The City of Worcester has worked to develop a Green Worcester Sustainability and Resilience Strategic Plan (GWP) in hopes to make Worcester a sustainable and climate-resilient city by 2050. This was done as a collaborative effort between city officials, residents, businesses, and a number of other organizations that make up the community.
Starting July 1st, 2024 a new energy building code called the Specialized Stretch Code will go into effect. “This new code clarifies requirements for new buildings that are fully electric, but also allows construction of fossil-fueled new buildings while requiring them to be pre-wired for future full building electrification and solar systems. Virtually all other energy efficiency requirements, including those for changes to the existing buildings, stay aligned with the updated Stretch Code.” (worcesterma.gov)
In 2020, the City started large-scale lighting efficiency projects in 67 buildings – 48 schools, 9 fire stations, and 10 municipal buildings. As part of the City’s Energy Conservation Performance Contract, the project includes replacing existing old fluorescent lighting with high efficiency, motion-sensor LEDs.
Urban Gardens Resources of Worcester (UGROW) is a program in Worcester that supports a network of community gardens across the city with hope to address food insecurity and combat greenhouse gas emissions. UGROW has neighborhood gardens, institutional gardens, and school/learning gardens across the city to help educate the community. In the warmer seasons, UGROW has mobile farmers markets that brings fresh produce throughout the city, people are also able to put in their orders online to ensure they are able to receive what they need. These markets accept EBT allowing more access and equity.
The Worcester Tree Initiative (WTI) is a private, non-profit organization that is working to reforest the city of Worcester. This organization started back in 2009 after Asian long-horned beetles started killing trees in Worcester in 2008, and WTI is focused on reforesting Worcester’s tree canopy. WTI set a goal to plant 30,000 trees in Worcester within the first five years. WTI employs students across the city in hopes to increase community engagement for the project.
The Downtown Urban Revitalization Plan (URP): The primary goal of the URP is to capitalize on the ongoing downtown revitalization by strategically investing public resources to foster a lively and secure downtown area with robust and enduring economic prosperity. A rejuvenated downtown will foster a dynamic environment for living, working, and recreation, operating around the clock. This will unlock new potential for underutilized properties, enhance connectivity between individuals and destinations, and leverage Worcester’s distinctive location and features. URP has completed several renewal projects, such as the Elm Park Renewal Project and the Expressway Urban Renewal Project. Ongoing projects are the Medical City Urban Renewal Project, Polar Park, and the Union Station Urban Renewal Revitalization Plan, future projects such as Pickett Plaza, Table Talk Lofts, and The Cove are also a part of this plan.