The city of San Francisco is taking the lead in partnering with developers and entrepreneurs to create apps aimed at improving residents’ daily lives.
“We’re connecting the energy sector and the built environment,” said Melanie Nutter, the director of the city’s environment department, during a VERGE SF panel focused on “The City as a Platform.”
“We see the city as an R&D lab,” she said.
In tough economic times, Nutter said, the “drive to low-cost innovation” is key to reaching San Francisco’s sustainability goals. The city has also come up with innovative financing methods through the PACE program, she said, which gives access to capital for building retrofits focused on energy efficiency.
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Another great initiative
Another great initiative embraced by many cities in the U.S. are green business challenges. Currently, there are over 40 programs nationwide including the Chicago Green Office Challenge, Seattle 2030, Bay Area Business Challenge and here in Boston, the Challenge for Sustainability. These voluntary environmental programs and communities are not only reducing greenhouse gases, but they are positioning the local economies to be sustainable through energy efficiency, employee engagement, commuter behavior and waste and water reduction.