How cities can be sustainable

A growing principle in municipal government is the incorporation of sustainability concepts. These ideas can reach into nearly all parts of a city’s planning process, whether it be for a new street construction or working with businesses to modify their buildings. City officials are looking to include sustainable designs as they see the benefits to the health of their citizens, the environment and economic development.

Green Building Standards for New and Existing Buildings

Green buildings, when part of a broader sustainability plan, consume less energy, produce fewer emissions, protect occupant health, minimize waste and create jobs. By adopting green building standards for public buildings, cities lead by example and help create a market for similar standards across a community. Cities may choose to apply standards to new construction or extend requirements to existing buildings based on certain requirements such as age and size.

Energy-Efficient Traffic and Street Lights

Amid rising energy costs and in anticipation of future demand, cities are finding new ways to curb consumption through greater efficiency. One increasingly effective strategy is to replace traffic and street lighting with energy-efficient light emitting-diode (LEDs). By converting to newer systems a city can reduce energy consumption by 40 to 90 percent when compared to existing systems, offering significant savings in utility bills and long-term maintenance costs.

Green Infrastructure

Availability, distribution, disposal and quality are just some of the challenges cities face regarding water resources. Green infrastructure, such as permeable surfaces, rain gardens, green roofs and urban forestry provide cost-effective and ecologically sound alternatives to traditional water management systems. These strategies also naturally recharge groundwater, improve water quality and reduce the heat island effect.

Street Designs and Energy Efficient Transportation

Green street designs seek to incorporate concepts that encourage safe transportation for various users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists..Increased access to alternative transportation has been shown to improve public health, reduce emissions and air pollution, increase housing values, promote economic development and contribute to a greater sense of place and community. Adding public transit options is a strategy that nearly any community can consider.

Another significant opportunity is available to cities that maintain and operate a fleet of vehicles for emergency services or municipal operations. As a first step, cities are encouraged to conduct an inventory of current vehicles, identify where more fuel-efficient vehicles may be appropriate and determine if the overall fleet can be reduced through vehicle sharing across departments or through other alternatives. Several cities have also established “green fleet” policies that can significantly reduce fuel costs and emissions.

Economic Development Impact

A strong economy is fundamental to community sustainability. Small businesses in particular contribute significantly to local economies and overall community development. Cities may directly support and strengthen small business by adopting local purchasing agreements or establishing a ‘buy local’ awareness campaign.

Repurposing Underutilized Parcels

Developing vacant, abandoned, possibly contaminated and/or underutilized parcels can turn a community liability into an asset, foster economic development and reduce sprawl. Depending on size, location and condition, parcels may be converted into green space and community gardens, or developed for commercial and residential use. Common strategies to acquire and redevelop underutilized land include infill incentives and public-private partnerships. Of particular interest for sustainability is the repurposing of brownfields, which provide added public health and safety benefits, remove pollutants from soil and water resources and provide specialized job opportunities in clean-up and remediation.

Reprinted with permission, in an abbreviated form, from the Iowa League of Cities website.