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Modern communities could not exist without reliable supplies of
energy. The utility industry, both public and private, has grown
to satisfy this energy need. Sustainable communities that use energy
efficiently benefit financially while conserving natural resources
and environmental quality.
The 1991 Ahwahnee Principles
- which form the basis for the Local Government Commission's work
on livable, sustainable communities - address energy in the following
ways:
- All planning should be in the form of complete and integrated
communities containing housing, shops, work places, schools, parks
and civic facilities essential to the daily life of residents.
- Community size should be designed so that housing, jobs, daily
needs and other activities are within easy walking distance of
each other.
- As many activities as possible should be located within easy
walking distance of transit stops.
- Streets, pedestrian paths and bike paths should contribute to
a system of fully-connected and interesting routes to all destinations.
Their design should encourage pedestrian and bicycle use by being
small and spatially defined by buildings, trees and lighting;
and by discouraging high speed traffic.
- The community design should help conserve resources and minimize
waste.
- Communities should provide for the efficient use of water through
the use of natural drainage, drought tolerant landscaping and
recycling.
- The street orientation, the placement of buildings and the use
of shading should contribute to the energy efficiency of the community.
For more information, click on one of the following
topics:
Air Quality
Energy Efficiency
Green Building
Renewable Energy
Street Design
Trees
Water Quality
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