Compact, walkable places are the most sustainable form of living. The combination of human scale urbanism, with a mix of uses and services, a range of housing options, extensive train systems, and the ability to walk and bicycle as part of daily life all make for sustainable, green living. Add safe, clean, renewable energy, and true sustainability results.
In the era of dwindling oil supplies and rising energy costs, the need for low energy lifestyles has never been greater. Urban design principles and practices bring together the ideas and plans to create enjoyable places to live, work and play while greatly reducing energy use.
Designing away the need for cars is the most important step in creating sustainable places. This has the triple effect of lowering our energy use (especially imported oil), reducing global warming emissions, and raising our quality of life in cities by increasing mobility and convenience.
Sustainable, low energy, enjoyable living
Close relationship between VMT (vehicles miles traveled), land form, energy use, Co2 emissions per household
Urban form dictates the need to drive a car, energy use and Co2. Blue is walkable urbanism, red is car-dependent sprawl
Low density, car-dependent cities use far more energy per person, and are least sustainable
Sustainable and Green
Not Sustainable or Green
Sustainable and Green
Not Sustainable or Green
Sustainable and Green
Not Sustainable or Green
Sustainable and Green
Not Sustainable or Green
Sustainable and Green
Not Sustainable or Green
"The world we have created today as a result of our thinking thus far has problems which cannot be solved by thinking the way we thought when we created them." -Albert Einstein
21st Century Sustainable Transportation
"Tokyo's electric trains get 6,600 miles to the gallon." -USA Today, March 4, 2008
