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2011 Greenworks Philadelphia Progress Report

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Amid all the excitement over Philly's first green roof bus shelter two weeks ago, we buried some really big news that happened the same day: Mayor Michael Nutter released the 2011 Greenworks Philadelphia Progress Report. The second annual update on the status of Greenworks—the mayor's 2009 sustainability plan that aims to transform Philadelphia into America's greenest city by 2015—can be downloaded here. Of the 151 initiatives outlined in the plan, 135 of them (89%) have been started or completed.

After the jump, a quick list of progress-report highlights from the Philadelphia Recovery Office. But the entire document is recommended reading for anyone interested in the city's future and the economic and social benefits of urban sustainability.

What's An Estuary Worth? About $10 Billion/Yr


Map of 2011 priority projects for the Delaware Estuary (Image: Partnership for the Delaware Estuary)

A recent study by the University of Delaware puts a price tag on the economic value of the Delaware Estuary—the tidal portion of the Delaware River Basin—and the number is big. An estimated $10 billion flows annually from the economic activity and water-related jobs the estuary provides for a half-million people in the tri-state area. The results of the study were announced earlier this month by the nonprofit Partnership for the Delaware Estuary, and the implications are far-reaching in terms of project planning, policy decisions and future investment.

News Stream: Media Coverage of the Green Roof Bus Shelter

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News outlets were buzzing about the debut of Philly's first green roof bus shelter yesterday. Here's a roundup of some of the articles.

Philadelphia Inquirer:

"'We basically see this project as an opportunity to inspire homeowners,' said Tiffany Ledesma Groll, the project's coordinator. 'A lot of the green roofs that are really fabulous and gorgeous are on high-rises' - invisible to most. 'We thought it would be fun to bring it down to eye level.'"

Newsworks:

Roofmeadow Inc., a Philadelphia company, designed, constructed and will maintain the garden free of charge. Charlie Miller, the company's president, told the crowd at the unveiling that he is 'excited about the possibility of replicating this type of garden throughout the city of Philadelphia.'"

Philly.com Green Space:

"A doghouse with a green roof? The Philadelphia Water Department's Chris Crockett says he's seen one. A little balcony with a green roof? Roofmeadows founder and president Charlie Miller says he's sure there is one."

Grid Magazine:

"Hopefully, this project is just the first in a series of city-wide bus shelter gardens. Doesn’t the thought of standing beneath the shade of blossoming greenery make waiting for the bus seem more bearable? Dare I say enjoyable?"

CBS Philly:

"It’s a deployable, prefabricated green roof, about the size of a living room rug. Mayor Nutter says it’s is a small example to show passersby a new type of city greening. 'That is truly amazing in helping to prevent polluted stormwater from going into our rivers,' he said."

Metro:

"It cost a donated $10,000 to put a garden atop one of the city’s 300 bus shelters. The city hopes to do more."

News Stream: Treehugger, American Rivers on Green City, Clean Waters

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More media clippings arrived in the wake of last week's announcement regarding PWD's Green City, Clean Waters plan:

American Rivers:

"Green City, Clean Waters is Philadelphia’s plan to develop sustainable water management and minimize costs for water treatment caused in part by stormwater runoff from the city’s broad expanse of pavement, rooftops and sidewalks. These commonplace hard city surfaces allow rainfall to run off excessively fast, leading to flooding and erosion. Hard, urban surfaces also hold oils, metals and sediment that rain will wash to storm drains and streams, necessitating difficult and expensive treatment."

Treehugger:

"In case you weren't keeping track, implementing smart design results in a) more efficient use of water b) less pollution, and c) a greener, more enjoyable city to stroll through. That, friends, is a good ol' win-win-win."

News Stream: Media Coverage of Green City, Clean Waters Approval

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Wednesday's agreement between the Philadelphia Water Department and the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection to approve PWD's Green City, Clean Waters plan drew widespread media attention. Here's a roundup of some of this week's articles:

Philadelphia Inquirer:

"The 25-year plan, which has been hailed as a national model, envisions green roofs on office buildings, porous pavement on city streets and parking lots, and plants and trees with tubs of gravel below ground to hold water and stall runoff in a storm. All would be designed to let rainwater seep back into the ground rather than gush into an aged sewer system where it mixes with raw sewage and overflows into streams and basements."

Associated Press:

"'Philadelphia's visionary approach ... is great for the environment, and for the economy,' said Brian Glass of PennFuture, an environmental group. 'It will save Philadelphians real money, while making the city of brotherly love a more vibrant place to live, work and play.'"

Grid Magazine:

"Green City, Clean Waters, which will work with Mayor Nutter’s GreenWorks program, is considered to be the most comprehensive plan in the nation. All cities with combined sewer overflows are required by the federal Clean Water Act to create long term control plans."

National Resources Defense Council Staff Blog:

"When Philadelphia first proposed its Green City, Clean Waters program in 2009, NRDC commissioned a review by independent experts, which found that the city’s plan was based on solid—even conservative—projections of how much sewage pollution it could prevent through widespread use of green infrastructure."

Earth Times:

"During the review process, it was realized that water quality goals could be met more cost effectively by integrating green and grey infrastructure solutions. Additionally, implementing green infrastructure solutions could have multiple benefits, including mitigation of the heat island effect, improved air quality, increased groundwater recharge, and job creation."

