Best Practices

 

Urban Design

Best Practices

The Urban Design Accord of the UN Environmental Accords includes Green Building, Urban Planning and Green Jobs.

There are significant environmental impacts from the design, construction and operation of buildings and structures. Recent studies published by the United States Green Building Council (the developer of the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency indicate that the construction, demolition and operation of buildings in the United States collectively consume 37% of the total energy used, 12% of all fresh water supplies, and 40% of all raw materials used.

In addition, buildings generate 46% of all sulfur dioxide emissions, 19% of nitrogen oxide emissions, 10% of fine particulate emissions, and 36% of total emissions of carbon dioxide, the primary greenhouse gas associated with global climate change.

Local governments can make progress in this area by adopting Green Building ordinances for municipal, residential and commercial buildings (for both existing buildings and new construction); integrating climate change reduction elements into general and other plans; and promoting the development of green jobs.

Last updated September 1, 2009

URBAN DESIGN BEST PRACTICES