Is environmentally sustainable development a priority?
Environmentally-sustainable development is a priority of the WDC. The WDC staff continues to research existing pilot programs, incentives, and expertise in order to connect developers with green options. The WDC Board of Directors has spoken about the “green economy” in addition to the creative economy. By encouraging economic development in the inner city, the WDC is promoting sustainability as employers locate closer to their pool of employees, thus lowering the carbon footprint with reduced employee commute distances. The WDC is also encouraging adaptive re-use (recycling) of buildings, and offering master planning assistance to those projects. There is a key link between energy conservation and affordability in small business. Thus, in order to increase the odds of survival, a small business needs to reduce its expenses. Energy conservation measures can help reduce energy costs in the long-term, increasing the odds of a business’ success.
