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Columbia Association<\/p>\nColumbia Association<\/p>\n
COLUMBIA, MD<\/strong> – Columbia Association (CA) has officially joined the U.S. Department of Energy\u2019s Better Climate Challenge<\/em>, committing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% within 10 years.<\/p>\n CA was recognized as an inaugural partner during a webinar with Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm and White House National Climate Advisor Gina McCarthy. CA joins other challenge participants, including major healthcare systems, universities and corporations across the country, in a commitment to work toward a low-carbon future. <\/p>\n \u201cCA has always been and will continue to be dedicated to the protection of our environment,\u201d Community Operations Vice President Dennis Mattey said. \u201cParticularly with our investment in and ongoing maintenance of our community\u2019s open space, this partnership with like-minded organizations across the country truly demonstrates the importance of this kind of intentional work. We look forward to learning and leading in this space moving forward.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is truly an honor to join this national effort that recognizes the real challenges climate change presents and the opportunities CA and others have to mitigate the negative impact,\u201d Director of Energy Jeremy Scharfenberg said. \u201cWe cannot wait to act, and this partnership gives us all a sense of accountability and ownership that our team hopes spreads throughout our entire community.\u201d<\/p>\n Committed to a low-carbon future <\/p>\n The Better Climate Challenge was born out of the urgent need to mitigate the impacts of climate change. This mission aligns with CA\u2019s role as an environmental steward \u2014 and more specifically, our goal to be a leader in taking measurable steps to address climate change.<\/p>\n Over the next decade, CA is aiming to reduce GHG emissions by 50% and decrease our energy use intensity by 30%. <\/p>\n In addition to the Better Climate Challenge, CA has also participated in the DOE\u2019s Better Buildings Challenge. We achieved our energy reduction goal of 20% in 2018, and look forward to tackling the next challenge to help protect the environment.<\/p>\n We\u2019re already making steps toward achieving our sustainability goals, which includes: <\/p>\n\n