Green Dreams Presentation

Tools for Sustainability Planning

Creativity, Proactivity, Systematic Implementations to the Planning Process.

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Overview Introduction METHOD 1: Best Practices METHOD 2: Plans METHOD 3: Standards and Benchmarks METHOD 4: “Abstractions” Ecological Footprint Analysis Geographic Information Systems Visioning METHOD 5: Metrics & Indicators Sustainable Seattle Example Conclusions Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Source: http://www.metropolismag.com/webimages/4453/carrot_102010.jpg

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Introduction HOLISTIC IMPLEMENTATION “In the current era in which citizens are often skeptical of government, it is unlikely that any particular level of government by itself will be strong enough to adopt and implement comprehensive sustainability policy...So what is needed instead is for our existing, imperfect institutions to reinforce one another, working together to establish intergovernmental frameworks for sustainability planning�

source: Wheeler, 99

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Introduction

source: Wheeler, 51-52, designed using www.wordle.net

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Introduction WHAT MATTERS TO ME? WHAT CAN I DO? “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe” - Environmentalist John Muir (1938-1914)

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Methods METHOD 1: Best Practices METHOD 2: Plans METHOD 3: Standards and Benchmarks METHOD 4: “Abstractions” Ecological Footprint Analysis Geographic Information Systems Visioning METHOD 5: Metrics & Indicators Sustainable Seattle Example Edward Tufte Book

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Method 1: Best Practices Definition

Dongtan Ecocity, Dongtan, CN http://blog.lib.umn.edu/evans391/architecture/dongtan-east-village-and-east-lake.jpg

A best practice is a technique, method, process, activity, incentive, or reward which conventional wisdom regards as more effective at delivering

http://www.urbanecology.org.au/publications/residentialenergy/images/cw1.jpg

Christie Walk, Adeleide, AU

a particular outcome than any other technique, method, process, etc. when applied to a particular condition or circumstance.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Best_Practice http://de.academic.ru/pictures/dewiki/66/Bus_Stops_3_curitiba_brasil.jpg

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Bus Stop Curitiba, BR

Christian Wagner

Method 1: Best Practices Global Resources United Nations Center for Human Settlements www.unhabitat.org Dubai International Award for Best Practices www.bestpractices.org in Improving the Living Environment Department of Energy’s Center of Excellence http://www.smartcommunities.ncat.org/ for Sustainable Development American Institute of Architects AIA/COTE Top http://www.aiatopten.org/hpb/ Ten Green Projects Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Method 2: Plans General Plans

Dongtan Ecocity, Dongtan, CN http://blog.lib.umn.edu/evans391/architecture/dongtan-east-village-and-east-lake.jpg

Specific Plans http://www.urbanecology.org.au/publications/residentialenergy/images/cw1.jpg

Functional Plans http://de.academic.ru/pictures/dewiki/66/Bus_Stops_3_curitiba_brasil.jpg

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christie Walk, Adeleide, AU

Bus Stop Curitiba, BR

Christian Wagner

Method 2: Plans Keywords: Vision, Framework, Blueprint

General Plans Master/Comprehensive

Dongtan Ecocity, Dongtan, CN http://blog.lib.umn.edu/evans391/architecture/dongtan-east-village-and-east-lake.jpg

“Michael Neuman (1998) points out in a classic article on the usefulness of the General Plan, strong physical plans can help to portray collective hopes about the future of a city or town, allow necessary political conflict to emerge, build social, intellectual, and political capital within communities, and set agendas for powerful public agencies" Wheeler, 86

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Method 2: Plans Keywords: Vision, Framework, Blueprint

General Plans Issues

Dongtan Ecocity, Dongtan, CN http://blog.lib.umn.edu/evans391/architecture/dongtan-east-village-and-east-lake.jpg

Consider: funding, budgeting, staff time, cooperation between entities, adaptation to changing elected leadership, public interest, sustaining opposition, legalities, paperwork...

Critics argue that General Plans are an exercise of form making, as they may have little influence as to what really happens...

Avoid lofty rhetoric, technocratic and abstract writing, and gaps in accountability.

