Navy Yard is nation’s largest LEED neighborhood, Rare ‘Franklin’ trees & more

Catch up on this week’s sustainability news:

Philadelphia Navy Yard is now the largest LEED neighborhood in the country. A 295-acre section with 77 buildings of the Navy Yard has received the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED-ND Gold Certification. This work was made possible by the Ensemble /Mosaic and Re:Vision Architecture.  “As more companies and people move to the Navy Yard, this certification provides validation that we are located in a built environment that is healthy, responsible, and vibrant,” said Scott Kelly, Founding Partner of Re:Vision Architecture.

Carbon emissions have dropped by 30% in Philadelphia over the past 16 years—driven by a cleaner electric grid, more efficient buildings and the closure of the PES refinery. While Philly is leading the nation in emission reductions, experts note that 2022 data may be skewed because of the Covid-19 Pandemic.  

Rare Franklin Trees Planted at Carpenters’ Hall. Two Franklinia trees, extinct in the wild, were planted at Carpenters’ Hall on April 25th. The trees, named by John and William Bartram in honor of Benjamin Franklin, descend from seeds first cultivated in Philadelphia in the 1700s. The planting highlighted the city’s botanical heritage ahead of the United States’ 250th anniversary.

Health Professionals rallied outside the EPA Region 3 offices about Climate Pollution amid ongoing political efforts to revisit the 2009 Endangerment Finding. Led by Physicians for Social Responsibility Pennsylvania (PSR-PA) and Climate Action Campaign (CAC), the professionals aimed to defend the agency’s authority to regulate climate-changing pollutants in the precedent, like carbon dioxide and methane as threats to public health. The Philadelphia Metro Area ranks as the third-worst polluted in the Mid-Atlantic for ozone and daily particle pollution.

Art and nature take a fun, creative shift to embrace sustainability.  Local artists in South Jersey are creating larger than life “interactive trolls” from recycled household items located in parks and public places around Burlington County. This installation has sparked conversation over the possibilities of bringing new life to old items. CBS News 

Vicinity Energy Chairman Bill DiCroce dies at 65. Bill DiCroce, chairman of Vicinity Energy and a longtime executive in the energy sector, died on April 13, 2025, according to a statement from the company. DiCroce led Vicinity and previously held senior roles at Veolia North America and NSTAR, overseeing energy and environmental operations nationwide.