UGP’s flagship project is the Philly 2 Zero.  This 5,600 square foot building will put Philadelphia on the map for innovation of sustainable buildings, by being the world’s most fully environmentally integrated mixed-use structure.  The EAB will be LEED Platinum certified, the highest rating of sustainability by the United States Green Building Council.  Its environmentally conscious design features include solar energy production, bio mass energy production, and a host of other green energy technology.  Additionally, the EAB not only captures and reuses 100% of the rainwater that falls on the site, but also cycles all wastewater through a treatment system known as the “Living Lab.”  This system converts sewage water and solid waste into a form useful for secondary functions such as bathing, washing clothes, watering plants, heating and cooling, etc.  The finished structure will use recycled bio-friendly materials and energy-efficient appliances.

The EcoLab, which will be included in the building, will exist as a partnership with local academic institutions and serve as a venue for testing green products and systems.  As an independent laboratory, testing will be free from manufacturers’ influence, which will allow for objective data collection.  The EcoLab will provide a service similar to Consumer Reports in its scope yet more comprehensive in that the EcoLab will conduct full lifecycle analysis of eco products.

The UGP EcoNexus website will work in coordination with the Big Green Building. It will also be supported by EcoLab results. The building will have thousands of data points that feed into the EcoNexus, which will allow people to see what kind of energy the building takes in from its sustainable sources, and how the energy is used in the building.  The EcoNexus will become an important start-up site and database for green building, and the first site of its kind giving detailed sustainable building data, and monitoring the building systemically as a “living machine.”  The site will offer information and reviews on green products and services and a feature that allows users to enter information about their houses, and find out which products are best for them, and the best way to be installed.  UGP will completely own EcoNexus, which will allow UGP to become more than a typical non-profit, as our professional EcoNexus green-collar staff will continue to grow.

Urban Green Partnership is on its way to making Philadelphia more environmentally responsible in a way that stimulates commerce and innovation while creating new jobs.  We feel UGP is a vital force in making Philadelphia a world leader in urban sustainable living, much as the city is already world renowned in the medical and pharmaceuticals industries.

Community Outreach

                 In early 2006 a group of people sitting in a row home in South Philly were trying to figure out how to help the people of Philadelphia start to make their lives a little bit greener. They were looking for a way to make the environment something everyone in Philadelphia could connect to no matter what their opinions of the environment. “We need to meet people where they are” was the idea the Urban Green Partnership kept coming back to as it searched for ways to educate as many people as possible about the environmental issues facing the city and the Delaware valley. Early in 2006 the idea of hosting a green street party was hatched and in September of that year, the South Street Green Festival was held. 40 vendors and over 6,500 visitors showed up just to see what the crazy bunch of South Philly folks were up to.

                 Michael Nutter, Babette Josephs, Alen Butkovits, and Maurice Sampson were just a few of the speakers that turned out in the first year to show their support for the environment and their passion for making Philadelphia the next great city. Working with Recycle Now the festival helped collect over 2000 signatures in support of increasing the city wide incentivized recycling program. The 1 day long festival went so well that the Urban Green Partnership decided to host a second festival in 2007.

                 What a jump, in 2007 the festival grew to 4 blocks, 130 vendors and was attended by over 14,000 people. Again the Urban Green Partnership teamed up with another local organization, the Delaware Valley Green Building Council to highlight the need for more green building and how to help Philly move in a greener direction. The festival was also able to work with the city and become part of Green Plan Philadelphia.

                 Last year’s 2008 festival found itself in a new home at 2nd and South Streets. Over 200 exhibitors and nearly 25,000 visitors came to share the day themed around water. DVGBC, ECA, and the Philadelphia Water Department, and The Partnernership for the Delaware Estuary were only a few of the organizations who joined us for our Water Quality Symposium.

                 Returning to 2nd and South Streets in 2009, the 4th annual festival will be themed around sustainable food. The Urban Green Partnership is hard at work growing the festival and its message.  But at the end of the day getting greener is everyone’s job and the Urban Green Partnership is here to help the city and its residents in any way it can.

See everyone in September!