Wheeler, 86

Suburb in Florida, USA http://www.christophgielen.com/

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Method 2: Plans Keywords: Scales & Public Participation

Specific Plans

Area/Sector/Neighborhood/Precise

http://www.urbanecology.org.au/publications/residentialenergy/images/cw1.jpg

Christie Walk, Adeleide, AU

Specific Plans include an intensive public process including “workshops, meeting and design charettes (workshops in which groups of participants develop potential designs for urban places... New principles are guiding us to avoid top-down approach.�

Wheeler, 86

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Method 2: Plans Keywords: Scales & Public Participation

Specific Plans Issues

http://www.urbanecology.org.au/publications/residentialenergy/images/cw1.jpg

Christie Walk, Adeleide, AU

Issues of stagnation regarding workshops, trying to accommodate for everyone. Not everyone sees in a long-term vision process. Difficulty to follow-through with these plans unless easily accessible to

Community Meeting, Larimer, Pittsburgh PA

stakeholders (e.g., developers) Diana Miller, 2008

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Method 2: Plans Keywords: Principles, Goals, Commitments

Functional Plans http://de.academic.ru/pictures/dewiki/66/Bus_Stops_3_curitiba_brasil.jpg

Bus Stop Curitiba, BR

Functional Plans can include, but are not limited to: greyfields, bicycle planning, transportation demand management, details of land use (and densities), transportation (circulation), conservation, open space, noise, safety, urban design, environmental protection, resource use, economic development strategy, and housing.

Wheeler, 86

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Method 2: Plans Keywords: Principles, Goals, Commitments

Functional Plans Issues

http://de.academic.ru/pictures/dewiki/66/Bus_Stops_3_curitiba_brasil.jpg

“For example, no specific action is likely to quickly reduce automobile use in metropolitan areas. What is required instead is that a constellation of land use changes, pricing policies, improved transportation alternatives, and other steps such as an improved balance between jobs and housing within each community be put in place over an extended period of time� (Wheeler, 92)

Bus Stop Curitiba, BR

Traffic Miami, FL photo: Christian Wagner

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Method 3: Standards & Benchmarks Opportunities

Green Standard Examples

“Standards can often be too right, and have difficulty keeping up with changing technology and innovation....firmly established standards may reduce creativity, in that design or development becomes a process of meeting established benchmarks rather than “pushing the envelope” source: Wheeler, 94

New Urbanist Lexicon, Duany Plater-Zyberk & Co http://www.dpz.com/pdf/LEXICON_.PDF

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Method 3: Standards & Benchmarks Challenges

New Urbanist Lexicon, Duany Plater-Zyberk & Co

http://www.dpz.com/pdf/LEXICON_.PDF

“Even in residential neighborhoods 40- and 50- wide streets became the standard in the US, along with wide turning radii and other features appropriate for relatively high rates of speed...cul-de-sacs...The result of such standards was to enforce a particular model of low-density, automobile-oriented suburban development that we now see as profoundly unsustainable.�

West Rose Ln & N75th Ave, Phoenix AZ

Wheeler, 94 www.maps.live.com

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Method 4: Abstractions Ecological Footprint

Ecological Footprint (by country 2007) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_footprint

Geographic Information Systems

Unemployment Rates, USA (May 2007) http://www.latoyaegwuekwe.com/geographyofarecession.html

Visioning

Story of Stuff Cartoon, (by Annie Leonard) http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Method 4: Abstractions Ecological Footprint Developed by William Rees (UBC) and Mathis Wackernagel (Redefining Progress Organization, Oakland

“This technique seeks to turn various aspects of human resource consumption into equivalent amounts of land that would be required to produce such resources. Each individual or community is therefore assigned a “footprint” in terms of acres or hectares that represents their ecological impact on the planet”

Ecological Footprint (by country 2007) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_footprint

Wheeler, 95

1

5

12

10

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_footprint

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

India, Germany, UAE by ecological footprint per capita Christian Wagner

Method 4: Abstractions Ecological Footprint

Ecological Footprint (by country 2007)

http://www.myfootprint.org/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecological_footprint

POP

ECO FOOTPRINT GHA/PERS BIOCAPACITY GHA/PERS ECOLOGICAL REMAINDER

1

United Arab Emirates

6.25

10.68

0.85

-9.83

2

Qatar

1.14

10.51

2.51

-8.00

3

Bahrain

0.76

10.04

0.94

-9.10

5.45

8.26

4.85

-3.41

10.53

8.00

1.34

-6.66

308.67 8.00

3.87

-4.13

82.34

1.92

-3.16

4

Denmark

5

Belgium

6

United States

27

Germany

5.08

2007 Global Footprint Network (2010) * Only 153/185 countries measured in this study

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Method 4: Abstractions Geographic Information Systems Geographic information systems (GIS), or geospatial information systems, is a set of tools that captures, stores, analyzes, manages, and presents data that are linked to location(s). In the simplest terms, GIS is the merging of cartography, statistical analysis, and database technology.

