Takoma Park, MD

The City of Takoma Park has demonstrated a long-term commitment to sustainability and has a history of progressively addressing environmental challenges through the active engagement of its citizens. From preparing one of the pioneering community greenhouse gas (GHG) inventories under the ICLEI methodology in 2000 to determining pathways to sustainable energy in 2014 and beyond, Takoma Park has played an active role in Maryland’s 80% by 2050 and Montgomery County’s 100% by 2035 GHG emissions reduction goals. The next phase of Takoma Park’s climate planning offers an opportunity to continue integrating equity and resilience into GHG reduction strategies and the City’s long-term trajectory towards achieving its ambitious sustainability goals, as outlined in the Sustainability and Climate Action Plan. The City has set a target of "Net Zero by 2035" and seeks to integrate equity and resilience into all climate action strategies.

The City of Takoma Park is a certified Sustainable Maryland Community since 2011, and all departments within the City have actively integrated sustainability measures into their operations. Takoma Park seeks to engage with other like-minded communities, including serving as a member community of the Urban Sustainability Directors’ Network (USDN) a signatory of the Global Covenant of Mayors (GCOM), and an active participant in other national and international organizations dedicated to addressing climate change via local efforts, the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (MWCOG, Montgomery County Interagency Climate Leadership Team, Maryland Counties and Cities Coalition for Climate Action (MC4A), the Nation’s Capital Sustainability Circle, Climate Mayors, and CDP. The City continues to aggressively pursue GHG reductions, sustainability objectives, and energy goals, particularly in areas where it can alleviate social inequities and support climate resilience.

As part of the City’s lead by example initiative, the City of Takoma Park has purchased 100% green power for its municipal operations since 2004. This includes the electricity needs for all municipal buildings, streetlights, and operations. It also includes 12 public electric vehicle charging stations throughout the city. Takoma Park has installed solar PV on all suitable municipal rooftops, and has hosted numerous solar co-ops helping to increase residential and commercial installation of rooftop solar PV. To reduce its energy use, the City completed energy audits in all city owned or operated buildings in 2014. Subsequent work involved completing lighting retrofits in four city-owned or operated buildings, upgrading heating and cooling systems at Heffner Park, Recreation Center, and the Community Center, converting streetlights to LEDs, and implementing staff engagement with operations of city facilities, and a staff energy saving competition will occur in 2016.

The City is now turning its focus to electrification and decarbonization. A new LEED Gold certified municipal library is expected to be completed in Summer 2025, and a formal Fleet Electrification report was completed in November 2024. The City is looking holistically at energy systems across its building portfolio and will be seeking ways to complete electrify and decarbonize these systems. Takoma Park is committing to 20% reduction in energy use intensity across the four municipal buildings in its portfolio.

Leadership Commitments

Better Buildings Challenge

Goal

Commitment