Though perhaps not directly related to sustainable urban environments the folks at AdBusters deserve a bit of credit for their on going examination of consumerism.

Check it out.

Green Energy Cincy!

A list of projects that Cincinnati has completed and has in the works for responsible energy use and production. Kudos!

• Greater Cincinnati Water Works uses hydroelectric generators within its distribution system to recapture energy from water when it flows downhill. Renovations and upgrades to these generators during the next year will boost production by 600,000 kwh/yr.

• MSD is constructing a new biosolids thermal treatment system that uses the energy value of biosolids as the primary operating fuel source. This replaces the current system that uses more than $2 million per year of natural gas.

• The Department of Transportation and Engineering (DOTE) is in year 2 of its project to replace all Cincinnati traffic lights and walk signs with LED units, reducing the electricity used for these functions by 90%. This project is expected to save 3 million kwh/yr within 4 years, and 6 million kwh/yr when complete.

• DOTE plans to begin a streetlight modernization cycle in 2010 that will improve streetlight efficiency by at least 20%. This project is expected to save 500,000 kwh/yr within 4 years, and more than 4 million kwh/yr when complete.

• The Parks Department has installed a photovoltaic system that generates 20,000 kwh/yr of electricity from the sun at its Eden Park Headquarters, and has pledged to add additional photovoltaic capacity each year for the next 4 years.

• The Parks Department has installed a wind turbine at its Eden Park Headquarters capable of generating 10 kwh of electricity.

• The Parks Department and the Fleet Services Division have installed heating units powered by used motor oil from the City fleet.

• The Building and Inspections Department has launched a pilot project at the Permit Center to encourage voluntary employee behavior changes which conserve electricity. This pilot project is expected to produce 50,000 kwh/yr in energy savings.

• The Public Services Department constructs all new City Facilities to LEED Green Building Standards, and includes energy efficiency upgrades in its facility renovation projects.

• GCWW plans to install photovoltaic capacity each year, with anticipated production of 120,000 kwh/yr after 4 years.

Cincinnati Green!

This just released from the Mayors Office is very exciting!

Mayor Mallory Sets Green Cincinnati Energy Efficiency Goals
Directs OEQ to develop city-wide Climate Protection Plan
City begins pilot energy reduction project at the Permit Center

Cincinnati – Mayor Mark Mallory and City Manager Milton Dohoney launched Green Cincinnati this morning by setting energy efficiency goals for City Government and beginning the process to create a city-wide Climate Protection Plan. The Mayor set Green Cincinnati energy efficiency goals of reducing the city government’s electricity demand by 4% in 1 year and 10% in 4 years. The Mayor also announced that he was introducing a motion to City Council that would direct the Office of Environmental Quality (OEQ) to begin a city-wide Climate Protection Planning Process.

“We have a moral responsibility to protect the Earth and the City of Cincinnati is going to be a leader in helping our region change,” Mayor Mallory said. “We start by looking at our own operations and reducing our use of electricity.” By setting the Green Cincinnati energy efficiency goals, the City of Cincinnati is moving aggressively on the global issue of Climate Protection. By achieving 4% in energy efficiency in 1 year, the city will save $286,000, and enough energy to power 239 homes, or eliminate the air pollution created by 511 cars. By reaching the 4 year goal of 10% energy efficiency, the city will save $632,000 per year, equal to 645 homes, or 1,384 cars. The goals apply to all nonutility city departments.

The goal of the city-wide climate protection planning process is to create a city-wide plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions throughout the region. OEQ director, Larry Falkin will form a task force of stakeholders, including government officials, business groups, advocacy groups, community organizations, utilities, and other interested parties. The taskforce will look at energy efficiency, transportation, land use, and waste management, and will recommend actions for climate protection.

Mayor Mallory made the announcement at a morning press conference at the City’s Business Development and Permit Center today, where the City is kicking off a three-month pilot energy efficiency program. The employees at the Permit Center (more than 130) have volunteered to serve at the pilot site for determining how much energy can be saved through employee actions.

“We know that green development supports economic development,” said Dohoney. “It is part of what makes us an attractive, competitive city for businesses and people. As one of the larger employers in the city, we also know we must set an example for ways to be a greener city.”

City Manager Milton Dohoney has sent a directive to City Department Directors requesting that each department develop an energy management plan. The plans will focus on becoming more energy efficient by reducing utility and fuel usage, promoting conservation, and reducing energy costs. The Director of the Office of Environmental Quality, Larry Falkin, will be assisting each department in developing the plans. The plans should begin being implemented in 2008.

New Harmony Update

No internet access to be had at the Opera House and Barn Abby!

I absolutely should have anticipated this and, ultimately, how appropriate!! Fortunately the thoughts and ideas presented so far this weekend have been duely noted and one may expect a full report in the next week!

Cheers from New Harmony!

