Greenworks Philadelphia – a city-wide green initiative implemented by Philadelphia’s Office of Sustainability – is intended to make Philadelphia the greenest urban city in the United States. Meetings play a part in the effort.
Check out these highlights:
- Historically Green:
Ever since William Penn designed Philadelphia to be a “Greene Country Towne,” squares, parks and open spaces have been a benefit for residents and visitors alike.
- Green Building Examples:
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement and leadership, awarded by the U.S. Green Business Council. Philadelphia is home to several LEED-certified buildings. Comcast Center – the tallest building in Philadelphia – is one of the tallest LEED-certified buildings in the U.S. earning LEED Gold status. Philadelphia is also home to the LEED Gold-certified Pennsylvania Convention Center. Philadelphia’s cultural treasure on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Barnes Foundation – which houses the priceless art collection of Dr. Albert Barnes – was the first major art and education institution in the U.S. to achieve Platinum LEED certification. Philadelphia took another huge step in the green direction as the Kensington High School for Creative and Performing Arts was the first public high school in the nation to reach LEED Platinum level.
- Pennsylvania Convention Center:
The Pennsylvania Convention Center is an LEED Gold-certified facility. Our Convention Center earned LEED Gold certification in 2011 in part due to initiatives that address air quality, waste minimization, energy efficiency and water conservation and procurement.
- Promoting Green Meeting Planning:
Philadelphia hosted its first paperless convention in 2010 and continues to encourage meeting planners to “Go Green” by using customized microsites and e-blasts for paperless conference promotion.
- Green Hotel Services:
Philadelphia hotels stay green by saving energy in every way possible. Our top hotels make it a priority to recycle, use eco-friendly cleaning products, offer linen-reuse programs and use computerized energy-management systems. Kimpton Hotel Palomar Philadelphia is the city’s first LEED Gold-certified hotel.
- Serving Green Foods:
Restaurants, farmers’ markets, and food providers continue to support organic, sustainable and locally grown produce. PCCA Culinary Services by Aramark/SFS – the Pennsylvania Convention Center’s exclusive food-and-beverage provider – uses plates, cups, cutlery and napkins made from 100 percent decomposable and biodegradable materials.
- Accessibility Makes for Green Travel:
Whether you’re flying into Philadelphia International Airport or hopping on a SEPTA bus downtown, Philadelphia’s regional transportation network and walkability helps us to go green. The city also has more than 200 miles of bike lanes.
- Working to be the Greenest City in America:
Philadelphia is becoming an eco-leader through “Greenworks Philadelphia,” an ambitious plan to be the most environmentally friendly urban city in the country. Since it first began, Philadelphia has reduced energy usage, improved air quality and planted hundreds of trees.
- Businesses Support Green:
Between the Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (SBN) and the Comcast Center, Philadelphia’s businesses and buildings place a high premium on being green.
- Organizations Lead the Way:
From the first and most eco-friendly sports franchise in the country – the Philadelphia Eagles had the first “Go Green” program in the NFL, including the installation of solar panels and windmills at the practice facilities and stadium – to energy-saving museums and a carbon-offset program at the Philadelphia Zoo, green is part of the city’s culture. The Morris Arboretum is also home to an LEED Platinum Certified Horticulture Center.
- Green Community:
Going green starts with people, and Philadelphia’s volunteer organizations support the cause. The Pennsylvania Horticultural Society has run Philadelphia Green, the nation’s most comprehensive urban greening program, since 1974. The Sustainable Business Network of Greater Philadelphia (SBN) sponsors “Buy Local Philly,” a campaign to support local independent businesses.