Unemployment Rates, USA (May 2007) http://www.latoyaegwuekwe.com/geographyofarecession.html

Unemployment Rates, USA (Nov 2008, Nov 2009)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_information_system

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Method 4: Abstractions Visioning

Story of Stuff Cartoon, (by Annie Leonard) http://www.storyofstuff.com/

Aim: to “design and develop future scenarios, of which one picks a preferred scenario.”

“At the heart of such documents (Strategic Environmental Appraisal, Environmental Impact Statements, Environmental Impact Reports, Environmental Assessments, Development Path Analysis) is generally the comparison of a project’s impacts with various alternatives, including a “no-project” alternative”

Ecological Footprint (by country 2007) photo: Christian Wagner

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Method 5: Metrics and Indicators Sustainable Seattle

Seattle Skyline, USA

Photo: Christian Wagner

Framework http://www.b-sustainable.org/about-the-indicators-framework

Indicators

B-Sustainable Framework

Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy Use in King County

http://sustainableseattle.org/Programs/IndicatorsIntoAction/regionalindicators/1998ndicators/1998IndicatorsRpt.pdf

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Method 5: Metrics and Indicators Sustainable Seattle Vision: We see an interconnected group of healthy, compact, livable urban centers across the Central Puget Sound region, where people work and play together to restore and improve the vitality of communities, the economy, and the ecosystem.

Mission: Our mission is to be a catalyst and resource for positive change. just economies, thriving communities, healthy ecosystems

Seattle Skyline, USA

Photo: Christian Wagner

1991

Sustainable Seattle Founded as a Non-Profit Organization

1993

First Draft of Regional Sustainability Indicators: Wins “Excellence in Indicators Best Practice� by the United Nations in 1996

1995

Second Draft of Regional Sustainability Indicators

1998

Third Draft of Regional Sustainability Indicators - 250 citizens involved, 40 key indicators measured

2009

Fourth Draft of Regional Sustainability Indicators

Focus: Our focus is social justice, 2010-11 collaboration and stewardship.

Fifth Draft of Regional Sustainability Indicators

http://sustainableseattle.org/About

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Method 5: Metrics and Indicators Sustainable Seattle

Seattle Skyline, USA

Photo: Christian Wagner

http://www.b-sustainable.org/about-the-b-sustainable-project

1998

Third Draft of Regional Sustainability Indicators

2004

24-Member Steering Committee Assembled

2005

Community Process begins with Citizen Panels

2005

Technical Committee develops Framework

2008

B-Sustainable.org website launches

2009

Fourth Draft of Regional Sustainability Indicators

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Method 5: Metrics and Indicators Sustainable Seattle Structure www.sustianableseattle.org COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS

Seattle Skyline, USA

Photo: Christian Wagner

EMERGING PEOPLE, PROJECTS, IDEAS

INDICATORS FOR ACTION

Dream a Sound Future Competition

WEB - Whole Environmental Building Recognition & Awards Program

Regional Indicators

STARS - Sustainability Training and Resources

Sustainability Partnership & Resources Commons

Community Development

www.sustainableseattle.blogspot.com

Neighborhood Sustainability Indicators Project

www.open2100.org

PALS - Peer Alliance for Leadership in Sustainability

K-12 Sustainability Education

www.sustainablecitiesblog.blogspot.com

BREATHE - Brokerage for Restoration of our Ecosystems and the Health of Our Environments

Sustainable Seattle Partnerships

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

www.b-sustainable.org

Neighbors Acting to Build Resiliency and Sustainability (NARBS) Stewardship Development

PHOCUS - Policy Hub on Community and Urban Sustainability

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Method 5: Metrics and Indicators Keywords: Tracking, Trends, Performance Highlight, Snapshots, Gauge

