Architectual Design And Assistance

Sustainable and green city development

Sustainability is the practice of using resources to provide for the needs of todays citizens while preserving the use of those same resources for the needs of future generations. Sustainable development is all about ensuring a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come.

Sustainable and green city development - For achieving all-round better environment:

Introduction -

Sustainability is the practice of using resources to provide for the needs of today's citizens while preserving the use of those same resources for the needs of future generations. Sustainable development is all about ensuring a better quality of life for everyone, now and for generations to come. This can be achieved through the three strands of social equity which recognises the needs of everyone, maintenance of stable levels of economic growth and employment, and using natural resources prudently, whilst protecting, and if possible enhancing, the environment.

A balanced and sustainable social system is not possible without addressing the economic and community-development needs of its residents. Therefore, it is important that, before considering overall sustainability of an urban centre, it must be socially, economically and environmentally sustainable.

1. Planned city development emphasizes value of environment and heritage -

Transformation of rapid urbanization in developing world due to industrialization has necessitated to the planned city development. In general, the planned city development include environmental sustainability, heritage conservation, appropriate technology, infrastructure efficiency, place making, "social access, " transit oriented development, regional integration, human scale, and institutional integrity. Some of these points are discussed below:

2. Guidelines for making City Green -

As cities are keep on growing because of urbanization, more and more cities are becoming congested. To make cities livable for the citizen and to make their life beautiful, it has been the constant endevour of the Government to encourage for green building, keep city pollution within the limit and to create sufficient green belt.

a. Green Building is a philosophy of design and construction that integrates natural resources more effectively, preserves and restores the natural and human resource base while creating healthier, more efficient "high-performance" structures, homes and communities. This philosophy incorporates the following guiding principles:

(i) Using natural and manmade resources efficiently;

(ii) Considering the impact of buildings and development projects on the local, regional and global environment;

(iii) Reducing building footprint and development size;

(iv) Allowing ecosystems to function naturally;

(v) Conserving and reusing water; treating storm water on-site;

(vi) Maximizing the use of local materials;

(vii) Optimizing energy performance by installing energy efficient equipment and systems;

(viii) Optimizing climatic conditions through site orientation and design;

(ix) Integrating natural day-lighting and ventilation;

(x) Minimizing the use of mined rare metals and persistent synthetic compounds and volatile organic compounds;

(xi) Minimizing construction waste by reducing, reusing and recycling materials during all phases of construction and deconstruction.

Generally, objectives of green buildings are: (a) Improve work and learning environments, thus increasing worker productivity and student performance; (b) Mitigate health risks such as asthma and childhood lead poisoning; (c) Create local green building jobs within every existing industrial sector; (d) Reduce energy consumption and costs; (e) Affirm the City's commitment to environmental conservation.

b. The creation of green-space in cities is often spoken of as if it were the result of orderly planning or regulation. Most of the cities have a plan to conserve green-space on the urban fringe. Generally, planning for creation of city green zones includes:

(i) Greening Commercial Corridors - This focus on landscape enhancements along strategic streets that can serve as a neighborhood's economic lifeline.

(ii) City Parks Revitalization - This focus on maintaining and beautification of existing parks in a city.

(iii) Setting-up of New Community Gardens;

(iv) Street Beautification Projects- creation of "Garden Blocks".

(v) Education and Training Opportunities - Courses and workshops help city dwellers beautify their communities through horticulture.

c. Apart from setting up green buildings, green covers, strategy for implementing proper solid waste management, restricting generation of air / water pollutants and strict implementation of local emission control codes. Thus, guidelines should include:

(i) Utilize sites to capture environmental benefits and preserve or create new open space;

(ii) Develop programs and policy to conserve potable water use, improve stormwater management and "green" the city sewage waste water system;

(iii) Address city and regional transportation issues by encouraging transit-oriented development, improve public transit services and reduce dependency on individual automobile use;

(iv) Implement citywide energy conservation programs and incentives, encourage use of renewable, non-fossil fuel energy sources and improve city performance on meeting regional clean air standards;

(v) Promote the development of local, green manufacturing industries and the use of recycled content materials or renewable materials for building, operations, and supplies for city work. Also establish more extensive recycling program to include construction and demolition waste recycling;

(vi) Maintain city's sustainable development by integrating programs, such as in workforce development, economic redevelopment, and the public school system.

d. Citywide ban on smoking in all enclosed public spaces and public vehicles, also to be imposed for long term benefit of its citizen.

