June 5, 2017

For Immediate Release

Statement of Prince George’s County Councilman Mel Franklin on Alice Ferguson Foundation’s Living Building Certification

Public-Private Partnership Creates Milestone for Sustainability and Green Jobs

Contact: Mel@melfranklin.net

Accokeek, MD – Today, the Alice Ferguson Foundation (AFF), a nonprofit in southern Prince George’s County that has provided environmental education to students for over 50 years and manages the Hard Bargain Farm in Accokeek, MD, received full “living building” certification of its new Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation Environmental Center under the Living Building Challenge by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI).  The AFF Cafritz Environmental Center is among only 13 buildings in the world to achieve full Living Building Challenge certification, the highest environmental performance standard for buildings in the world.  Prince George’s County Councilman Mel Franklin (D-District 9), who represents the Accokeek area and gave remarks at today’s press announcement regarding the new certification, issued the following statement:

“When the public and private sector work together to foster innovation and improve our environment, amazing things can happen.  The AFF Cafritz Environmental Center’s certification today as one of only 13 “living buildings” in the world that generate net-zero energy and water and are carbon neutral represents an incredible advancement for environmental education and the green economy in our region and our nation.  Today’s announcement is a message to the world that we can both defeat climate change and grow our economy at the same time.  By being at the cutting edge and investing locally in green jobs, Prince George’s County will become a national leader in promoting sustainable development in the 21^st century economy.”

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The AFF Cafritz Environmental Center is located at the Hard Bargain Farm, 2201 Bryan Point Road, Accokeek, MD 20607.  The project received several million in state and county funds and private philanthropy, most notably from the Morris & Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation.  For more information, go to: http://fergusonfoundation.org/living-building-on-the-potomac/living-building-challenge/.