Envision a city that generates 25% of its electricity from renewable sources; grows its own food; collects rainwater for irrigation and only landscapes with drought resistant plants and grasses. A city that uses recycled materials at every level of construction; develops and tests new technology and creates 20,000 new jobs.

It’s possible. It’s economically feasible. It’s second nature.

Welcome to St. Charles—the model for 21st century green living. St. Charles proves that, when planned thoughtfully, a city can stimulate the economy in a way that also protects and nurtures the natural environment, all while creating an enduring community for generations to come. Read More

On November 30th, American Community Properties Trust (ACPT) announced the launch of St. Charles’s Green City initiative. Calling it “the most comprehensive smart green community development project in the United States today”, St. Charles’s 9,100 acre planned community will create a green culture, not just as an idea but as a way of life.

The Green City initiative includes 4,000 undeveloped acres, as well as retrofitting more than 12,000 existing homes and four million square feet of existing commercial space in St. Charles.

Current houses and businesses are being retrofitted to save energy and water with the installation of:

Energy Star appliances
Low-flow shower heads
Dual-flush toilets
SMECO Smart Thermostats
Low-E glass windows
CFL bulbs

“This transformation will enable 40% of Charles County’s residents to live on approximately 2% of its land. The community, which currently has a population of 40,000 will double in size, but use less energy and water than the 40,000 are presently using,” said Steve Griessel, CEO of Maryland-based ACPT.

ACPT has partnered with various companies to make this possible including St. Charles County government, Southern Maryland Electric Cooperative (SMECO), IBM and the College of Southern Maryland. To help green city become a reality, they are applying for various federal, state, and local stimulus incentive funds.

Green City will also create over 1,000 new jobs initially, and 20,000 over the next 10-15 years.

Wow, this is great news!