3. Improvement of Environment in Urban cities -

(Green cover with planned developments is the key)

In order to improve environmental quality, health and quality of life in cities and towns, more emphasis should be given to developing attractive, efficient and safe infrastructure for people to grow in every sphere of life.

The biggest challenges for these cities are increase in human density, which leads to problem of food, clothing & sheltering, sanitation, increasing number of slums and so the environmental degradation. Shortage of proper education, better health facilities, and most importantly a gap in demand and supply chain which contribute towards illegal operations getting started in those areas. In addition, low infrastructural and transport facilities in relation to the population growth make living condition problematic. Urban development is the key indicator for information of development indices. Some of the factors and problems to addressed are summerised as: (a) stable political situation, (b) economic strength, (c) corruption issue and public awareness, (d) skilled urban planners, (e) international relations for cultural sharing, (e) most important of all is willingness in the people and government to support for development.

Planned urban development is the key to overcome such problem of urbanization. Good land planning and infrastructure building in developing countries would help to create a perfect base which can be further nurtured with pollution free environment with sufficient greenery, better delivery of basic services like water and sanitation and finally a society with decent living. Research and demonstration are urgently needed if we are to realize our common dream of dynamic, environmentally and use-friendly cities. It is possible to revitalise depressed areas in ways that satisfy the wishes of residents and businesses. Resources such as land and materials can be reused and recycled. The scope for improving the way that buildings are designed, constructed and disposed of is tremendous. In managing the built environment, sustainability must be incorporated at various levels, from regional planning to individual construction sites. Planners, city councils, designers and urban residents all help to determine how cities develop and what construction methods are used.

Environmental issues play a central role in urban planning. However, in emerging megacities, infrastructure growth often takes precedence over the environment. Solving transportation issues has the highest priority in the cities surveyed, and air pollution is seen as the main environmental issue. The environment also plays a major role in the area of energy issues. Thus, alternative sources of energy will have a bright future in megacities. To meet growing demand for mobility, power, energy and water in the long term, megacities must not only build out their infrastructures and use them more efficiently; they must also proactively manage demand. However, city government experts are aware of the fact that efficiency must be improved significantly.

(i) Manage the urban sprawl, that is to limit tendency of growing suburban by increased access to non-developed areas, utilise the potential of the deteriorated areas and un-build plots, develop and enhance development in central neighbourhoods, locate new development in the vicinity of public transport nodes and railway stations, enhance development in inner city-areas, reinforce housing conditions and improve quality of life.

(ii) Innovation of neglected neighbourhoods and mix businesses, services and social groups within the city-structure, particular attention should be drawn to selected neighbourhoods experiencing social problems.

(iii) Manage carefully the cities' eco-system, particularly regarding public places, green structure, water, energy, waste and noise.

(iv) Develop efficient and environmentally public transport, which can contribute to sustainable mobility.

(v) Establish inter-municipal and inter-city bodies, in order to co-ordinate planning and implementation of measures which cross administrative borders.

(vi) Conserve and refine important cultural heritages, and develop city networks.

References:

1. http://environmentengineering.blogspot.com/2008/02/importance-of-urban-green-cover-in_9361.html

2. http://environmentengineering.blogspot.com/2008/02/planned-urban-developments-way-to.html

3. http://environmentengineering.blogspot.com/2008/02/planned-city-development-emphasizes.html

4. http://environmentengineering.blogspot.com/2008/02/guidelines-for-making-city-green.html

5. http://saferenvironment.wordpress.com/2008/09/29/sustainable-and-green-city-development-for-achieving-all-round-better-environment/

6. http://agentsofurbanism.com/2008/04/09/sustainable-city-race-part-1-definition

7. http://agentsofurbanism.com/2008/04/11/sustainable-city-race-part-2-masdar

8. http://www.sustainable-development.veolia.com/en/strategy-sustainable-development/building-sustainable-city.aspx

9. http://saferenvironment.wordpress.com/2008/09/23/improvement-of-environment-in-urban-cities-%E2%80%93-green-cover-with-planned-developments-is-the-key/

10. http://marukuwato.multiply.com/journal/item/142

11. http://www.scityvt.co.uk/project.php