How green is your city? / Warren Karlenzig ... [and others]

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Karlenzig, Warren.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Urban ecology (Sociology)--United States.

Urban ecology (Sociology).

City planning--Environmental aspects.

United States.

Urban policy--United States.

Urban policy.

City planning--Environmental aspects--United States.

City planning.

Physical Description:

xiii, 205 pages : color illustrations, 1 map ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Gabriola Island, B.C. : New Society Publishers, 2007.

Summary:

"How Green is Your City? is the first systematic report card measuring city quality of life combined with resource impacts....Urban sustainability is not an option. It represents prudent governance and provident management by and for the people. A carbon-constrained world is upon us. While international action is required to prevent global climatic catastrophe, cities must lead the way increating a post-carbon environment where people can thrive." Portland, Oregon, a role model for cities in the United States, topped the 2006 SustainLane US City Rankings. Portland residents and businesses have teamed with politicians to ensure that quality of life remains superior, with an economy that increasingly integrates regional and renewable resources. Neighborhoods facilitate walking, cycling and shopping; downtown transit is free. The city bolsters local business and regional agriculture, while green buildings and park space are ample. Columbus, Ohio, at number 50, has some work to do to catch up, but has a few green surprises nevertheless.

How Green is Your City? quantitatively ranks the 50 largest US cities overall from comprehensive data and information based upon 15 standards, including: Climate change policy and energy supply, green building, planning and land use air and tap water quality, public transit. An analysis of each city considers policies, quality-of-life indicators and economic factors, providing kudos for successes and recommendations for challenges. Fascinating reading for civic and economic leaders, and all those who wish to make their city - and the nation as a whole - a more sustainable place to live, work and play.

Contents:

How Green Is Your City? 1

How We Did It - The Methodology 11

Part II The Rankings 19

City Rankings (with one corresponding bar chart for each)

#1 Portland, OR: A Role Model for the Nation 21

#2 San Francisco, CA: Still a Shining Example 25

#3 Seattle, WA: Protecting a Promising Future 29

#4 Chicago, IL: The Wind at Its Back 33

#5 Oakland, CA: Stepping out of the Shadows 37

#6 New York City, NY: Sustainability Out of Necessity 39

#7 Boston, MA: It Only Gets Better 43

#8 Philadelphia, PA: City on the Move 45

#9 Denver, CO: On the Fast Track 49

#10 Minneapolis, MN: Clean Air, Big Plans 53

#11 Baltimore, MD: A Port Town Reinventing Itself 57

#12 Washington, DC: Leading by Example 59

#13 Sacramento, CA: Capital Ideas 63

#14 Austin, TX: A Pioneer 65

#15 Honolulu, HI: Almost Paradise 69

#16 Milwaukee, WI: From Beer to Biomass 71

#17 San Diego, CA: An Emerging Leader? 73

#18 Kansas City, MO: Laying the Groundwork 77

#19 Albuquerque, NM: Making a U-Turn 81

#20 Tucson, AZ: Becoming Sustainable in the Sun Belt 85

#21 San Antonio, TX: Building on a Broad Range of Strengths 87

#22 Phoenix, AZ: Something New Under the Sun 91

#23 San Jose, CA: High Tech Hub Makes Strides 93

#24 Dallas, TX: Taking the Bull by the Horns 97

#25 Los Angeles, CA: Significant Progress 99

#26 Colorado Springs, CO: Growing Up Smart 103

#27 Las Vegas, NV: Viva? 105

#28 Cleveland, OH: Give and Take on the Lake 109

#29 Miami, FL: Gateway of the Americas 111

#30 Long Beach, CA: A Sea of Opportunities 113

#31 El Paso, TX: Bordering on Sustainability 115

#32 New Orleans, LA: Resiliently Facing the Future 117

#33 Fresno, CA: Nature's Bounty 119

#34 Charlotte, NC: New Alternatives in the Pipeline 121

#35 Louisville, KY: City of Parks 125

#36 Jacksonville, FL: Thinking Ahead 127

#37 Omaha, NE: Encouraging Signs in the Heartland 131

#38 Atlanta, GA: Inland Port Takes Baby Steps 133

#39 Houston, TX: Moving Forward 137

#40 Tulsa, OK: Rich History. Clean Tech Future? 139

#41 Arlington, TX, Texas: City at a Crossroads 143

#42 Nashville, TN: Music City 145

#43 Detroit, MI: Opportunities for Change 147

#43 Memphis, TN: Living for Today 149

#45 Indianapolis, IN: Time for a Pit Stop? 151

#46 Fort Worth, TX: Taking Steps Toward Sustainability 155

#47 Mesa, AZ: Surviving the Desert Boom 157

#48 Virginia Beach, VA: Not Just for Tourists Anymore 159

#49 Oklahoma City, OK: Planting a Few Seeds 161

#50 Columbus, OH: Time to Get Green 165

Part III Cities by Category Ranking 167

City Commuting 169

Regional Public Transportation Ridership 171

Metro Street and Freeway Congestion 173

Air Quality 175

Tap Water Quality 177

Solid Waste Diversion 179

Planning and Land Use 181

City Innovation 183

Housing Affordability 185

Natural Disaster Risk 187

Energy Climate Change Policy 189

Local Food and Agriculture 191

Green Economy 193

Knowledge Base and Communications 195

Green (LEED) Building 197.

Notes:

"The SustainLane US city rankings"

Includes index.

ISBN:

9780865715950

0865715955

OCLC:

214693524