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| Best Practices |
EcoDistrict Project PrecedentsWestern Harbor (Bo01): Malmo, Sweden – This early example of large-scale sustainable development was built on a 25-acre brownfield site as part of the 2001 European Housing Expo. Southeast False Creek: Vancouver, British Columbia – Waterfront project, including the Olympic Village, that is expected to house 10-12 thousand residents. Four overarching goals include: Implementing Sustainability, Stewardship of Ecosystem Health, Economic Viability/Vitality and Social/Community Health. Dockside Green: Victoria, British Columbia – 15-acre mixed-use project that plans to be the first large neighborhood development in North America to be “greenhouse gas neutral.” EcoDistrict Program PrecedentsSustainable Communities Research Program – UC Berkeley project for developing markets. Example includes China’s EcoBlocks. EcoCity Cleveland – Focus on the urban core of the metropolitan region to promote environmentally-friendly redevelopment that improves quality of life and makes cities more sustainable. Living City Block – Leading demonstration of a regenerative urban center in partnership between the Rocky Mountain Institute and the City of Denver. Climate Benefit Districts – Neighborhood-level response that integrates the essential components of livable, climate-friendly urbanism. Providing a replicable model for carbon trading markets, it will leverage local opportunities and stimulate the green economy. Green Impact Zones – Initiative to concentrate resources — with funding, coordination, and public and private partnerships — in one specific area to demonstrate that a targeted effort can literally transform a community. Air Quality & CarbonClimate Positive: Clinton Climate Initiative – Supports global development of large-scale urban projects demonstrating that cities can grow in ways that are "climate positive," or that reduce the amount of on-site CO2 emissions to below zero. Austin Climate Protection Program’s “Go Neutral” Plan: Austin, TX – Develops options for citizens, businesses, and organizations to reduce their carbon footprint through local greenhouse gas emission reduction projects. Common Carbon Metric: United Nations Environment Programme’s Sustainable Building and Climate Initiative – Goal is to produce an emissions tool for the built environment that reports, and verifies reductions in a consistent and comparable way. EnergyFortzed: Fort Collins, CO – Utilizes public-private partnerships to focus on existing neighborhoods and utility infrastructure. Accounts for 10-15% of Fort Collins’ energy distribution system using renewable technology. Solarize Portland: Portland, OR – Bulk-purchasing concept that provides cost savings for solar renewable energy systems, while also providing a knowledge-sharing forum for program participants. St. Paul District Energy: St. Paul, MN – The largest wood-fired Combined-Heat Power plant serving a district energy system in the nation, heating or cooling 50 million square feet of the city’s built environment. District Form, Access & MobilityHanoi Indicators Project: Vietnam – A suite of sustainable transport indicators allow city officials to diagnose transport problems and to later develop scenarios for mitigating future air pollution and traffic in the city. Brisbane City Council School Travel Program: Queensland, Australia – Walking School Bus is a group of children walking to and/or from school with trained and approved Walk Leaders from the school community. The ‘bus’ walks along a set route to and/or from school, picking up or dropping off children along the way at designated stops, similar to a normal bus route. WaterTokyo, Japan – World leader in stopping water leakage. Infrastructure repair has reduced water leakage 50% in the last ten years. South Bronx Greenway Project NY, NY – Significant focus on stormwater management. Project will include 1.5 miles of new waterfront greenway and 8.5 miles of new green streets. Austin, Texas – Comprehensive water conservation and reuse program (since 1983) that utilizes incentives, education tools and regulation. Habitat & Ecosystem FunctionSustainable Skylines: Dallas, TX – Goal is to develop and implement an urban heat island program for the City of Dallas that will both decrease heated surfaces and increase the permeability of surfaces in the Dallas region. Urban Field Test of Green Infrastructure: Charlottesville, VA – Funds provided by the Virginia Department of Forestry were used to create an urban green infrastructure strategy and teaching curriculum. Materials ManagementHammarby Sjostad: Stockholm, Sweden – Pneumatic waste disposal system separates 11 tons of food compost, paper and residual waste each day. Copenhagen’s 2008 Waste Plan: Denmark – Only 3% of waste is land filled due to a combination of waste prevention/separation programs and waste-to-energy plants. Recology Commercial Composting: San Francisco, CA – Offers up to 75% discounts on waste collection through composting and recycling participation. Vital CommunitiesPortland Fruit Tree Project: Portland, OR – Goal is to provide access to sustainably produced foods and food production spaces, while also offering residents and workers a sense of community and cohesion. Economic Vitality Program: Boulder, CO – Economic activities support environmental stewardship, social equity, fiscal responsibility and pathways to opportunity. Landcom Social Sustainability Policy: Australia – This Master planner of living communities pursues accommodation and access for residents and workers of diverse age, income, race, ethnicity and ability. EcoDistrict Finance InitiativesGreen Campus Loan Fund: Harvard University, MA – $12 million revolving loan fund provides up-front capital for projects that reduce Harvard’s environmental impact. Berkeley FIRST - Financing Initiative for Renewable and Solar Technology: Berkeley, CA – Finances the cost of solar installations through a voluntary annual special assessment on homeowners’ property tax bills. Clean Energy Works: Portland, OR – Pilot program that offers low-interest financing to homeowners who pursue energy efficiency for their homes. EcoDistrict Governance InitiativesLloyd Transportation Management Association: Portland, OR – The LTMA is a non-profit business association, including both public and private entities, that seeks to promote economic growth and a livable community through sustainable transportation strategies and services. EcoCity Cleveland, Ohio – The organizational process of an ecovillage project is as important as the environmentally friendly technologies employed. The Cleveland EcoVillage features an interesting partnership between an environmental organization and a neighborhood-based development organization. EcoDistrict Policy InitiativesPortland/Multnomah County Climate Action Plan 2009: OR – Cooperative city and county effort that provides a sustainability roadmap for cutting carbon emissions 80 percent by 2050. Mandatory CO2 Audits: Melbourne, Australia – Large greenhouse gas emitters are required to complete audits and implement sustainable actions that can be paid back within three years. Reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 1.1 million tons and saves companies $34 million each year. |