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