Super Eco

Photo credit: Michelle Kaufmann

Like most inner-city areas, my neighborhood is almost all concrete, asphalt and paving stones. When it rains, the water flows directly into the sewers and the few green spots turn into mini swamps because the ground just can't absorb the water quickly enough. People don't talk much to each other, the car dominates, and all food must be trucked in.

But according to the green-focused architect Michelle Kaufmann, it doesn't have to be that way. In her recent white paper on her blog, Embracing Thoughtful, Walkable Neighborhoods (PDF file), Kaufmann explores ten eco-principles for sustainable urban neighborhoods.

1. Smart Design: create communities based on the landscape, not on a blank canvas.
2. Energy Efficiency: reduce energy consumption and provide locally generated alternative energies.
3. Water Conservation: reduce harmful run-off with grey water recovery and permeable ground surfaces.
4. Reduce Waste: design onsite waste treatment facilities and make sorting of other wastes easy and efficient.
5. Healthy Environment: ensure safe indoor air quality and encourage local food production and preparation opportunities.
6. Diversity: draw in a mix of residents creating a community of all ages and a range of cultures and income brackets.
7. Smart Location: build based on access to mass transit and local food supplies.
8. Respect the Land: protect biodiversity, native plants and local animals.
9. Smart Auto Strategy: reduce the need for cars to be used throughout the community.
10. Shared Resources: introduce community resources such as auto-share programs, community gardens, and education programs.

Although Kaufmann talks about these principles in terms of new developments, I believe that some of these principles could be applied to even the most inefficient designs of the past. It's just a matter of raising enough public awareness and interest on the issue.