The Sustainable Skyline Initiative is a program designed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. This program was developed to help cities achieve sustainability through air quality regulatory needs, climate action goals and other environmental issues applicable to the area. The concentration of this initiative is air quality. Through the EPA, non profit organizations and other government agencies communities can implement sustainability as a measure to combat pollutants in their region. Currently various Sustainable Skyline Initiative programs have begun in Texas, Kansas,and Pennsylvania.
Areas participating in this initiative can choose from seven categories: renewing community livability, climate change and energy efficiency, land use and transportation strategies, fossil-fueled engine and motor sources, green buildings development, facilities and businesses and innovative and sustainable practices. In order to be supported, the category that an SSI city chooses must quantify the initial benefits within three years. The ways different cities and areas choose to combat these categories can vary greatly.
The city of Dallas, Texas has chosen to combat a few of the seven categories in various ways. They have proposed a Green Building Project that will create affordable housing that is also better for the environment. In dealing with Greenhouse gases, the Greenhouse Gas Strategy has been developed. This project stresses the reduction of energy usage, making aware different ways to be energy efficient to consumers and educating students about energy efficiency. The Green Taxis program is one that plans to replace existing taxis with vehicles that emit less pollution and educate users on how this benefits the environment while continuing to meet the cities needs. By replacing small gasoline and diesel- powered equipment the program hopes to reduce Nitrogen Oxide emissions. Although these are not big emitters on an individual basis when the whole population reduces the use it can make a big difference to the environment. The Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency Outreach Program is designed to reduce energy usage and increase awareness regarding energy efficiency through renewable energy initiatives. The Urban Heat Island is designed to increase the amount of permeable surfaces in the city and decrease the amount of heated surfaces to mitigate the effects of emissions and storm water runoff. The Site Assistance+ was created as a tool for industrial facilities to have assistance in determining how emissions can be reduced or prevented. These programs are all examples of how Dallas, Texas is challenging each of the categories and reducing emissions and pollution in these areas
This Skyline Initiative sounds a lot like Cool Cities which Blacksburg is a part of. This is part of the US Green Building Council. They strive to be more energy efficient to combat global climate change and are trying for a clean energy economy. It would be nice to perhaps see a partnership between these programs. I think the more programs and incentives communities have the better. However this plan seems to take into account much much more then just climate change. Storm water runoff, urban heat island effects can be solves with urban forestry alone. this is clearly a step in the right direction.
ReplyDeletejust one question I know that Cool Cities tries to create jobs for the community through this whole process but are there any real incentive other than lower energy bills such as tax breaks? I'm under the impression that a great deal of the technology and reforming the infrastructure is still very expensive and could be hard to implement.
Blacksburg's Cool City Profile
http://www.coolcities.us/cityProfiles.php?city=70&state=VA
I think this program is a really great idea, especially since different cities can choose which project they wish to incorporate. One of the biggets complaints in my town is that even though the wind turbine project was voted on, people don't think it does anything. A large group of my town thinks that we wasted too much money and that everytime people drive by it is never moving. I think it's smart to do what is best for your area. What works for one area definitely doesn't work for all. However, some of these ideas are very vague. For example, with the Green taxis, what vehicles will replace the taxis and where is this funding coming from? Will these cars cost more? How long will it take to have all new vehicles operating in an area like NYC? I think a trial and error type process should be considered for alot of these new ideas. One of the scaries things for counties and states to consider is the money they'll be investing. Having 3 years to improve circumstances puts pressure on people, although that is most likely what is needed. Overall, this is a good idea as long as the benefits outweigh the costs.
ReplyDeleteThis Sustainable Skylines program is definitely on the right track. I believe that cities are where a lot of sustainability initiatives should take place. Focus should be on making cities more sustainable, while simultaneously making them more attractive to residents, so that most people can live a less energy and resource intensive lifestyle. An organization in Virginia which is doing a lot of work on the subject is the Virginia Sustainable Building Network (http://www.vsbn.org/). They are currently working to make Arlington more of an ecocity. An ecocity is an ideal sustainable city. Anyone interested in the subject should read a fantastic book by Richard Register, founder of Ecocity Builders in Berkeley, California: "Ecocities: Rebuilding Cities in Balance with Nature."
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