sustainability Archives - Page 5 of 6

Polar bears for smarter growth

By Alex Dodds · September 14, 2010

Maybe you’ve seen it: a new commerical by automaker Nissan featuring the company’s latest car, a meandering polar bear and global climate change. The car in question is the Nissan LEAF, “the first 100% electric, no gas, no tailpipe vehicle.” Nissan certainly seems to be seeking the support of the eco-conscious set here, both with the commercial and the car itself. But in a post yesterday about the LEAF, Grist writer Jonathan Hiskes astutely notes that zero-emissions or not, no car is going to be as green as public transit options.

A step forward for smart growth: Senate advances Livable Communities Act

By Admin · August 3, 2010

Downtown intersection, originally uploaded by Complete Streets. Building local capacity to plan for growth and development in ways that cut traffic congestion, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, protect rural areas and green space, revitalize urban centers, and create more affordable homes just makes sense. Today, the Senate moved forward a bill that would provide federal resources … Continued

Uncategorized Federal Policy Livability Policy sustainability

North Carolina passes Sustainable Communities Task Force legislation

By Admin · July 19, 2010

The North Carolina General Assembly recently passed legislation establishing a Sustainable Communities Task Force within the Department of Environment and Natural Resources. North Carolina is now the latest state to recognize the connections between cross-agency governance at the state level, coordination with stakeholders at the local level, and sustainable communities on the ground.

Uncategorized North Carolina Policy SGA Programs State Policy sustainability

Rating system for green, sustainable neighborhood design launches today

By Steve Davis · April 29, 2010

LEED for Neighborhood Development Rating System Launches as Benchmark for Green Neighborhood Design Environmental Leaders Partner to Advance Walkable, Sustainable and Economically Thriving Communities

Washington, D.C. – (April 29, 2010) – Today, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) announced the launch of the LEED for Neighborhood Development green neighborhoods rating system. LEED for Neighborhood Development integrates the principles of smart growth, new urbanism and green building and benefits communities by reducing urban sprawl, increasing transportation choice and decreasing automobile dependence, encouraging healthy living, and protecting threatened species.

Uncategorized Green building leed LEED-ND sustainability

EPA joins inter-agency effort to support livable communities and smarter growth

By Steve Davis · June 16, 2009

There’s some exciting news out of Washington, DC to report this morning, where US EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson announced in Senate testimony this morning that EPA is joining with the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Transportation (USDOT) in a special partnership to work together to promote smart growth and more livable, sustainable communities across America.

Uncategorized DOT EPA Housing HUD sustainability Transportation

WorldChanging on Growing Cooler

By Steve Davis · January 25, 2008

Alex Steffen over at Worldchanging.org picked up on Growing Cooler in a fantastic recent essay on climate change called “My Other Car is a Bright Green City.” Sprawled-out land uses generate enormous amounts of automotive greenhouse gases. A recent major study, Growing Cooler, makes the point clearly: if 60 percent of new developments were even … Continued

Uncategorized Climate Growing Cooler Placemaking sustainability

Is there more to sustainability than green building?

By Steve Davis · January 7, 2008

First of all, happy new year and welcome back! All of us here at SGA are excited about the prospects for 2008, including the transition to a new President and CEO, which you can read here in case you missed it. We’ll be posting Geoff Anderson’s full bio shortly, with perhaps a short Q&A on … Continued

Uncategorized Green Housing sustainability

New resources for energy and climate issues

By Steve Davis · December 14, 2007

The Energy and Climate page explores the connection between energy independence, climate change, and how it all relates to smart growth. You can download the new fact sheet on “The Link to Energy Security and Climate Change” on that page as well. Want to learn more about energy, climate change, and sustainability? We’ve got a … Continued

Uncategorized Announcements Climate Energy Growing Cooler sustainability

Hot air? Blame Kotkin

By Steve Davis · October 22, 2007

Joel Kotkin teamed up with Ali Modarres last Sunday to pen a piece for the Washington Post entitled “Hot World? Blame Cities, ” in which they ignore most of the scientific evidence about lower per capita carbon emissions of city residents, placing the blame for global warming largely on the shoulders of city-dwellers, and proposing … Continued

Uncategorized Blog Climate Energy Environment Green Growing Cooler sustainability Urban Affairs