NVRC Officers for Fiscal Year 2025 Elected
At is June 27 meeting Commissioners elected their officers for Fiscal Year 25. Elected were the Honorable John T. Chapman as Chair, the Honorable Matt de Ferranti as Vice-Chair and the Honorable Andrea O. Bailey as Treasurer. Each officer will serve a one-year term. We are grateful to our officers for FY25 and all our Commissioners for their service.
Northern Virginia Adds 6.3 Million Square Feet of LEED Certified Buildings in 2023
NVRC Dashboard Updated - Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
In 2023, Northern Virginia added 6.3 million square feet across 23 newly certified buildings and 239,100 square feet in one newly certified interior space, for a total of 6.5 million newly added square feet of LEED green space. LEED commercial buildings and space is abundant in Northern Virginia. Existing by 2023 was a total of 123.6 million square feet across 621 buildings and 74 interior spaces.
LEED is the most widely recognized green building system for designing, construction, and operation of buildings and interior spaces of buildings. LEED buildings and interior spaces improve energy efficiency for businesses, lower carbon emissions, and create a healthier environment to live and work. LEED buildings and interior spaces are a critical part of addressing the world's climate crisis, resiliency, and supporting more equitable communities.
For more information on LEED and green building see NVRC’s Green Buildings web page. Detailed regional information on LEED buildings, including the location, number of buildings, square footage, certification level, and trends can be found on the dashboard.
For more information about LEED please visit the US Green Building Council’s web site. For information regarding various energy efficiency and renewable energy tax credits please visit NVRC’s Energy web site.
Impact of America's Foreign Diplomacy on World Stage and Economy
NVRC was pleased to attend event sponsored by the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition in Washington, D.C. Focus of conversation was on America's diplomacy and its impact on geopolitics and the U.S. economy. Speakers included the National Security Advisor to the President, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and a number of bipartisan experts and distinguished public servants.
In Northern Virginia more than 50,000 jobs and nearly $7 billion in wages are associated with foreign direct investment (FDI) in the region representing nearly 5% of the workforce. 1,252 establishments from 67 different countries invest in Northern Virginia. You can read NVRC's detailed report on FDI in the region on our dashboard.
The Transatlantic Economy and Virginia
NVRC was pleased to co-host a webinar with the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies on the impact of transatlantic trade. According to their most recently released report:
- Nearly half of Virginia’s exports are in services sectors, a significantly higher share than the U.S. overall.
- Virginia has far more hyperscale data center capacity than either China or all of Europe. Much of that is in Northern Virginia.
Webinar Video
Commuter Survey at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Completed
Survey was part of Military Installation Resilience Review (MIRR 2.0) project
The Northern Virginia Regional Commission as part of its Military Installation Resilience Review project (MIRR 2.0) conducted a commuter survey of Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall. This survey, conducted in March and April 2024, collected responses from 219 individuals working at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall (JBM-HH).
Here are the key findings.
Employee Demographics
- A balanced representation of military (active, retired) and civilian employees
- Most respondents travel to the main JBM-HH campus.
- Employees reside in a wide range of zip codes across the region.
Commute Patterns
- Driving alone is the dominant mode of transportation (70%).
- Telework is a popular option, especially on Fridays.
- Most employees work a consistent schedule with similar commute patterns.
- Weekend commute patterns are similar to weekdays.
Commute Times and Distances
- Most respondents have commutes under 40 minutes.
- 34% have commutes over 40 minutes one-way.
- Drive-alone commuters tend to have shorter commutes than transit riders.
- Transit riders tend to travel longer distances and experience longer commutes.
Commute Satisfaction
- Overall commute satisfaction is moderate (4.96/10).
- Transit riders are more satisfied with their commutes than drive-alone commuters (6.41/10).
- Respondents rate access to parking and total travel time more favorably than other aspects of their travel experience.
Barriers to Green Travel
- Lack of convenient and reliable transit options: Limited access to transit stops, insufficient midday mobility options, and perceived unreliability of public transportation are major barriers.
- Last-mile connections: Difficulty getting to and from the Base, particularly from nearest transit stops.
- Logistical challenges: Dependent care, inconsistent work schedules, personal needs, and a preference for independent travel also hinder green travel options.
Motivators for Green Travel
- Enhanced transit connections: Convenient shuttle services, on-base transit stops, and increased transit fare subsidies are top motivators.
- Carpool/vanpool assistance: Finding ride-sharing partners, flexible work hours, and guaranteed ride home services are key.