Green City, Clean Waters Gets the Green Light

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l to r: Adam Bram (PA DEP), Jenifer Fields (PA DEP), Howard Neukrug (PWD), David Katz, Gerald Leatherman (photo: GreenTreks)

"High fives all around."

That's just one of the enthusiastic reactions (from Brady Russell, eastern Pennsylvania director of Clean Water Action, published in today's Philadelphia Inquirer front-page article) to yesterday's historic signing of a consent agreement between the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Philadelphia Water Department to officially approve the Green City, Clean Waters plan. Officials from PWD and PA DEP met in Norristown to raise a tap-water toast and sign the agreement, which validates a 25-year, $2 billion plan to manage Philadelphia's stormwater largely through green infrastructure.

“We are thrilled and grateful that the DEP has recognized the incredible environmental and public value of this plan and has worked with the City to embrace its vision,” said Mayor Michael Nutter. “As a sustainable approach to stormwater issues, Green City, Clean Waters upholds the tenets of GreenWorks Philadelphia and makes significant progress towards Philadelphia becoming the greenest city in the country.”


PWD commissioner Howard Neukrug and PA DEP representatives sign the consent agreement.

“Through the Green City, Clean Waters plan, we seek to achieve a host of
tangible environmental, social and economic benefits for Philadelphians
while improving the health of the City’s creeks, rivers and urban
landscape,” added Water Commissioner Howard Neukrug. “That means not
only cleaner water for our citizens, but cleaner air, a higher quality
of life and meaningful jobs for future generations.”

Review the full Green City, Clean Waters plan here.

Eadom Street Depaving Project

Philadelphia’s first depaving project at Eadom and Bridge streets—located just west of I-95 in Frankford—is well underway. PWD's Waterways Restoration Team coordinated with neighborhood volunteers to depave a portion of the parking lot and install and plant the first of six rain gardens planned for the site. Once completed, the Eadom Street Project will convert 10,000 square feet of impervious concrete to rain gardens that allow stormwater to infiltrate the soil instead of flowing into our sewers. Not only do green infrastructure projects such as rain gardens help protect our waterways and beautify the neighborhood, they also reduce stormwater bills for property owners. Best of all, the residents who came out on Saturday, April 30, saw a complete transformation in just one morning of work. Stay tuned for news of further plantings and volunteer opportunities at Eadom Street.

Learn more about depaving projects for residents.

Meet Our New Best Friends

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When we put out a call to find Philly Water's Best Friend, more than 85 dogs answered and thousands (yes, thousands!) of votes were cast online. On May 7, two canine pageants took place—one in East Falls and one in Manayunk—to test the special talents of these dogs and evaluate everything from their eco-friendly lifestyles to their dreams for Philadelphia. In exchange for the title of Philly Water’s Best Friend, these ambassadogs will attend community events, handing out brochures and biodegradable bag dispensers to raise awareness of pollution caused by pet waste. The purpose of the Philly Water’s Best Friend Competition is to reduce water pollution by teaching pet owners the importance of picking up dog waste.

The spokesdog pageant featured special guests and judges, including Mayor Michael Nutter, PWD commissioner Howard Neukrug and State Representative Pamela A. DeLissio. And the winners are: Molson, a pit bull/German shepherd/Husky mix from East Falls; and Teddie (pictured above with owner Lindsey McClennen and Mayor Nutter), the golden doodle from Manayunk/Roxborough. Congratulations to our new ambassadogs!

Check out our spokesdog page for more info and a slideshow of the contestants.

Our Solar System

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In April, the City of Philadelphia unveiled its first solar photovoltaic system (above), located at PWD's Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant. The 250-kilowatt solar array consists of more than 1,000 panels covering 60,000 square feet, and its electricity will help power the energy-intensive task of water treatment. The project's total cost of $1.7 million—funded jointly by a Recovery Act Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant and PWDis expected to have a 9-year payback period and helps to achieve Mayor Michael Nutter's Greenworks goal of generating 20 percent of Philadelphia's electricity from alternative energy sources by 2015.

"PWD is proud to use clean, sustainable power generated on-site," said PWD commissioner Howard Neukrug at the solar PV installation on April 25. "Because this project was so successful, we’re planning to replicate it at other treatment plants.”

More info and a fact sheet about the solar panels can be found at the Philadelphia Recovery Office's website.

Video of the installation after the jump.

TV Guidance: Green City, Clean Waters Premieres on MIND-TV Saturday Night

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The 30-minute version of the Green City, Clean Waters video will premiere on MIND-TV (formerly WYBE-TV 35, check your local listing) at 8 p.m. on Saturday. The Philadelphia Water Department enlisted GreenTreks to convey the message of a 20-year, $1.6 billion plan to use green stormwater management to alleviate combined sewer overflows from the city's aging sewer system. Green City, Clean Waters looks at how green stormwater management is transforming the city into an oasis of rain gardens, living roofs, treescapes and porous pavements—all of which, say advocates, is cheaper than traditional infrastructure and makes for a more liveable, prettier city with higher property values and better community health. Watch the preview above and set your DVR!

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