Good News Coming from Charlotte with Declaration of Sustainability Week

Bryan Howard
Legislative Director
U.S. Green Building Council

In a continued demonstration of leadership by the City of Charlotte, Mayor Anthony Foxx has signed a proclamation declaring this week as Environmental Sustainability Week in Charlotte. This recent act joins the extensive list of accomplishments by the City and Mecklenburg County to promote sustainability. The resolution highlights a number of important environmental strategies, including the role of green buildings in conserving natural resources and reducing operating utility cost for consumers and businesses.

This week features a number of events in Charlotte, including the USGBC Charlotte Region Chapter’s annual signature event highlighting Charlotte as an emerging leader for sustainable change. The week culminates with the activation of numerous Smart Energy Now displays which cover over 80% of the square feet in the Uptown region of Charlotte as part of the Envision Charlotte effort to cut building energy use by 20% percent by 2016. For a list of programs during Environmental Sustainability Week please visit the USGBC Charlotte Region Chapter’s website.

Kudos to the city, the Foxx administration, and private businesses for their innovative and aggressive energy reductions throughout the built environment. With continued action like this, every week will be sustainable in Charlotte.