Yesterday, I testified on the Sustainable DC Omnibus Act of 2013 (Bill number: B20-573). According to the Mayor, the Bill will:
"1. Require electric and gas utilities to provide aggregated whole building (energy consumption and environmental performance) data to building owners and managers electronically to facilitate their ease of reporting required benchmarking data..on a monthly basis
2. Require sellers to transfer all benchmarking data at time of building sale. This will eliminate a 10% fluctuation in buildings reporting data.
3. Create a broad public engagement venue that will allow District residents and engaged stakeholders to participate in an open process each quarter that allows for information sharing and program examination…
4. Prohibit..polystyrene containers for food services.
5. Provide support for an Environmental Literacy Program.
6. Establish a Radon Contractor database.
7. Require the Mayor create a responsive Apiculture regulatory environment.
8. Require property owners to pay for the loss of a tree.”
DC actually leads the nation in municipal environmental responsibility, and I support these initiatives. I noted that the Advisory Board responsible for insuring public input on these activities is not as diverse or as representative of the City as I believe it should be. For example, there is currently no Low Income Group Representative. I find this disturbing, but not unexpected.
A video of my testimony is included below:
"1. Require electric and gas utilities to provide aggregated whole building (energy consumption and environmental performance) data to building owners and managers electronically to facilitate their ease of reporting required benchmarking data..on a monthly basis
2. Require sellers to transfer all benchmarking data at time of building sale. This will eliminate a 10% fluctuation in buildings reporting data.
3. Create a broad public engagement venue that will allow District residents and engaged stakeholders to participate in an open process each quarter that allows for information sharing and program examination…
4. Prohibit..polystyrene containers for food services.
5. Provide support for an Environmental Literacy Program.
6. Establish a Radon Contractor database.
7. Require the Mayor create a responsive Apiculture regulatory environment.
8. Require property owners to pay for the loss of a tree.”
DC actually leads the nation in municipal environmental responsibility, and I support these initiatives. I noted that the Advisory Board responsible for insuring public input on these activities is not as diverse or as representative of the City as I believe it should be. For example, there is currently no Low Income Group Representative. I find this disturbing, but not unexpected.
A video of my testimony is included below: