Stepping Together Towards a Sustainable Society

The City of Greenbelt takes pride in being socially and environmentally responsible, two things the community believes to be intrinsically interlinked. From recycling to bike paths and the overhead tree canopies in between, the city continually strives to live as green as possible. As the rest of the world progresses into a cleaner, more eco-friendly way of life, the City of Greenbelt plans to keep on evolving with it.

Sustainable Maryland Certified

Greenbelt was one of nine Maryland municipalities to originally become Sustainable Maryland Certified in 2014, and the City successfully became re-certified in 2017 and 2020. To achieve certification, municipalities are required to form a Green Team comprised of local residents, community leaders, municipal staff and officials; complete a variety sustainability-related Actions worth a total of at least 150 points (including two mandatory actions and two of six priority actions), and submit the appropriate documentation as evidence that the Sustainable Maryland Certified requirements have been satisfied.

• Read about Greenbelt's accomplishments!

Alternative Fuel Vehicles

The City of Greenbelt has a fleet of environmentally responsible vehicles in service. The City is currently running eleven (11) hybrid Ford Fusions, fifteen (15) hybrid Ford Police Interceptors, two (2) hybrid Ford Escapes; and one (1) all electric Gem Polaris.

In the summer (2018) the City of Greenbelt added 3 new Chevy Bolts to its fleet.  Two of the cars are being used by City Code Enforcement to make their inspection rounds and the other is with the Department of Public Works. In 2020 two more Bolts were purchased with the help of the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA). The electric cars are part of the City's commitment to utilize alternative fuel and powered vehicles whenever it is feasible, and a car is replaced in its fleet. Also, with the help of the MEA, the City has installed three Electric Vehicle Charging stations at the Public Works Yard. 

Green Facilities

City facilities in Greenbelt maintain a high level of environmental responsibility. The new Public Works facility is a green building, using 70% of materials recycled from the site of its demolition. The facility relies on geothermal energy for heating and cooling, as well as energy efficient lighting, with automatic on/off settings and light sensing.

The City of Greenbelt started buying wind generated electricity in 2009 (15% of the City's consumption), the City continued until 2011, when we switched to 100% wind energy supplied by our electricity provider. Greenbelt is committed to reducing our carbon footprint by lowering our electricity consumption and by obtaining 100% of our energy from renewable resources. The City of Greenbelt has been an EPA Green Power Partner and a Green Power Leadership Club member since 2014.”

The facility's Energy Efficiency Program is an ongoing process to continually upgrade the lighting. The now recently completed energy efficiency audit (conducted by Chevron) will continue to implement recommendations over the next few years. Since 2013, with partial funds from the MEA, the City started retrofitting all the lights in our buildings with LEDs thus lowering our energy consumption by 15% in 2022. The City is presently awaiting the permits to establish a solar farm through a Power Purchase Agreement. This solar farm will supply 60-80% of the electricity the City consumes.

Achievements made possible in part through Maryland Smart Energy Communities (SMEC) grants offered by the Maryland Energy Administration (MEA):

The City adopted a Policy on Energy Efficiency in 2013. The baseline year chosen was 2012, that year the kWh usage for all City buildings was 3,362,546. In 2021 the kWh usage for all City buildings was 2,627,729 that is a 21% reduction, we have met our goal. 

The Renewable Energy Policy was adopted in 2013. The baseline year chosen was 2012. Thanks to the MSEC 2017 grant, the City was able to install a 42-kW solar photovoltaic system at the Springhill Lake Recreation Center. The system is online.  Council recently approved an RFP for a solar farm that will produce from 65-70% of the electricity the City consumes. We expect the solar farm to be operational in the first quarter of 2024 thus fulfilling our renewable energy generation goal, albeit a bit out of the time frame. 

The City adopted a Transportation Petroleum Policy in 2017. A baseline is being established, and the City is working towards our goal by having installed a Fast Charging DC station and purchased 4 full electric vehicles. 

The City also installed three Level 2 EV charging stations at Public Works Yard for City fleet use. 

With MSEC13 The City of Greenbelt performed energy improvements by replacing Metal Halide and High-Pressure Sodium lighting fixtures with LEDs at four locations: 1) Indoor pool, 2) Outdoor pool, 3) Youth Center Gym, and 4) Springhill Lake Gym.  

With MSEC14 exterior parking lot lighting, Metal Halide, Fluorescent T8 and T12 lights, and 250W wall packs were replaced with LEDs at two locations: 1) Public Works (parking lights with sensors, buildings 1,2, and 3), and 2) Police Department (with indoor occupancy sensors). 

With MSEC15 the City completed energy improvements at three locations: 1) Community Center gym and building (with occupancy sensors), 2) Skate Park outdoor lighting, and 3) Springhill Lake Recreation Center outdoor lighting. 

With MSEC17 the City installed a 42-kW rooftop solar photovoltaic system at the Springhill Lake Recreation Center. The City contributed with matching funds of $21,720.00 

With MSEC18 the City purchased an all-electric vehicle and will install an EV charging station. The City contributed with matching funds of $30,000.00 

With MSEC19 The City of Greenbelt conducted energy improvements at the Youth Center where 169 fixtures were replaced with LEDs.  And energy improvements at Public Works Warehouse and building 3 where 94 fixtures were replaced with LEDs.

With MSEC21 The City purchased a Chevrolet Bolt Electric Vehicle that replaced a Code Enforcement car. And installed a Level 2 EV charging station at Public Works.

With MSEC21 The City conducted energy improvements at the Municipal Building located at 25 Crescent Road.

Since 2013 the City has replaced the HVAC system at the Community Center incorporating energy saving measures in the project ($300,000.00 + from City funds). 

The roof at the Aquatic and Fitness Center was replaced with one that is twice as energy efficient ($500,000.00 + from City funds).

The HVAC system was replaced at the Aquatic and Fitness Center ($400,000 – from City funds).

The existing 1937 HVAC equipment at the Old Greenbelt Theater was replaced with modern energy efficiency equipment costing about $500,000 from City funds.

The City Council has approved a solar farm which is in the final permitting phase at this time. A PPA has been signed with a solar developer to build a 2MW PV system that should be operational in the first quarter of 2024. 

The HVAC Makeup Air Unit has been replaced at the Police Station ($76,000 – from City funds).

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