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The AIA has been an active consultant to and collaborator with
the U.S. Conference of Mayors on embracing the 2030 challenge and
using green building and green communities strategies to elevate
quality of life. Check out the Tool Kit provided to more than 300 mayors
around the country by the AIA. (We are following up with COTE
chapters in those communities to coordinate follow up.) And on the
ground in cities all over the country, AIA members and other
citizens are working to make their cities greener. This column
highlights a sampling of such activities.
CHICAGO
Chicago is a leading Green City in many ways, as its mayor will
tell anyone who listens. AIA Chicago COTE has a strong relationship
with the City (see COTE Around the Country), and
is plugged into its ambitious efforts on several levels.
Check out this report card on green Chicago.
The Center for Neighborhood Technologies has recently released an
interesting new green mapping tool, Natural Connections, a green
infrastructure mapping tool for Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana.
It’s a partnership between the Center for Neighborhood
Technology and Openlands Project. Green infrastructure is the
interconnected network of open spaces and natural areas that
provides wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities and
maintains the sustainability of our region. CNT and Openlands
collaborated on this effort to support natural resource protection
and land preservation efforts across parts of Wisconsin, Illinois,
and Indiana. Funding for this project was generously provided by
The Joyce Foundation.
ATLANTA
In 2003, the City of Atlanta passed an ordinance requiring all new
city financed construction projects to be LEED® Silver. To
responsibly build Atlanta’s growth and promote sustainable
development, Mayor Franklin and the City of Atlanta are committed
to leading by example. By enacting this ordinance, the City of
Atlanta will incorporate sustainable building design and
construction practices into city financed projects and promote
consistent application of sustainable green building practices.
Atlanta leads the country in LEED-certified buildings in the United
States with 39 projects that are either already certified or
underway. In addition, more than 3,000 EarthCraft Houses have been
built.
The Livable Centers Initiative (LCI) is a
program offered by the Atlanta Regional Commission that encourages
local jurisdictions to plan and implement strategies that link
transportation improvements with land use development strategies to
create sustainable, livable communities consistent with regional
development policies. There are currently 12 LCIs in the City of
Atlanta.
In May of 2005, the Atlanta’s Mayor Shirley Franklin signed
the US Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. As of June 1, 2006, 238
mayors from across the country have signed onto the US Mayors
Climate Protection Agreement. They represent about 45.5 million
people in 41 states, plus the District of Columbia. The agreement
is to enact policies and programs to meet or beat the Kyoto target
of reducing global warming pollution levels to 7 percent below 1990
levels by 2012.
BEYOND OUR BORDERS
Freiberg, Germany’s Solar Capitol, serves as a model for
livable communities, car-free mobility, and other
sustainable-community and quality-of-life indicators. Check out the
following articles about Freiberg's programs at The Christian Science Monitor
and The United Nations.
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