Sustainability

In support of the goals established by the City of Atlanta, Downtown GreenSource strives to provide the connections, resources and education necessary to enhance the environmental sustainability and economic vitality of the Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID). Downtown GreenSource will collaborate with private and public organizations within the ADID to promote and deliver measurable improvement in the following areas:

Building Energy Efficiency
Through its participation in the Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge (Atlanta BBC), Downtown GreenSource will work to decrease energy consumption in buildings 20% by 2020 by promoting participation in the BBC initiative through marketing and education efforts. Downtown GreenSource will execute outreach programs to educate building owners and connect them with resources necessary to assess current performance and take action to meet the goals of the Atlanta BBC. As part of the Atlanta BBC team, Downtown GreenSource will seek funding to facilitate retrofits, provide incentives and recognize top performers.

Sustainable Transportation
Expanding upon the work of The Downtown Transportation Management Authority (TMA), Downtown GreenSource will implement transportation demand management strategies to reduce the overall miles traveled to the ADID in single-occupancy vehicles, resulting in improved air quality. Downtown GreenSource will provide education and recognize top performers via the Clean Air Campaign’s existing commuter programs. Through its planning efforts, Downtown GreenSource will promote the sustainable benefits of transit-oriented development, using the Atlanta Streetcar project as an ongoing case study.

Waste Management
Downtown GreenSource will collaborate with building owners, waste contractors and the City of Atlanta to measure and increase the amount of waste diverted from landfills by exploring a comprehensive waste management plan. The overall goal is to achieve a diversion rate consistent with the goals set forth by the City of Atlanta through outreach and incentives, where resources allow. Downtown GreenSource will serve as educator and facilitator to property and business owners in regard to effective waste management programs and best practices.

Local /Sustainable Food Sourcing
Downtown GreenSource will encourage restaurants and businesses within the ADID to procure as many ingredients as possible from local organic sources and bring local food sources within a short reach of the ADID boundary. This will not only provide healthier meal options for the ADID community, but also result in reduced carbon emissions by reducing the number of miles the food must travel from source to table. Through promotion and education efforts, Downtown GreenSource will utilize marketing strategies to steer consumers toward those businesses that are exhibiting best practices in local food sourcing.

Water Conservation
Downtown GreenSource will serve as an educational resource to encourage property and business owners to reduce the amount of municipal potable water consumption and encourage re-use of non-potable water where appropriate. Additionally, Downtown GreenSource will seek funding to provide incentives and recognize top performers.

Carbon Emissions Reduction
Downtown GreenSource strives to reduce total carbon emissions (MTCO2e) within the ADID boundary consistent with the goals set forth by the City of Atlanta. This will be achieved by reducing energy consumption and miles traveled within the ADID through the efforts described above including the promoting sustainable transportation and the Atlanta Better Buildings Challenge.

Green Space
Downtown GreenSource will seek funding to participate in comprehensive sustainable community planning initiatives and encourage property owners and developers to provide or preserve green space and protect and restore the city’s tree canopy. By working with communities throughout the region, Downtown GreenSource will strive to implement local development plans that integrate sustainable housing, land use, economic and workforce development, transportation, and infrastructure investments.

Sustainable Economic Development & Green Jobs
Downtown GreenSource will collaborate with the Metro Atlanta Chamber “Sustainable Economic Growth Initiative” to increase the number of green jobs brought to Atlanta through economic development and the branding of Atlanta as a competitive sustainable city.