July 10, 2009       

MEDIA CONTACT: Thai Phi Stone
202-994-6424; tpstone@gwu.edu

FORUM HOSTED BY GW AND COUNCILMEMBER MARY CHEH FEATURES IDEAS FOR ADDRESSING DC'S ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES

WASHINGTON--The George Washington University and the District of Columbia Council Committee on Government Operations and the Environment, chaired by Councilmember Mary M. Cheh, today hosted the 2009 Policy Greenhouse. The event featured 10 presenters, who pitched their high-impact environmental solutions for Washington, D.C., to an audience that included Ms. Cheh; George Hawkins, director of the District Department of the Environment; DC Councilmember Thomas Wells; GW President Steven Knapp; and other policymakers. View Photo Gallery

"GW is pleased to host the 2009 Policy Greenhouse to highlight strategies for making our nation's capital more sustainable. Achieving sustainability will take new ideas and new approaches and that's why events like this are so significant." said President Knapp. "We are proud of the partnerships we are forming with the District and look forward to continuing to provide forums for innovation here at the University."

During the event, each speaker had five minutes to present their innovative approaches to pressing environmental challenges, such as transportation, carbon control and energy efficiency. As they spoke, their ideas were visually captured by artist Carol Anderson. The panelists were Steve Offutt, sole proprietorship environmental consulting; Richard Layman, Citizens Planning Coalition; Kristina Van Dexter, GW student; John Christmas, Hannon Armstrong Capital; Josh Lasky, green public service professional; Mark Buscaino, Casey Trees; Joshua Lichtman and Dana Mathews, USGBC National Chapter Region Emerging Green Builders; Kathleen M. Burke and Chuck Cushman, GW College of Professional Studies; Ed Merrifield, Potomac Riverkeeper; Dottie Yunger, Anacostia Riverkeeper; and Lily Russell, WSP Energy & Environment. Presentations were followed by an open mic discussion with audience members, who offered their own sustainability ideas.

Created from a partnership between GW and the DC Council, the forum is part of larger commitment to sustainability by both the University and Councilmember Cheh's office. After President Knapp signed the American College & University Presidents Climate Commitment in April 2008, GW opened the Office of Sustainability to encourage, facilitate and coordinate sustainability initiatives, while enhancing existing programs and practices across the University.

In the past year, GW has established itself as a center for thought leadership and dialogue on sustainability issues through numerous initiatives:

• In April 2009, the first University became the first in D.C. to catalog its greenhouse gas emissions inventory. 
• GW hosted numerous conferences on topics ranging from greenhouse gas technology, public policy and the law; climate change; and urban sustainability.
• GW's School of Media and Public Affairs launched Planet Forward, a ground-breaking project on the world's energy future that began online and became a television show that aired on PBS.
• Led by Professor Ken Zweibel, the Institute for the Analysis of Solar Energy was established.
• The green roof on GW's E Street facility (1959 E St., NW) was built in 2008 as a pilot to understand the role of sustainable design.
• GW initiated an energy institute at its Ashburn, Va., campus.
• GW has made significant investment in ongoing energy efficiency improvements in existing buildings and has two new buildings aimed for LEED Silver.
• The University now offers a graduate course on global climate change science, technology, policy and management.
• Students have conserved energy and water and reduced waste by participating in University-wide contests, including Eco-Challenge and RecycleMania.

As the leading environmental advocate on the Council of the District of Columbia, Councilmember Mary M. Cheh, a tenured law professor at GW Law School, has introduced and shepherded through legislation to protect the District's air and water from pollution. The Clean and Affordable Energy Act, introduced by Cheh and passed by the Council in 2008, is landmark legislation that will bring the District to the forefront of urban sustainability. She has also worked to pass the Smart Lighting Study Act, the Energy Efficiency Standards Act, a ban on environmentally harmful coal tar pavement products, and the Anacostia River Clean Up and Protection Act, which she co-introduced.

In addition to chairing the Council's Committee on Government Operations and the Environment, Councilmember Cheh is vice chair of the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments' Climate, Energy and Environment Policy Committee. She was awarded the Solar Champion Award from the MD-DC-VA Solar Energy Industries Association in recognition of her efforts to promote clean forms of energy.

The 2009 Policy Greenhouse was sponsored in part by Arnold & Palmer LLP and Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. 

For more information on GW's sustainability initiatives, visit http://sustainability.gwu.edu.

For more news about The George Washington University, visit www.gwnewscenter.org.

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