The DCSEU engineering team takes a “hands on” approach to everything they do. On any given day, this team is busy analyzing ways in which commercial & institutional customers in the District can save on energy costs through energy efficiency upgrades. Whether it’s by scouring through construction drawings and specifications for energy analyses or climbing around mechanical rooms and rooftops looking at equipment, this team loves to involve themselves in the mix and see systems in action!
In Fall 2018, when Bread for the City (BFC), a local nonprofit organization, began working on its Southeast rooftop garden in Anacostia, nine engineers from the DCSEU’s engineering team jumped right in and got busy working. They painted planter boxes, readied the plants for the winter, cleaned up debris, and even fixed a leaking water faucet. The produce grown on the rooftop garden is prepared on site and incorporated into some meals that help feed DC residents in need, and BFC already had some great sustainable features like compost barrels and rainwater storage.
Team building and community service are intricately woven in the culture of both organizations. BFC’s decades of providing food, clothing, medical care, and legal and social services to help reduce the burden of poverty mirrors DCSEU’s efforts to help District households and businesses save energy and money though energy efficiency measures and renewable energy programs. In short, both organizations seek to serve the city’s most vulnerable citizens and make a positive impact in the community.
Anyone interested in helping with Bread For The City’s rooftop garden can contact the Rooftop Coordinator, Christie Gardner, at cgardner@breadforthecity.org.