Sustainability Inform kids, “More than 600 “new urbanist” communities are planned or in construction across North America.”

Essential Question How can we reduce our individual contribution to environmental impacts?

City Planning and Zoning City planners attempt to design cities that both work well and look and feel appealing. Zoning: Classification of land areas for different types of development and land use Involves restrictions on the use of private land

Smart Growth Focuses on economic and environmental approaches to avoiding sprawl Builds “up,” not “out” Maintains open spaces by redeveloping existing urban areas, waterfronts, and industrial sites

“New Urbanism” Seeks to design neighborhoods that minimize the need to drive Requires good public transportation systems Sometimes impossible due to zoning restrictions Did You Know? A 2004 study found that residents of sprawling areas were heavier on average for their height, and had increased instances of high blood pressure.

Transportation Options Public transportation a key factor in the quality of urban life Buses, subways, trains more efficient, less polluting than cars Cities encourage mass transit with fuel taxes, vehicle taxes, rewarding carpoolers, and encouraging bicycle and bus use. Did You Know? Paris, France removed 200,000 parking spaces to encourage the use of public transportation within the city.

Open Space Provides greenery, beauty, freedom of movement, recreation opportunities Includes parks, playgrounds, community gardens, greenways Regulates climate, produces oxygen, filters air and water, provides habitat Did You Know? More than 24,000 km of abandoned public rail line in the U.S. have been converted to trails for walking, jogging, and biking.

Green Building Design The goals of a green building are to save energy and resources without sacrificing people’s comfort. Ashland High School near Boston, Massachusetts is a sophisticated green building that saves the school system more than $75,000 a year in energy costs.

Urban Sustainability Successes Curitiba, Brazil Efficient bus network Recycling and environmental education provided New York City Plan underway to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve public transit, plant trees, clean up polluted sites, and improve open space access The tube at this Curitiba bus stop handles fare collection for passengers boarding or exiting.

Environmental Engineering Project Manila folders with details on Environmental Engineering Project Due Date: 02/22/2018