Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities
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THE PROJECT
Helping cities across the country with green neighborhood projects.
OUR PARTICIPATION
Global Green USA was chosen to assist eight communities in 2012 with a grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s Office of Sustainable Communities under the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program.
"Cities are responsible for up to 70% of global warming pollution, but they can also be the laboratories for climate friendly solutions that save money, improve health and quality of life," says Walker Wells, Director of our Green Urbanism Program. "For nearly two decades Global Green has been helping cities create sustainable plans for the future and we are excited to be able to bring our expertise to these eight deserving communities."
For 2013, another grant was awarded for us to continue the work (see below).
FOCUS OF WORK
Sustainability experts from our Green Urbanism Program set out to evaluate eight communities across the country in 2012 using the LEED for Neighborhood Development (LEED-ND) standard for environmentally responsible and sustainable communities. Lafayette, Indiana; Dearborn, Michigan; Eden Prairie, Minnesota; Greensboro, North Carolina; Lakewood, Colorado; Oakland, California; Louisville, Kentucky; and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, were the communities chosen to receive free consultations out of a pool of 18 applicants, based on need for assistance, urgency, substantial upcoming projects, and community engagement.
During site assessments to each community, our Green Urbanism Program team members identify a neighborhood’s positive qualities, consulting with community stakeholders in meetings and public workshops, and identifying major opportunities to improve the sustainability of each neighborhood. At the conclusion of each visit, the team presents recommendations for both physical and policy changes to green the community.
MORE ABOUT THE WORK
Our participation in the Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program (PDF)
Post on the program launch
2012 CITIES
Lafayette, Indiana
Our neighborhood assessment of the Historic Centennial Neighborhood in Lafayette, IN (PDF)
Post on field visit to Lafayette, IN
Dearborn, Michigan
Our neighborhood assessment of West Dearborn Downtown in Dearborn, MI(PDF)
Post on field visit to Dearborn, MI
Lakewood, Colorado
Our neighborhood assessment of Two Creeks and Northeast Lakewood in Lakewood, CO (PDF)
Post on field visit to Lakewood, CO
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Our neighborhood assessment of the Graduate Hospital/South of South neighborhood in Philadelphia, PA (PDF)
Post on field visit to Philadelphia, PA
Oakland, California
Our neighborhood assessment of the Lower Elmhurst District in Oakland, CA
Post on field visit to Oakland, CA
Louisville, KY
Our neighborhood assessment of the East Market Street District in Louisville, KY
Greensboro, NC
Our neighborhood assessment of the Cottage Grove/South English Street project in Greensboro, NC
Eden Prairie, MN
Our neighborhood assessment of the Golden Triangle Area (GTA) in Eden Prairie, MN
2013 CITIES
We are set to help even more cities in 2013: Montgomery, Alabama; Camden, New Jersey; Cary, North Carolina; Toledo, Ohio; Burlington, Vermont; and Milwaukee, Wisconsin were competitively selected for the free consultations based on several criteria, including need for assistance, urgency, substantial upcoming projects, and community engagement.
Helping Communities Devastated by Sandy: Global Green USA is offering free sustainable urban planning assistance to communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy. In collaboration with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Global Green USA has opened a special application period for our Sustainable Neighborhood Assessment assistance specifically for communities impacted by Hurricane Sandy. This free assistance is being provided under Global Green USA's grant from the U.S. EPA's Office of Sustainable Communities' Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program. This is an opportunity to access a team of experts who will help create a plan for a specific site or neighborhood that could then serve as a catalyst or model for broader community-wide rebuilding. The result will be a more resilient community that addresses the challenges posed by sea level rise, storm surge, storm intensity, and climate change.
Two communities will be selected to receive expert guidance from our green urbanism experts through an intensive three-day site visit. The Request for Proposals (RFP) is online and open from March 11 through April 30.
Posted In: greencities
Tags: green urbanism program Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Program LEED-ND Neighborhoods
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