Framework Structure

22 sustainability goals defined by indicators Each goal is assigned to one of the 4 environments mentioned above Indicators are shared between different goals Each goal is linked to strategies, initiatives and actions.

http://www.b-sustainable.org/about-the-indicators-framework

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Framework Analysis Christian Wagner

Method 5: Metrics and Indicators Framework The Future

B-Sustainable Framework

http://www.b-sustainable.org/about-the-indicators-framework

2010-2011 Regional Indicators for Sustainability will follow the “Gross National Happiness Index� (www.gnhc.gov.bt) which will include: Mental Health - Physical Health - Time Balance Education - Cultural Vitality - Social COnnection - Environmental Quality - Governance - Material Well-being

The Goal of "indicators into Action" is to catalyze the field of indicators through building capacity in communities, developing data, indicators and leveraging of actions.

http://sustainableseattle.org/Programs/IndicatorsIntoAction/regionalindicators/SAHI/

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Method 5: Metrics and Indicators Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy Use in King County

Indicators Method

http://sustainableseattle.org/Programs/IndicatorsIntoAction/regionalindicators/1998ndicators/1998IndicatorsRpt.pdf

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Method 5: Metrics and Indicators Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy Use in King County

Indicators Method

http://sustainableseattle.org/Programs/IndicatorsIntoAction/regionalindicators/1998ndicators/1998IndicatorsRpt.pdf

Indicators potentially have great

Local Media

Trends

power to DEMONSTRATE problems,

Public Policy

Description

Businesses & Economic Development

Definition of the Problem

Education

Interpretation

Civil Society

Evaluation

Personal Lifestyles

Success Stories

APPLICATION FOR

INDICATOR

INDICATORS

COMPOSITION

MOTIVATE action, EDUCATE the public, and show the positive EFFECT of sustainability policies.�

Wheeler, 92

http://sustainableseattle.org/Programs/IndicatorsIntoAction/regionalindicators/1998ndicators/1998IndicatorsRpt.pdf

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Method 5: Metrics and Indicators Renewable and Nonrenewable Energy Use in King County

Indicators Criteria

http://sustainableseattle.org/Programs/IndicatorsIntoAction/regionalindicators/1998ndicators/1998IndicatorsRpt.pdf

- Relevance: e.g., Regionalism, Wild Salmon Runs in Seattle - Reflect Community Values - Resonates with the Audience - Attractive to Local Media - Statistically Measurable - Logically or Scientifically Defensible - Reliable - Measured and Updated over time - Leading (No stagnation) - Policy Relevant (and responsive) http://citylivingseattle.com/

http://sustainableseattle.org/Programs/IndicatorsIntoAction/regionalindicators/1998ndicators/1998IndicatorsRpt.pdf

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Conclusion

“The indicators a society chooses to report to itself about itself are surprisingly powerful. They reflect collective values and inform collective decisions. A nation that keeps a watchful eye on its salmon runs or the safety of its streets makes different choices than does a nation that is only paying attention to its GNP. The idea of citizens choosing their own indicators is something new under the sun—something intensely democratic.” —Donella H. Meadows

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Bibliography Best, Aaron, Hans Van Dusen, and Richard Conlin, comps. Sustainable Seattle - Indicators of Sustainable Community - 1998. Rep. Mar. 2004. Web. 28 Oct. 2010. <http://sustainablese attle.org/Programs/IndicatorsIntoAction/regionalindicators/1998ndicators/> “Information Commons.” Your Central Puget Sound Information Source for Making Sustain able Choices. Sustainable Seattle. Web. 28 Oct. 2010. <http://www.b-sustainable.org/>.

Sustainable Seattle. “Programs, Resources, About Us.” Healthy Communities, Economies, Eco- systems. Web. 28 Oct. 2010. <http://www.sustainableseattle.org/>.

Wheeler, Stephen. “Tools for Sustainability Planning.” Planning for Sustainability: Creating Liv- able, Equitable, and Ecological Communities. London: Routledge, 2004. 85-101. Print.

Wheeler, Stephen. “Theory of Sustainable Planning.” Planning for Sustainability: Creating Liv- able, Equitable, and Ecological Communities. London: Routledge, 2004. 34-52. Print.

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner

Thank You!

Example @ www.b-sustainable.org

Green Dreams of Suburbia: Climate Change, Sustainability and Urban Form

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Christian Wagner