Moving Beyond Green

Gear up for Bike to Work Day, which will take place on Friday, May 17. Hurry, free T-shirts are limited to the first 12,000 cyclists who register online, so sign up now! This year’s Downtown pit stop is at Freedom Plaza (14^th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue) from 7:00 am to 9:00 am.

Bike to Work Day is part of the DowntownDC ecoDistrict program, as it celebrates and promotes bicycling as a sustainable and healthy transportation mode. The event is supported by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association and Commuter Connections, the regional network of transportation organizations coordinated by the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG).

Freedom Plaza is one of 72 pit stops throughout the region and prizes, food, drinks, and more will be available at each location. Don’t have a bike? Capital Bikeshare will have staff on hand to accommodate extra bikes at the 14th and D Streets bike station. And Bike and Roll Washington DC (1100 Pennsylvania Avenue) will offer complimentary and comfy hybrid bike rentals to locals for the occasion. 

To reserve a bike from Bike and Roll, please call 202-842-2453 or email: DowntownDC@bikethesites.com with the following information: Name(s), Local address, Phone, Height, Desired pick-up location (Downtown DC or Alexandria only). Early pick-up is available 5pm to 7pm Thursday, May 16th. Day-of pick-up begins at 7am. Photo ID and credit card information will be required at time of pick-up as a deposit. Your card will not be charged as long as bike is returned by 5:45 May 17th. If you want to keep the bike longer, please let them know when you arrive to pick-up your bike.

And if you’re interested in volunteering for Bike to Work Day, please e-mail bicycles@downtowndc.org.  

Check back often as we will be updating the material in these PDFs on a regular basis.

• Building Survey
• Building Survey- help and resources
• Business Checklist 
• Business Checklist- help and resources

Registration is free and has many benefits…

• Step-by-step Guidance- The Challenge Survey asks 25 questions about your  building management practices that are designed to connect you to available resources that you may not be aware of.  Challenge staff will review your survey responses and suggest sources for free technical assistance, and help you set goals for your building.
• Dedicated Staff Assistance- Your Challenge staff member will be on call whenever you hit a bump in the road to reaching your goals. Whether you need assistance filling out the survey, or have a specific question about your building’s green practices, your Challenge staff member will be there to help.
• Exclusive Resources and more- The Challenge provides not only resources for your building, but opportunities to meet with peers to discuss sustainable practices. Join the community conversation to stay informed of upcoming workshops, events, and the latest happenings in smart business practices.

Registration is free and has many benefits…

• Step-by-step Guidance- The Challenge Survey asks 25 questions about your  building management practices that are designed to connect you to available resources that you may not be aware of.  Challenge staff will review your survey responses and suggest sources for free technical assistance, and help you set goals for your building.
• Dedicated Staff Assistance- Your Challenge staff member will be on call whenever you hit a bump in the road to reaching your goals. Whether you need assistance filling out the survey, or have a specific question about your building’s green practices, your Challenge staff member will be there to help.
• Exclusive Resources and more- The Challenge provides not only resources for your building, but opportunities to meet with peers to discuss sustainable practices. Join the community conversation to stay informed of upcoming workshops, events, and the latest happenings in smart business practices.

DC has been selected a Mega City in the International C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group.

Mayor Gray announces plan to make DC the greenest, healthiest, and most livable city in the nation.

Challenge programs are generating results nationwide.

Houston Green Office Challenge 2011

• 375 buildings and tenants participated representing 75 million square feet of commercial office space
• 176 buildings achieved LEED status. Houston rose from number seven to number four in the nation with the most LEED certified buildings                                                  

Arlington County Green Games 2011

• Participants realized a collective savings of $2M in energy costs
• The release of 10,000 tons of CO2 was prevented

Chicago Green Office Challenge 2010

• More than 100 tenants and 39 property managers participated
• Collectively, participants reduced more than 72 million kilowatt-hours of electricity
• Participants diverted 1,200 tons of waste from the landfill
• Water usage was reduced by 5 percent

Many businesses are already participating in a wide variety of sustainability activities, including other challenges and certification programs, such as the ENERGY STAR and LEED™ rating systems. The Challenge helps you achieve and build on your existing goals.

Join those who are already taking the Challenge!

