The  Urban green partnership was born out of frustration in 2005.  New sustainable home products, like solar paneling and heat pumps, came on the market as the past few years brought a new level of environmental consciousness, but there became a difficulty for the average person to learn how to make his or her home energy efficient according to budgetary needs.  Our goal is to bridge that gap and help people integrate sustainability into their lives through example, education, and innovation.

UGP’s outlook differs from many other environmental groups.  While environmental concerns are important to us they are not the sole impetus to adoption of sustainable practices.  We stress that monetary and economic reasons are equally important motivators for such adoption.  UGP strives to show consumers how truly environmentally sound practices can deliver tangible financial benefits (as evidenced by the recent “greening” of such multi-national conglomerates as Wal-Mart and BP whose environmental practices are driven by achieving a higher bottom line).

We further contribute to local and regional economies by providing the framework for Philadelphia to become a hub for high-paying “green-collar” jobs in the fields of sustainable building, green design and environmental research to name a few.  Making these jobs available is just one step in addressing the city’s so-called brain drain; the loss of educated, middle-class young professional adults.

UGP’s startup project is Philly 2 Zero (P20).  The Philly 2 Zero Project will encompass a mixed use 3 story modular building known as the Eco Arts Building (EAB), an urban farm placed at the corner of South and Broad Streets, and a reality TV show filmed on site to help bring green in to the main stream.

This 7,200 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 P2O project will align seamlessly with and promote the goals of the MOS’s Green Works Philadelphia with a high visibility demonstration project of sustainable urban living in Philadelphia.  This project is located next to the Broad and South subway line, and the C, 40, 32, and 27 bus routes, making it easily accessible via public transportation. The highly visible P2O project will create emotional contact between Philadelphians and their green future as outlined in Green Works Philadelphia by providing a place where they can see, touch, experience and understand the full potential of this important plan.

The P2O’s modular design can be easily and affordably dismantled and relocated to its permanent location.  This second location will allow the Broad and south site to be made available to a larger commercial project and allow the EAB to renew its mission in another of Philly’s great neighborhoods. Potential sites include; 

• 1515-1533 S 25th St.
• 1540 S Myrtlewood St.
• 1323 S Newkirk St.
• 3020 Wharton St.
• 3022 Wharton St.
• 3024 Wharton St.
• 3026 Wharton St.

The P2O Project promotes multiple goals of Green Works Philadelphia through:

• Urban Farm Expo: residents will grow as much of their food as possible in an area of the garden and showcase this as part of a sustainable urban agriculture demonstration program.
• Recycling: residents will compose most of their kitchen waste as compost, irrigate the urban farm with gray and storm water, and recycle all other household waste. EAB businesses will operate paperless offices and follow the same recycling guidelines.
• Green Please Touch Expo: Philadelphians can tour a residential module and visit the businesses and farm to see, touch, and experience affordable green technologies they can bring into their own homes and businesses.
• Community Integration: building residents will work with garden volunteers at Broad and South to share the composting facility and tend the green space.

UGP and Friends of the Garden of the Arts (FOTGA) are working with the Mayors Office of Sustainability and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation to, include of our project as part of Green Works Philadelphia and obtain a lease of the property at Broad and South Street that would become effective contingent upon the procurement of project financing.   UGP is also working with the Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority (RDA) to secure and develop the second site for the P20 project.         

• UGP has secured design, Developer, and nuild services from the Blox, Onion FLats, and Jig.  Theywill, over 9 month period, create the construction documents and construction schedule.
• UGP is in the processes of securing a PIDC letter of intent will be leveraged to obtain 2 million dollars in project financing.  
• UGP will showcase the opening of the P2O project with the kickoff of Green Fest 2010 and start filming of the Green Life to be aired in late 2011.
  • “the Biggest Loser” meets “the Real World” with the “John and Kate plus Eight” audience.  Follow a group of 20 something’s, an elderly couple, and a family of 4 as they learn how to live green, work green, and save green while competing for the million dollar prize and the title of greenest people in the US.

The modest cost of this development plan will be covered by P2O project funds and will not cost the MOS or the City of Philadelphia anything to construct.  $1,250 K from foundations, $500k from the Green Life production company and $250 K from private sources.  Currently our grant team has identified over 32 private and state funders whose funding goals for 2010 match UGP’s mission and project goals.  Some of these grant organizations we are currently pursuing are The Philadelphia Foundation, the Kresge Foundation, the William Penn Foundation, and the Ben Franklin Technology Development Authority.  Our largest grant prospect is the current stimulus bill, which we are applying for a total of $500,000, divided between various aspects of construction.  Also UGP is pursuing production a contract with one of 3 production companies.

The 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.