plans to use to advance environmental sustainability and resiliency in the 2024 Bond Program’s infrastructure projects. The City plans to advance, for example, green building certification levels such as LEED™ Gold for building projects like libraries, fire stations, and the police training academy facility.  The resolution advances green certification programs like Envision and SITES for non-building projects like parks, trails, skateparks, and certain water infrastructure projects. The resolution advances energy efficiency technology, calling for appliances and equipment with a top 20% energy rating and requiring the tracking of energy use through EPA’s Energy Star Portfolio Manager.  The City will also be one of a few municipalities in the country to ask vendors to provide embodied carbon data through environmental product declarations for manufacturing materials like glass, steel, and concrete. The resolution also calls actions to support departments during the implementation of the bond program and incorporates status updates to Council for greater transparency and accountability to our residents. 

“Today’s adoption of the CECAP Bond Resolution better ensures a more sustainable and resilient City as our climate continues to evolve,” said Kathy Stewart, Chair of the Parks, Trails, and the Environment (PTE) Committee and District 10 Councilmember.  “If we want to lead by example and protect the health of our residents, adopting these types of resolutions are necessary steps to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, adapting to climate change through efforts like mitigating the urban heat island effect, and improving the quality of our environment.”  

The resolution will help achieve a variety of environmental and climate benefits, including improving environmental quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions while increasing energy efficiency, resource conservation, greenspace, tree canopy, trail access, and access to renewable transportation.  The resolution looks to advance environmental sustainability and resiliency while advancing climate and environmental justice.  

This achievement is a result of collaborative efforts among City departments, the City’s Environmental Commission, and key external stakeholders to advance environmental sustainability and resiliency through the bond.  The resolution advances existing City policies, guidelines and standards while also advancing new programs and tools originally recommended by the EVC. The City’s Office of Environmental Quality and Sustainability and the Office of Bond and Construction Management have led the development of the resolution and its briefings to Council.

“The commission’s recommendation was developed in collaboration with a panel of national and international experts on the built environment,” said Kathryn Bazan, Chair of the Environmental Commission and District 9 Environmental Commissioner. “The effort continues Dallas’ long-standing commitment to sustainable design, which began over 20 years ago, and ensures the continued advancement of our climate action plan well into the future.”