Green roofs, living walls, rain gardens, parks and plantings—how would you like to see more of these green elements in Downtown?
The DowntownDC Business Improvement District (BID) through the DowntownDC ecoDistrict is working to increase green infrastructure in Downtown and wants your help!
The BID is conducting a green audit to catalog all existing green elements in the BID’s 138-block area and identify opportunities to create new green elements and expand on existing ones.
Green spaces not only beautify outdoor areas, they directly support the environment and contribute to worker satisfaction and increase property value. A recent study conducted by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) showed that office workers have a clear preference for nature near the workplace, which leads to improved health and job satisfaction, and in turn, leads to better staff retention and higher productivity. The addition of green infrastructure also benefits property owners, who can receive increased rents from tenants who are willing to pay for these benefits.
The Victoria BID in London conducted a green audit in 2010 and found that participants were encouraged to create more green spaces and the audit identified 4.2 acres of potential new green projects within their area.
As part of the DowntownDC BID’s green audit, the BID’s Sustainability staff will be reaching out to property management as well as the general public. Downtown residents and workers are encouraged to participate in our general survey today and let us know how we can green Downtown.
Read more about our green audit here and fill out our survey today!