By Marshall Collins

The scientific community, lawmakers and much of the population know all too well that the climate is changing. This winter, we have seen extreme cold in Massachusetts and historically low temperatures in the Midwest. This past summer, high tides breached sea walls and eroded beaches up and down the New England coast. Most in the scientific community believe these extremes are a prelude to what lies ahead.

Somerville, along with many other cities across the country, is looking to take big steps to mitigate climate change. City leadership has set the goal of becoming carbon neutral and using 100 percent renewable energy by 2050. The city is also focused on taking simple but effective measures to get there, including installing LED lighting in schools and streetlights, and offering 75 percent rebates for the first $2,000 homeowners invest in improvements like weatherizing, lighting, heating and cooling systems. Somerville is attracting and fostering new and innovative businesses focused on mitigating climate change at places like Greentown Labs.

On the development front, the city now expects those planning to build here to take meaningful steps to address climate change as part of any new development plans. Partners Healthcare created a sustainable campus as part of their headquarter relocation to Assembly Row. The project features high performance building materials, low-flow water fixtures and stormwater management, all designed to reduce environmental impact and preserve natural resources.

US2, the master developer for Union Square, has also agreed to implement a number of strategies to help the city meet its climate and sustainability goals. Once completed, the project will serve as a mixed-use transit hub, and as an example of environmental stewardship, with nearly all buildings in the project certified under LEED Gold performance-based standards. Sustainable building designs will also focus on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Outside of the buildings, approximately 2.5 acres of new open spaces will be created with new landscape areas and tree canopy that reduce the urban heat island effect and provide resilience toward flooding.

“We’re proud to be contributing to the City of Somerville’s sustainability goals by working to make Union Square more sustainable and resilient,” stated US2 President Greg Karczewski.

Electrical charging “EV-ready” parking spaces have been spreading throughout Somerville and will play a large role in Union Square helping Massachusetts meet its goal of putting 300,000 zero emissions vehicles on the road by 2025. The USQ development will also feature dedicated carpool and vanpool spaces, as well as dedicated car share spaces for Zipcar and others to help encourage residents to forego car ownership in the square. Moreover, the project’s approach to mobility management is focused on prioritizing pedestrians, cyclists and transit riders over vehicle use as envisioned in the Union Square Neighborhood Plan.

Somerville is already a city full of biking enthusiasm, and the proposed plans for Union Square will make it easier for cyclists to get around. The development will include increased access to bike share stations and contribute to the addition of over 1,800 linear feet of new bike lanes integrated into the streetscape of Union Square. Additionally, the project will add approximately 1,750 short-term and long-term bike parking spaces, including 130 new MBTA bicycle parking spaces at the Union Square station. These will be built by US2 as part of their development agreements with the city.

Somerville is committed to making the city a more sustainable place and is pushing residents to do their part in reducing their carbon footprint. With the combined effort of residents, developers and the private sector, Somerville has an amazing opportunity to make some serious changes. The city encourages residents to take advantage of the chance to participate in this process. Through Green Somerville, residents of the city have a platform for their voices to be heard at community meetings. They can also participate in new city initiatives like the Curbside Textile Recycling Program.