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Local Contributions to Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions

This study focuses on local contributions to greenhouse gas emission reductions in the Washington Metro region. It discusses the role of urbanism and settlement patterns, the impact of the Green Building Act of 2006, and the importance of reducing CO2 emissions from buildings and transportation. The text explores strategies to shift towards more sustainable transportation options, such as biking, car-sharing, and compact development. It also highlights the need for policy changes and community preferences in promoting eco-friendly practices. Can communities embrace compact development to reduce vehicle travel and CO2 emissions?

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Local Contributions to Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions

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  1. Local Contributions to Greenhouse Gas Emission Reductions

  2. The Washington Metro Region: the New Eco-heros? • The move to Green is snowballing • Climate/Carbon is gaining currency • Role of urbanism/settlement patterns underplayed • Reasons to believe past behavior not a good predictor • Concentrations of Walkable Urbanity - • Communities of choice(s) • Affinity • Options • Cachet • Aggregators of benefits

  3. District of ColumbiaGreen Building Act of 2006

  4. Public Sector • Initially Funded in FY’08 • District or Instrumentality; New Construction, Disposition by Lease, Schools • Meet LEED NC or CS, Silver • Residential (10,000+ sf) • Green Communities Standard • Beginning January 1, 2009 Non-Residential (50,000+ sf) • Submit LEED Checklist to DCRA (at time of any permit app.) • Beginning January 1, 2012 • All Non-Residential (50,000+ sf) • Meet LEED NC or CS, Basic Certification Private Sector NAR Building, Washington DC; LEED Gold

  5. LEED Projects in DC • LEED Certified : 20 (6) • LEED Registered: 204 (40) • LEED ND Pilots: 8

  6. CO2 Emission Sources 33% 21% 18% Buildings and transportation account for 72% of US CO2 emissions Source: EPA; INVENTORY OF U.S. GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS AND SINKS: 1990-2005 6

  7. Buildings alone are not the answer… • The average US citizen takes about 1,500 daily trips a year. • 45 percent of daily trips are taken for shopping and errands • 27 percent of daily trips are social and recreational, such as visiting a friend • 15 percent of daily trips are taken for commuting • Half the trips we make are less than three miles, 40 percent are less than two miles; 28 percent are less than one mile ; and 13.7% are less than a half mile. Yet 75 percent of trips of less than one mile are made by car. Comparing Transportation and Operating Energy Use for an Office Building • Sources: National Household Travel Survey, 1995. 2001-2002, US FHA; National Walking and Bicycling Study, Environmental Building News, Aug 2007, Driving to Green Buildings: The Transportation Energy Intensity of Buildings 7

  8. Attributes of a Globally Competitive City/Region

  9. Attributes of a Globally Competitive City/Region

  10. Larry Frank, University of British Columbia

  11. Three Policy Levers Cleaner fuel Less CO2 produced for each gallon. Fuel technology. Better fuel efficiency More miles traveled per gallon. Vehicle technology. Drive less Fewer miles traveled. Reduce travel demand. Change behavior.

  12. SETTING THE STAGE • ARLINGTON LOBBIED STRONGLY FOR AN UNDERGROUND ROUTE ALONG THE OLD COMMERCIAL CORRIDOR VS ALONG THE MEDIAN OF FUTURE HIGHWAY • Put up $300 million local money for preferred routes and more stations

  13. View of Rosslyn-Ballston Metro Corridor Development Patterns M Lower Density Zoning M Lower Density Zoning M M M The Capitol Potomac River

  14. MEASURING SUCCESS R-B CORRIDOR TODAY R-B CORRIDOR 1970 22,000 jobs 5.5 million sf office 7,000 housing units 94,000 jobs 23.5 million sf office 24,500 housing units

  15. 1991 ROSSLYN 13,637 COURT HOUSE 5,561 CLARENDON 2,964 BALLSTON 9,482 2004 ROSSLYN 30,663 COURT HOUSE 14,191 CLARENDON 6,848 BALLSTON 22,957 MEASURING SUCCESS METRO RIDERSHIP(Average daily entries and exits)

  16. Diversifying Transportation • Biking Paris SmartBikes …Coming to DC in 2008 Bike Lanes – 26 miles -- > 60 • Car Sharing • 700+ cars in 26 DC Neighborhoods

  17. Growing Cooler • What reduction in vehicle-miles traveled (VMT) is possible in the United States with compact development rather than continuing urban sprawl? • What reduction in CO2 emissions will accompany such a reduction in VMT? • What policy changes will be required to shift the dominant land development pattern from sprawl to compact development? • AND DO COMMUNITIES WANT IT?

  18. 20-40% VMT Reduction for Each Increment of Compact Development 7-10% Reduction in Total CO2 Emissions

  19. Carrots – make options more viable Increase transit service / facilities Transit price incentives (passes, lower fares) Investments in pedestrian and cycling facilities – bike sharing services, sidewalks, crosswalks, bicycle lanes/parking Supportive land use changes (e.g. closer destinations, mix of uses) Sticks—increase costs to drive Taxes (gas, carbon, VMT, etc) Cordon Charges (London, Singapore, NYC?) Distance-based vehicle insurance Distance-based development impact fees Road pricing How do we Reduce Vehicle Travel?

  20. Proximity 2 KM 1 KM Connect- ivity Larry Frank, University of British Columbia

  21. Walkability • Mixed Use • Density • Street Connectivity • Amount of Retail Census Block Groups Larry Frank, University of British Columbia

  22. Walkscore.com 777 N. Cap = 86 • Multiple Choices all within a mile walk… • Grocery • Schools • Parks • Libraries • Fitness • Drugstores • Hardware • Clothing • Restaurants • Bars • Theaters Larry Frank, University of British Columbia 23

  23. North Redmond Queen Anne Source: LUTAQH final report, King County ORTP, 2005

  24. North Redmond Queen Anne Source: LUTAQH final report, King County ORTP, 2005

  25. Fuels • Vehicle Technology • Demand Reduction • Pricing Strategies • Pay as you drive Insurance • Distance Based Impact Fee Systems • Peak Hour Congestion Pricing • Prioritize Funding for Energy Efficient Modes of Travel (transit, walk, bike) • Make seamless linkages between walk, bike (local) and transit (regional) • Put Wider Range of Housing Types and Prices Points in More Walkable Settings • Bring Residential, Commercial/Retail, Office, Institutional, and Recreational Uses Closer Together • Tie federal transportation dollars to projects that are consistent with an approved and enforced growth plan

  26. Built Environment versus Individual Preferences

  27. 2 , 0 0 0 1 , 5 0 0 1 , 0 0 0 Thousands People Turning 65 in Year 5 0 0 0 2001 2011 2021 2023 2014 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2012 2013 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2022 2024 2025 Y e a r People Turning 65 Annually 1996-2025

  28. Decline in Households with Kids Household 1960 2000 2025 With Children 48% 33% 28% Without Children 52% 67% 72% Single 13% 26% 28% Source: Census for 1960 and 2000, 2025 adapted from Martha Farnsworth Riche, How Changes in the Nation’s Age and Household Structure Will Reshape Housing Demand in the 21st Century, HUD (2003).

  29. Any reason to believe behavior will change? Residential VMT decreased 65% • Green Transport Plan • Solid Transit Links • ‘Pedestrian First’ Priority • Limited Parking • Car Sharing • Car Pool BedZed (London Borough of Sutton)

  30. Any reason to believe behavior will change? 36

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