Sustainability News

The Planters of 14th and Main

MONDAY, MARCH 5, 2012

They've been called bunkers, trenches, and a number of other colorful names, but the mysterious sidewalk objects of 14th and Main streets are just another way the city is turning green. These are bioretention planters and are essential in low-impact sustainable design.

Bioretention planters are designed to filter pollutants from rainwater runoff as well as provide ample room from greenery in cityscapes.

As rainwater flows through the sidewalks and city streets it picks up a variety of contaminants along the way, which can cause harm to the James River system. These bioretention planters are designed to reduce the amount of pollutants from rainwater runoff through a sustainable filtration system.

These planters didn't look empty for long. During the spring and summer of 2012, a variety of plant life filled them to the brim, which not only added aesthetics and filtration, but kept pedestrians from a misplaced step!

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Sustainability

RVA Green Community Workshop A Success!

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2012

More than 75 participants gathered for the RVA Green Community Workshop, Feb. 16, 2012. Collectively the concerned citizens built action steps towards finalizing the RVAGreen Sustainability Plan.

The productive evening began with an empowering speech from Mayor Dwight Jones welcoming and thanking attendees for being a part of the citywide green initiatives. The City provided an overview of the sustainability planning process and the draft framework to the group.

According to attendees, the most popular and productive segment of the night was the small group discussions. Each team spent about 40 minutes in facilitated dialogue reviewing the framework initiatives and having conversations about what roles they could play in the implementation of these ideas. There was equal enthusiasm from the members when asked which of the five focus areas -- Economic Development, Energy, Environment, Open Space and Land Use, or Transportation -- they were most excited about implementing. It proved the diversity of the group and the need for Richmond to have a comprehensive sustainability plan.

More information from the workshop is available here. For more information about Richmond’s sustainability initiatives or to be a part of the process, email RVAGreen.

meeting

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Sustaining Awards!

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2012

In November 2011, the city of Richmond was honored by the Urban Land Institute (ULI) of Richmondand the James River Green Building Council (JRGBC), for innovative practices and outstanding leadership within the field of sustainability.

ULI of Richmond presented Mayor Jones’ Bicycle, Pedestrian and Trail Planning Commission with their 2011 Vision Award for sustainable development. The commission’s mission is to find creative approaches that the city administration can take to promote bicycles and walking over typical modes of transportation, reduce vehicles on the road, enhance economic development, and improve the overall health of Richmond residents. Overall, the commission is working to address a number of public policy issues including public health, land use and transportation, economic development and to support the city’s sustainability goals.

The James River Green Building Council (JRGBC) honored Alicia Zatcoff at the Seventh Annual Green Building Leadership Awards. As the city’s first sustainability manager, Zatcoff received the 2011 Individual Leadership Award for her outstanding contributions to green building and sustainability in Virginia.

Zatcoff is leading the effort to create the first sustainability plan for the Richmond community and currently oversees the implementation of Mayor Dwight Jones’ Order for Green Government. This order is a sweeping initiative to create more efficiency and less waste in city government and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from government operations.

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Sustainability

Solar Savings

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 25, 2012

The city is going green and saving money at the same time by adding new solar trash compactors and recycling bins around the downtown area. City crews are installing a total of 44 side-by-side solar power trash compactors and recycling units. The solar compactors can hold almost five times more than a regular trash can. This means workers won't have to empty them as often, cutting down on labor and fuel costs. Each compactor will have a recycle bin next to it for both cans and plastic. The bins offer the first public recycling in the city of Richmond.

The city has spent approximately $200,000 from a federal grant to purchase the solar kiosks to help make Richmond a greener city.