Partnership wants better federal building locations

Sustainable federal sites

Jon Boyd, Jul 08, 10.

The United States Department of Transportation (DOT) announced in a July 1 press release that the Partnership for Sustainable Communities will, “lead a public outreach and education campaign to encourage federal agencies to choose sustainable locations for future facilities.”

The press release also said:
“Siting buildings in sustainable locations will help insure that workers and the visiting public have convenient, safe transportation options to reach federal facilities, which in turn will help to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that result from worker and visitor commuting and will better integrate the federal presence into the surrounding community. Additionally, this improved access will lower transportation costs for workers and visitors and can provide communities with employment centers that can help drive economic development.”

The DOT lead Partnership for Sustainable Communities makes the following ten recommendations for site location of federal facilities:
·

Promote efficient travel and ensure access to transit to reduce the need for employees and the public to drive to the facility.
· Locate in existing central business districts and rural town centers.
· Locate near or be accessible to affordable housing.
· Ensure the ability to walk or bike to the facility.
· Use existing buildings, infrastructure and other resources.
· Foster the development of previously developed, abandoned or underused locations known as greyfields or brownfields.
· Encourage adaptive reuse of historic buildings and districts.
· Preserve the natural environment.
· Achieve agency goals for reducing emissions as set out in their Sustainable Strategic Performance Plans.
· Discuss location alternatives with local and regional planning officials and consider their recommendations.

(Photo credit: NCinDC)