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City of Brotherly Love Embraces Sustainability
by Don Knapp
Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter is going for the crown. With today's release of the Greenworks Philadelphia sustainability plan, the mayor aims to transform Philly into "America's greenest city."
Greenworks Philadelphia expands on the city's existing Local Action Plan for Climate Change and addresses sustainability through four "lenses": energy, environment, equity, economy and engagement.
The plan most aggressively focuses on energy demand and green job creation, among these 14 targets:
- Lower City Government Energy Consumption by 30 percent
- Reduce Citywide Building Energy Consumption by 10 percent
- Retrofit 15 percent of Housing Stock with Insulation, Air Sealing and Cool Roofs
- Purchase and Generate 20 percent of Electricity Used in Philadelphia from Alternative Energy Sources
- Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 20 percent (below 1990 levels)
- Improve Air Quality toward Attainment of Federal Standards
- Divert 70 percent of Solid Waste from Landfill
- Manage Stormwater to Meet Federal Standards
- Provide Park and Recreation resources within 10 Minutes of 75 percent of Residents
- Bring Local Food within 10 Minutes of 75 percent of Residents
- Increase Tree Coverage toward 30 percent in All Neighborhoods by 2025
- Reduce Vehicle Miles Traveled by 10 percent
- Increase the State of Good Repair in Resilient Infrastructure
- Double the Number of Low- and High-Skill Green Jobs
