• why is Philadelphia behind the green curve?
• Why is it ranked 88 out of 100 cities on environmental practices?
• Why is recycling stuck at 6% when the national average is at 24%?
• How will Philadelphians – one in four of whom are classified as below the poverty line – pay their utility bills as energy costs surge?

Further, Philadelphia has lagged behind the country when looking at environmental policies and it is costing the region money, jobs, and a better quality of life.

The Urban Green Partnership believes there is an opportunity to bring green into the mainstream and make Philadelphia a hub for fledgling business and non-profit ventures in the environmental field. The first major component is to create a place for the environmentally conscientious businesses and government agencies to gather. That place will be called “Big Green,” a world class eco-designed and constructed building that will be 100% energy independent – a first for any building in the world! The goal for Big Green is to anchor a green version of Silicon Valley in Philadelphia that will help absorb more of the highly educated talent leaving Philadelphia every year.

As a mixed use commercial, retail and residential building totaling 80,000 square feet and rising 8 stories, Big Green will be the place in Philadelphia (perhaps even the world) where builders, legislators, community groups, and the average homeowner can see and learn how “eco-technology” can reduce their dependence on non renewable energy sources such as petroleum and natural gas. The region’s environmental organizations, once under the solar roof of Big Green, will be able to work together with business and government to more efficiently deliver services, both public and private, in an environmentally conscientious manner. Presently, no single organization combines the individual strengths of these non-profits, private, and municipal services in a manner consistent with the public need and interest.

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