Golden, CO's Commitment to Sustainability

Last weekish, the city council of Golden Colorado passed what should be considered a fantastic example of a local government's commitment to the principles of sustainability. Using the Bruntland Commission's definition of sustainability and setting clear goals and objectives, they have gone where every village, town and city should go.

With Resolution 1793 (page 37) they have acknowledged the responsibility of government to provide leadership in the economic, environmental and social development within their jurisdiction. If only others would follow suit!

Cincinnati MCP Goes to New Harmony

This weekend Cincinnati MCP will feature thoughts and commentary on the Third International Symposium: Cultural Landscapes : Cultural Towns held in the quirky New Harmony, Indiana. UC is sending a delegation of four students to what should be a fantastic experience. The symposium has set as its rather lofty goal the development of a set of principles for defining what it means to be a "cultural town".

As a prelude the symposium's organizers have posted on their website four key qualities to identify a community as a cultural town which are:

Cultural towns are genuine and authentic places that are deeply rooted in the arts and arts education which identify, create, and develop unique qualities of community.

Arts institutions, however organized, are 25 percent or more of the total town population.

A core group of "public entrepreneurs" are actively involved in community building as intensely as private entrepreneurs are in corporation building. These public entrepreneurs, whether lay citizen, artist, musician, restaurateur, architect, landscape architect, historian or community planner, are engaged in community building and are creating with beauty and responsibility. Community cannot be unique, genuine, and authentic without the work of these creative individuals and the individuals will not thrive without contributing responsibly to the community.

Cultural towns are located in a somewhat isolated cultural landscape which isolates the town from typical rapid suburban growth. Respecting the past, living the present, and visioning the future uniquely, cultural towns look forward and back simultaneously. As a result, they become destinations to be experienced.

With this as its starting point and an all-star line up of speakers, the weekend should prove to be as entertaining as it is educational.

Behind the Greenwash

Recently, I have been feeling really good about the progress in the level of understanding and incorporation of the ideals of sustainability into the workings of American businesses. With, seemingly, every major company publishing yearly sustainability reports and committing to high profile projects claiming everything from life-cycle accounting to carbon neutrality, it would seem business is putting its money where its mouth is.

Then I read KPMG's REPORTING THE BUSINESS IMPLICATIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE IN SUSTAINABILITY REPORTS which surveyed 50 such reports and gleaned the take home message from each in terms of perceived risks and benefits resulting from global warming. First, let me say, I guess its good that there is some acknowledgement of the issue. Global warming has been recognized in executive offices in the business community, which is more than can be said for the executive offices in the federal government. However, when the section on perceived risks opened with:

Very few of the companies surveyed reported quantitatively or qualitatively on risks arising from climate change. Of the examples that were found, by far most were related to current or future increased costs of energy (9 out of 50). A small number of companies reported on risk related to legal action and long term climatic changes. Very few other examples were found of reporting on risk related to climate change.<

Fantastic. And to top it off, the report concludes that in reporting (in the sustainability report mind you) on global warming, far more companies reported on how the company was going to capitalize on expected opportunities derived from global warming. What opportunities? Well there are carbon credits, emissions trading, carbon funds and emissions brokering, investment and asset management services and " other business opportunities related to consumer products, services or technologies arising from climate change."

Whether or not we can buy and sell our way out of a climate crisis remains to be seen, but until then I'm going to have trouble resting assured knowing that many people will try. Unfortunately, the production and consumption of more consumer goods in an effort to fight global climate change just doesn't seem like the answer to me.

So what could the answer be? From a business perspective, I believe the emphasis should be less on what new trinket or scheme can be sold en masse, and more on how can we rethink our production process in such a way that the trinket uses less inputs to make, is better for the consumer during consumption and, when exhausted becomes the inputs for another process. Close the loop.

And hey, planners can play a huge role in this restructuring. Industrial clustering, land use decisions that make sense, creation of walkable communities, these are the buzzwords of our time. Can they find traction in a climate that ignores risks because its blinded by a dangerous conception of opportunity? There is an opportunity that is ignored by companies like those surveyed in this report, and it doesn't come from the creation of stuff or the selling of schemes, it comes from the fostering of real interactions and the design of quality, safe and healthy communities.

Walkability Index

Whether you're moving to a new city or just want to know how your neighborhood stacks up, the walkscore.com walkability index is a fantastic resource for those interested in improving conditions for pedestrian travel and livability of an area. Check it out!

Documenting the Movement

It can be difficult to keep them all straight. The government programs and NGOs and CBOs and campus groups and issue networks. A daunting logistical task that the wiki-world is suited perfectly for. Paul Hawkin (Natural Capitalism) has harnessed the open source inspired power of wikis to provide an amazing resource for those interested in progressive social activities. With over 1000 organizations cataloged in the sub-sub category of "sustainable urban and regional planning" alone, Wiser Earth is on to something big with their website.

www.makemesustainable.com

Social networking with a decidedly green spin. Now there's a place where you can cyber-chat and learn how to cut your carbon foot print... interesting.