The source for New Urbanism, smart growth, and walkable communities
Sustainable planning
Urbanism benefits the environment by concentrating development in compact patterns that use natural resources more efficiently. Compact development patterns make it possible to preserve more land as natural, agricultural, or open space and to reduce auto emissions, energy use, and stormwater runoff.
Smaller lots cover less land and require less water, which is in short supply in some metropolitan areas. Curtailment of outward development means less paving is needed; therefore less runoff pollution is generated. A mix of uses and well-designed streets offer the opportunity to walk, which results in less driving, less petroleum use, and less pollution.
Global warming
Seattle area looks at how walkable community design can cut global warming
Compact, mixed-use development linked to lowered greenhouse gases.
Portland pursues the 20-minute neighborhood
Carbon dioxide emissions in Portland and Multnomah County in 2007 were estimated to be slightly under those in 1990, even though the population grew by approximately 18 percent.
Smart growth needed to meet targets
Smart growth key to CO2 reduction
Energy
Energy implications of urbanism
Urbanism holds promise for reducing energy use
Water and coastal
New Urbanism better at protecting water resources
New Urbanism key to saving coastal ecology,
report says
Land use
Consuming less land through better design
Automobile dependence
The evidence on urban design and car dependence
Other reports
A more sustainable resort model for the Bahamas
For a green economy, create incentives
for smart growth
A comprehensive approach to green building
LEED
CNU and partners approve LEED-ND
It’s decision time for LEED-ND
Who will opt for a green community?
Know your audience: Andres Duany identifies four main target groups and their outlooks.
New urbanists step up their progress
toward ‘green’ design
A council highlights green architecture initiatives of the New Urbanism while the trend gains recognition for fighting greenhouse gas emissions.
This map shows CO2 generation from transportation in a portion of King County, Washington. Households in outlying exurban areas of the county generate between two and three times as much CO2 from residential transportation as those in close-in walkable urban neighborhoods (downtown is the left central portion of map). Map by LFC Inc., April 2009.
Resources
Portland’s shrinking carbon footprint: revitalization and walkable neighborhoods make the difference
The climate benefits of smart growth may be far greater than we have thought
The urban dimensions of climate change
Housing and Transportation Affordability Index
This web-based tool calculates greenhouse emissions by census block in 55 US metro areas.
TOPICS
New Urbanism: Best Practices Guide, 4th Ed.
The definitive reference for new urban ideas, practices, and projects