- Walking/cycling improvements: Safe bicycle routes, secure bike parking, showers, and lockers would encourage walking and cycling.
Other Notable Findings
- A large majority of respondents are interested in flexible work arrangements, particularly telework.
- Respondents are open to exploring alternative travel modes with the right incentives and infrastructure.
- Overall, the survey highlights the need for improved transit options and infrastructure, as well as employer-supported initiatives, to encourage green travel at JBM-HH.
You can learn more about the MIRR project and NVRC’s Community Military Partnership Committee by clicking here.
Sustainability Work in the Region
“Donate Don’t Discard Programs Introduced at the Airports Authority”
The Northern Virginia Regional Commission is proud of the work that our local government partners and other governmental entities are undertaking to improve sustainability of the region. We are pleased to share the efforts of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) on two new pilot programs they have launched.
In Spring 2024, the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority launched two programs to enhance its commitment to environmental, social and governance (ESG) strategy. Both programs aim to reduce the Airports Authority’s solid municipal waste, provide resources to local communities and reduce operating costs for the Airports Authority
NVRC Work Highlighted at German Embassy
NVRC was honored to be invited to attend dinner at the residence of the German Ambassador to US to talk about our work at the Northern Virginia Regional Commission and local governments in Germany including the Verband Region Stuttgart. Dr. Dale Medearis of our team laid out the parameters of the work and benefit to the region.
Joining at the dinner were six Mayors from large cities in Germany and assorted guests representing various organizations. Cities represented were: Bremen, Hannover, Köln (Cologne), Münster, Aachen and Neubrandenburg. Thankful that Supervisor Libby Garvey from the Arlington County Board was invited by the Embassy as well. Arlington has a sister city relationship with Aachen.
Know Toxics Website Updated
NVRC is proud to help coordinate the activities of the Northern Virginia Waste Management Board. One of these efforts is to manage the Know Toxics web site to provide information to the business community on the proper disposal of electronics and other materials. The website was recently updated.
Webinar: "Sustainably Revitalizing Degraded Watersheds: The Story of Neckarinsel and How Creative Design, Integrated Planning & Culture Are Helping to Restore the Neckar River".
On June 24 NVRC sponsored a webinar entitled: "Sustainably Revitalizing Degraded Watersheds: The Story of Neckarinsel and How Creative Design, Integrated Planning & Culture Are Helping to Restore the Neckar River".
The Neckarinsel lies in the middle of a severely degraded segment of the Neckar River, in Stuttgart, Germany. The island is enveloped and isolated by polluted water, commercially used canal locks, truck- and car-bearing bridges. But the river is recovering in part through a revitalization of the island. The Neckarinsel’s revival is being driven by a unique and entrepreneurial grassroots effort that has cultivated various social, artistic, culinary, as well as environmental initiatives. Since 2022, with support from the German Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development and in partnerships with the Verband Region Stuttgart (Stuttgart regional government), a unique urban planning experiment is underway that will fuse landscape design, water treatment, pedestrian access, culture, cuisine and digital outreach. The present outcomes suggest a sustainable pathway for recovery and a potential model for the renewal of other U.S. watersheds, especially in Northern Virginia.
Upcoming Webinars
Bike Planning in the Stuttgart Region: Lessons for the Northern Virginia Region
When: September 19, 2024 | 12 - 1:15 PM
Please join the NVRC, the Verband Region Stuttgart, and the City of Stuttgart for a lunchtime webinar to share the planning and operations of the regional bike system of the Stuttgart region.
The region of Stuttgart, Germany, has a long-term history with holistic planning to promote biking. Biking across the Stuttgart region has successfully promoted biking as a viable transportation alternative to cars. The Stuttgart region has comprehensively structured planning to integrate land-uses, multi-modal transportation plans, urban and rural development. The results are bike paths that promote easy access between urban, recreational and agricultural areas. Bike paths are often dedicated to biking, clearly marked and digitally accessible and navigable. Bike planning across the region is safe and often integrates recreational and cultural attributes that are clearly interpreted.
About the Northern Virginia Regional Commission
NVRC is a consortium of thirteen local governments representing more than 2.5 million residents. While only 3% of Virginia's land mass, Northern Virginia has a GDP of $276 Billion which is 41.6% of the GDP of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Northern Virginia’s GDP is larger than 24 states and the District of Columbia and if a country would be the 48th largest economy in the world.