• 17 companies are participating in the Challenge
• 113 buildings and 6 businesses are registered so far
• Over 32 million square feet are represented

Map Courtesy of Google Maps

Terrell Place — 575 7th Street, NW —DC’s 1st trophy office building to achieve LEED EB Platinum

• 6 month payback for entire LEED EB process
• Off-set 100% of the buildings energy consumption with REC’s
• Diverted over 50% of all ongoing consumables leaving the building from landfills
• Over 68% of occupants commute using alternative transportation methods
• Reduced energy costs by 17%, Saving $0.59/ SF
• Retro-commissioned building systems to optimize the building’s operations
• Installed CO2 sensors calibrated to control outdoor air ventilation
• Implemented lighting retrofits and upgrades of common area lighting
• Enrolled in an energy demand response program

 
Source: Evan Tyroler, Vice President of Sustainable Services for Cassidy Turley

2012 DC Building Energy Summit presentation: Better Buildings, Better Business – A Practical Approach.

• Sustainability is a critical business issue today for 64% or respondents and 92% consider sustainability criteria in location decisions.
• Green building certifications are considered by 88% and energy labels by 87% in administering their portfolio
• Occupiers are more willing to pay a premium in 2010 compared to the previous two years as a result of the global economic recovery
• 48% would pay up to 10% premium for sustainable space, while 2% expect to pay over 10%
• Respondents still focus on energy-efficiency programs (65%) and waste recycling (61%)

Source: Dave Pogue, Global Director of Sustainability at CBRE, 2012 DC Building Energy Summit presentation Corporate Sustainability: Economic Outcomes Occupant Attitudes Direction.

Creating Climate Wealth Summits — Washington DC — 2012

about us

The Challenge is being piloted in the DowntownDC ecoDistrict as a partnership between the District Department of the Environment (DDOE) and the DowntownDC Business Improvement District (DowntownDC BID). The Challenge provides recognition for the past, present and future sustainability efforts of building owners, property managers and business tenants. Challenge participants will receive individual assistance in accessing a wide range of resources tailored for DC businesses

The DowntownDC BID launched its ecoDistrict program on Earth Day, April 22, 2010. The DowntownDC ecoDistrict program is committed to helping make Downtown more sustainable by promoting changes in building construction and management through better energy, water, waste, and transportation management.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can offices outside of the DowntownDC ecoDistrict participate in the Challenge?
Yes! We recognize that one of the District’s greatest strengths is our network of partnerships and local associations. That’s why we’ve teamed with the District Department of the Environment and local professional associations. The only requirement for office buildings is that you are within Washington DC’s city limits.

What is the cost of participating in the Challenge?
There is no cost for participating in the Challenge, but there is the opportunity for savings!

What is the time frame of the Challenge?
The Challenge is measured quarterly and as a 12 month program, however the real purpose is to develop a plan and culture for ongoing integration of sustainability into operations and policy.

What will my company receive by participating in the Challenge?
Great publicity and recognition! At the end of the Challenge, Mayor Vincent Gray, the DowntownDC BID and our partners will host an awards ceremony during which participants will receive awards and recognition for their achievements.

Can I view the checklist if I’m not a registered participant?
No, the checklist’s are available only to registered participants at this time. Please feel free to browse the “Challenge”, “Money”, “Future” and “Community” tabs to view the strategies that are listed on the Checklists.

Is the Challenge only for new buildings?
The Challenge is for any tenant or property manager located within the Washington DC city limits, regardless of a building’s age.

I am the owner/manager of my building and also a tenant in it. How do I register?
The Challenge is designed to work best when owners/managers and tenants work together. If you are both, then you have a leg up! Register your building twice, once as an owner/manager and once as a tenant.

I’ve already done a lot of work to improve my building. Will I be recognized for work that’s been done already?
If you are an owner/manager of a building that has already been LEED EB or Energy Star certified within the last 2 years, you will have already achieved significant reductions that will be recognized and celebrated by the Challenge

Do I use the Portfolio Manager to track my waste, water and energy use?
As a property manager, you’ll use Portfolio Manager to track your water and energy and a separate tool to track waste.

If my company is eligible, why should we participate?
If your company is just beginning to explore better resource management, the Challenge offers many strategies and assistance to help you get started. If your company has been committed to sustainability for awhile, there may be strategies you already have in place and you may learn a few new ideas. Those who participate will be recognized for their efforts in helping the city achieve its vision.

contact us

DowntownDC BID ecoDistrict
1250 H Street NW Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005
Email: challenge@downtowndc.org
Phone: 202-661-7563

http://gbc.force.com/DCSmarterBusiness

Taking the Challenge requires two simple steps:

1. Registering your building
2. Logging into your account

If you have already registered please use the login box to enter your username and password.

If you have not yet registered as a participant, please verify authorization with your organization’s senior management before signing up for the Challenge.

Once you’ve received approval, please complete the form below and submit your building as a participant. You will receive an automatic notification of receipt of your submission and within 24 hours or the next business day you will receive your account username and password and will be ready to begin your participation in the DC Smarter Business Challenge.

If you need assistance during the registration process please contact Challenge staff at challenge@downtowndc.org.

feb20 Release of Sustainable DC Plan


feb21 Energy Efficiency: Untapped Potential for Your Business


feb25 Lunch and Learn!


feb28 Online Chat: “Re-envisioning D.C.” – Sustainable Designs


mar5 Financing Energy Efficient Upgrades with ENERGY STAR