Image: NRDC

In a report released yesterday by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Philadelphia received top honors as the national leader in green infrastructure. Rooftops To Rivers II, a follow-up to a 2006 report, assessed the green infrastructure solutions undertaken by 14 cities in the U.S. and Canada. Only Philadelphia received a perfect score, meeting all six criteria for the environmental action group's "Emerald City" rating. Other cities examined in the report include New York City, Portland, Ore., Toronto, Milwaukee, Syracuse, Seattle and Washington, D.C.

Green infrastructure—which includes rain gardens, green roofs, porous paving and stormwater tree trenches that help manage runoff and mitigate sewage overflows into rivers and streams—is the backbone of the Philadelphia Water Department's Green City, Clean Waters plan. The Rooftops To Rivers II report highlights the long-term plan's extensive environmental and economic benefits that earned Philly its perfect score:

"Over the next 25 years, Philadelphia is committed to deploying the most comprehensive urban network of green infrastructure in the United States. Philadelphia's Green City, Clean Waters plan, recently approved by state regulators, requires the retrofit of nearly 10,000 acres ... to manage runoff on-site; relies on green infrastructure for a majority of the required [combined sewer overflow] reductions; calls for the investment of more public funds in green infrastructure (at least $1.67 billion) than in traditional gray approaches; and leverages substantial investments from the private sector."

Emerald City status achieved. But we really should do something about that impervious yellow brick road .

We can't say enough about PWD's Green City, Clean Waters plan, so we're grateful when others say it for us. From Grid Magazine earlier this week:

"The Green City, Clean Waters plan, announced in 2007 and officially approved by the state this summer, pledges to install as many green features as possible. Over the next 25 years, tools like porous pavement, rain gardens, rain barrels, sidewalk planters and stormwater tree trenches will help capture and manage Philadelphia stormwater. The plan is about 'adding layers of Mother Nature that once existed [but] that we long [ago] erased,' says [PWD manager of public affairs Joanne] Dahme."

Full text here.

Image: Philadelphia Mayor's Office of Sustainability

The Mayor's Office of Sustainability reports that the 250-kilowatt solar array at PWD's Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant has generated enough electricity to power 2.7 houses for a year. The solar array has been in operation for five months and is part of Mayor Michael Nutter's Greenworks goal of generating 20 percent of Philadelphia's electricity from alternative energy sources by 2015. 

Image: Matthew Nelson

Last week we lauded the German engineering that went into the Tempelhof Wasserpark student design project for the Berlin Airport, but we neglected to mention another award-winning planning project that's closer to home: Envisioning Francisville's Future was also recognized by the American Society of Landscape Architects, and the team that developed the project includes John Sloan, who interned at the Philadelphia Water Department this summer. The plan lays out a vision for revitalizing the Philadelphia's Francisville section by filling in vacant lots with new residential and commercial spaces, as well as implementing infrastructure (rain gardens, street trees, curb planters) to green the neighborhood.