An Energy Efficient Makeover for D.C.-Area Public Transit

D.C. Metro has a plan to reduce carbon emissions and energy consumption by building to LEED green building standards and buying electric buses.

1 minute read

April 25, 2019, 7:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


"The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) introduced its first Energy Action Plan to reduce energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and long-term operating costs," reports Katie Pyzyk.

The energy action plan calls for electric buses and new LEED-certified facilities, requiring a five-year investment of $65 million. The agency plans to redesign its Potomac Yard Metrorail station in Alexandria, Virginia to be the first-ever LEED-certified transit station. That station is proximate to the future location of Amazon's second headquarters.

The WMATA is pitching the Energy Action Plan as an investment that will pay long-term dividends in cost savings--$16 million in energy costs savings each year, "and another $13 million in savings on operations and maintenance by 2025," according to Pyzyk.

Wednesday, April 24, 2019 in Smart Cities Dive

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

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