Hired by the city in June 2006 to form its Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability, Aggarwala led the development of what became PlaNYC: A Greener, Greater New York. The 127-point sustainability plan was released on Earth Day 2007.

"I've often said that Rit was the brains behind PlaNYC," says Mayor Michael Bloomberg in a statement. "He is a farsighted and creative thinker whose inspiration and work ethic allowed us to develop and then put in place a 20-year vision for improving the city that our children and grandchildren will inherit."

In a keynote address before the Urban Green Council this past September, Aggarwala encouraged his audience to require "some hard changes" in the way green buildings fit into the overall picture. For example, he said the green community should consider whether a property is truly green if there are no leasing requirements in place to ensure it's operated in an eco-friendly manner.

Three months later, the City Council voted to implement the Greener, Greater Buildings Plan, a package of legislation intended to effect a 5% reduction in the city's carbon footprint by focusing on existing properties. Aggarwala said in a statement that enactment of the GGBP was "probably the most important single step among PlaNYC's 127 initiatives to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions."

According to a release from the Bloomberg administration, Aggarwala is leaving city government to join his soon-to-be wife, Dr. Elizabeth Robilotti, when she moves to California this June to complete her medical training as a fellow in infectious diseases at Stanford University. He says in a statement that it's because of Bloomberg's commitment and pragmatism that the city is seen as "a model for sustainability efforts nationwide."

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Paul Bubny

Paul Bubny is managing editor of Real Estate Forum and GlobeSt.com. He has been reporting on business since 1988 and on commercial real estate since 2007. He is based at ALM Real Estate Media Group's offices in New York City.