The Government of the District of Columbia is making a substantial difference in improving our environment. Whether it is by purchasing 100% green power or providing incentives for property owners and others in the District to install runoff-reducing green infrastructure on their properties, our city is working steadily toward a more sustainable DC and is leading other cities in the area of urban sustainability.
Here’s how we lead by example:
The District's Stormwater Retention Credit (SRC) Trading Program
As part of its strategy for retrofitting impervious surfaces with runoff-reducing green infrastructure (GI) such as green roofs and rain gardens, DOEE has developed a first-of-its-kind Stormwater Retention Credit (SRC) trading program. In September 2014, the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group (C40) nominated the SRC trading program as one of the world’s most innovative climate programs.
Major development projects undergoing permitting in the District must now meet river-protecting stormwater retention standards and can use SRCs to meet a portion of their requirement. Other properties that voluntarily install GI can generate SRCs to sell to regulated sites. Additional program information is available on the SRC webpage. Market data is available on via the SRC and Offv Registry.
Benefits
SRC trades, and the GI they encourage, help provide triple bottom line benefits such as:
- Environmental
- Increase annual retention of stormwater runoff
- Increase protection of vulnerable tributaries
- Social
- Promote green jobs
- Improve residents’ health, neighborhood aesthetics, and environmental justice
- Economic
- Provide compliance flexibility for regulated projects
- Maximize cost savings