70 likes | 120 Views
Sustainable cities Introduction. Read “Growing Pains in Portland, Oregon” on page 291. Question: How can we balance our needs for housing and jobs with the needs of the environment?. Sustainable cities Explicit Instruction.
E N D
Sustainable citiesIntroduction Read “Growing Pains in Portland, Oregon” on page 291. Question: How can we balance our needs for housing and jobs with the needs of the environment?
Sustainable citiesExplicit Instruction • City planning is the attempt to design cities to maximize functionality and beauty. • Zoning is the practice of classifying areas for different types of development and land use. • Some cities adopt an Urban Growth Boundary (UGB) to inhibit suburban growth. • Smart growth is a philosophy that includes building upward and redevelopment. • “New Urbanism” is an attempt to design neighborhoods with homes, businesses, and schools close together to reduce driving.
Sustainable citiesExplicit Instruction TRANSPORTATION OPTIONS • Many cities were not designed to carry high volume of car traffic. • Mass transit is a way that can support infrastructure, is cheaper, more energy-efficient, and cleaner. OPEN SPACE • Natural lands, parks and open space provide greenery, scenic beauty, freedom of movement, places for recreation, and may help preserve ecological processes.
Sustainable citiesExplicit Instruction GREEN BUILDING DESIGN • The goal of green building is to save energy and other resources without sacrificing people’s comfort. • Features include motion-sensitive heating & lighting, rooftop solar panels, and insulated skylights.
Sustainable citiesGuided Practice You are an urban planner who has been given the task by the city council to explain to a group of taxpayers why tax money should be spent on urban parks and forests. • Provide a few examples of open spaces in which you plan to spend tax money on. • Explain the ecological and economical importance of the open space to the city.
Sustainable citiesIndependent Practice • Briefly describe how city planners use zoning, UGBs, smart growth, and new urbanism. • How is a successful mass transit system important to improving the quality of life in a city? • Why are open spaces important to people who live in cities? What benefits do they provide? • Explain how sprawl can contribute to the economic decline of a city.