The Sustainability technical committee focuses on sustainability issues in the National Capital Section. Its flagship event is the yearly Sustainability Award and Keynote Lecture.

Past National Capital Section Sustainability Keynote speakers/lecturers have been:

2006 - Richard Wright, P.E., Ph.D., Dist. M. ASCE (Current Director of PERSI)
2007 - William A. (Bill) Wallace (Author of "Becoming Part of the Solution: The Engineer's Guide to Sustainable Development")
2008 - Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Henry J. "Hank" Hatch, P.E. , Dist. M.ASCE (Former Commander of USACE)
2009 - Brendan Owens, P.E., Vice President LEED Technical Development, U.S. Green Building Council

Past National Capital Section Sustainability recipients of this award include: the USEPA for the People, Prosperity, and the Planet (P3) event in 2009, the MWCOG’s Greening the Metropolitan Washington Region’s Built Environment in 2008, and the Anacostia Waterfront Corporation’s Environmental Standards for development in 2007.

Award/Recognition Criteria

1. The initiative (The Nomination) advances or promotes sustainable development as defined
by the American Society of Civil Engineer’s Code of Ethics:
“Sustainable development is the challenge of meeting human needs for natural resources,
industrial products, energy, food, transportation, shelter, and effective waste management
while conserving and protecting environmental quality and the natural resource base
essential for future development.”

2. The Nomination adopts a long-term view cognizant of environmental, social, and economic
implications, and places heavy emphasis on the impact of choices made now on succeeding
generations.

3. The Nomination is located within the jurisdictions of Montgomery County, Prince George’s
County, Loudoun County, Fairfax County, City of Alexandria, Arlington County, or District of
Columbia, within the geographical limits of ASCE’s National Capital Section (NCS).