Smart Surfaces Coalition
Baltimore will have the opportunity to be the very first city in the country to customize and utilize an analytical tool to document and weight the costs versus the health and fiscal benefits of investment in smart surfaces (cool and green roofing, porous paving, tree canopy and green infrastructure) to address a city that is about 70 percent paved or roofed. As low income residents suffer disproportionate impacts of air pollution and higher summer temperatures in areas characterized by little greenery and prevalence of dark impervious surfaces, the tool will be used to help Baltimore adopt cost-effective solutions to cut excess heat radiation from buildings and hard surfaces, reduce flood risk and manage surface water runoff, an improve livability, health and equity while saving money and creating jobs.
Waterkeepers Chesapeake
Waterkeepers Chesapeake is a coalition of nineteen independent programs working to make the waters of the Chesapeake and Coastal Bays swimmable and fishable. As an affiliate partner with the Indiana-based Clear Choices Clean Water organization, Waterkeepers Chesapeake will launch a community education and behavioral change campaign to highlight the effects densely populated areas have on water quality. This grant provides programmatic support for the launch of Clear Choices Clean Water Baltimore.
Chesapeake Climate Action Network
Chesapeake Climate Action Network will expand its Maryland Healthy Communities Campaign to advocate for waste disposale alternatives and solutions in Baltimore City, reduction in emissions from landfills, and eliminate subsidies for incineration in Maryland. The goals are to improve recycling and composting, reduce litter and trash pollution in streets and waterways, and reduce pollution generated by incinerators and landfills.
Baltimore City Office of Sustainable Energy
This pilot program has a simple premise: to lower water consumption and bills through water conservation and efficiency interventions and to measure the results. The Baltimore City Energy Office proposes to continue a five-year partnership with Healthy Neighborhoods that began with energy-efficiency projects to offer low and moderate income homeowners free installation of aerators, showerheads, high-efficiency/low water flow toilet replacements, and potential plumbing alterations and leak repairs if appropriate. The pilot program will be offered to 150 homeowners and three large nonprofit facilities with a mission of providing housing and services to homeless and low-income households.
Environmental Integrity Project
Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) advocates for effective enforcement of environmental laws to hold polluters accountable and engages in permitting, regulatory and enforcement proceedings to reduce pollution and improve public health. Through their Baltimore Environmental Justice Campaign, the organization conducts data analysis, produces technical memoranda, creates legal strategies and builds community partnerships to reduce disparate impacts of toxic air pollution on low-income communities.