Reimagine your possibilities with the 2022 graduate program at Vicinity Centres. All in all, we operate over 60 centres across Australia. You may not recognise the brand but we’re sure you’ll know some of our destinations, from the iconic Queen Victoria Building in Sydney to Chadstone – The Fashion Capital, our seven DFOs, and much-loved centres that are the hub of each of their communities. Learn more about Vicinity’s district energy system in Philadelphia here and sign up for Vicinity’s blog to stay updated on the latest energy news.We are Vicinity Centres. “This award highlights the local community’s recognition and appreciation of Vicinity’s low-carbon, green steam and sustainability efforts in Philadelphia, and we’re so proud and honored to be recognized by the people of Philadelphia.” Vicinity was recently voted the “Best Alternative Energy Company in Philadelphia” in Metro Philadelphia’s 2021 Philly’s Best awards. “What’s exciting is that the community is starting to take notice,” said Hartley.

Vicinity is also a member of local organizations like Green Buildings United, the Water Resources Association of the Delaware River Basin, a Founding Member of Circular Philadelphia, and a board member of the Schuylkill River Development Corporation (SRDC).

It’s so important to all of us that we support our city and neighbors through community engagement and sustainability-focused initiatives,” explained Hartley.Īs Vicinity’s Green Solutions Manager, Hartley has coordinated local community trash cleanups, tree plantings, battery recycling events, and procuring an electric bicycle for customer site visits, to name a few. As a local clean energy company, our employees live and work in this community. “Companies today can’t stay in their bubble. How Vicinity Drives Sustainability in the Local Community Transitioning to this renewable source will cut emissions by an additional 12K tons of carbon annually and recycle 600,000 gallons of waste oil that would otherwise go to a landfill or clog up city sewers. Vicinity announced in early 2022 that its leveraging biogenic fuel created from waste vegetable oil and fats from the local food service industry in its operations. As Vicinity’s Environment, Health and Safety and Green Solutions Manager Jessica Hartley explains, “we’re already a green energy provider and plan to get greener as part of our Clean Energy Future plan, including integrating renewable heating oil into our operations last year and exploring electrification of the district energy system.”Īlthough district energy systems often run on natural gas, more and more are transitioning to take advantage of lower-carbon alternatives, including local renewable fuels and power sources. The system currently reduces the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 300,000 tons annually – the equivalent of taking 65,000 cars off the road. Locally, Vicinity has invested $300 million in its district energy infrastructure. With a Philadelphia location at 2600 Christian Street, Vicinity centrally produces and distributes steam and chilled water to over 100 million square feet in the City of Brotherly love. Like the City of Philadelphia, Vicinity Energy also has a zero-carbon emissions goal by 2050. What is district energy? District energy consists of a network of robust underground pipes that deliver thermal energy – steam, hot or chilled water – from a central facility to multiple buildings, often in a downtown “district.” Rather than have commercial buildings rely on their boiler and chiller plants, this hidden underground energy resource improves overall energy efficiency, lowers the carbon footprint, and increases reliability.

Philadelphia is home to one of the largest district energy systems in the country and plays a significant role in delivering clean energy and carbon reductions in the City. How will the City reach its carbon neutrality goal? You may be familiar with wind and solar energy as a clean energy source, but you might not know about district energy. District Energy: Using Restaurant Waste Cooking Oil to Heat the City Since 70% of Philadelphia’s carbon footprint is from buildings (especially the HVAC & lighting), that means it’s essential to reduce the carbon footprint of commercial buildings. Philadelphia kicked off the Hunting Park “ Beat the Heat” plan in 2018 for this very reason: to help residents cope with already-hotter temperatures. Increased carbon emissions is also a climate justice issue: low-income and communities of color are the most impacted by climate stressors like hotter temperatures and health problems. Here’s how one company is working alongsize the cityĬarbon reduction is vital in the City to meet the Paris Climate agreement and lessen the impacts of climate change in Philadelphia. Philadelphia has an ambitious goal to reach carbon neutrality by 2050.

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