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what transportation is present in chicago

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what transportation is present in chicago

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what types of transportation is in Chicago 

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what types of transportation is in Chicago 

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Buses,trains,bikes, subways,boats,airplanes, cars,

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Grocery stores, gas stations, convenient store ,

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My city provides shelter for the homeless, Education, medical, animal control, polices, firefighters.

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The following pages offer real world examples of best use practices for sustainable water managment and low impact design (LID). Topics covered will include various techniques for stormwater volume and quality control such as rain gardens, bioswales, green roofs, retention, detention and inflitration systems. The common thread between each of these projects is that they encompass the best possible aspects of aesthetic design, ecological protection and surface water management. Through innovative restoration and biological mimicry, each of these projects works towards eliminating urban development impacts on existing water systems and actually improving the long term health of these watersheds.

Since the purpose of this page is to offer examples of the best possible water management practices, it is important to give some background information on the different technologies that are utilized. The following sections offer basic information on some of the more popular LID techniques and practices. While there are many other innovative methods for surface water management, these few technologies are the basic building blocks of an integrated and sustainable water system.

The purpose of a rain garden is to offer a natural place within the built landscape for stormwater to be collected and infiltrated into the ground. The primary goal of a rain garden is to reduce the amount of water that enters the storm drain and also to treat and infiltrate the water that is collected. When designed and planted properly, a rain garden will offer numerous benefits in terms of both stormwater management and aesthics. They are also appealing because once the basics are understood, they are one of the most cost effective and efficient methods for reducing the impact that impervious surfaces have on stormwater systems.

A typical rain garden is an area of depressed soil that is planted with deep-rooted native plants and is fed by any surrounding impervious surfaces. Ideally, the rain garden should be located in an area where it will naturally collect any runoff from a roof, driveway, parking lot or road. This could be any low lying areas along the property, but should be at least 10' from any buildings to avoid flooding. Once a site has been selected for a rain garden, then begins the process of choosing the size and structure of the garden itself. A properly designed rain garden should accomodate for both the rate of infiltration of the given soil, and the amount of runoff that it is intended to absorb. Simple calculations can be done to determine the amount of runoff that will be generated by a typical rain event, and this number will then need to be adjusted to account for the type of soil. A basic rule of thumb for sizing a rain garden is that porous soils (sand) will require a smaller area while more compact and impervious soils (clay) will need a much larger space. This is due to the fact that the rate at which the stormwater will be able to infiltrate into the ground varies greatly with soil types and a well designed rain garden should accomodate for this to limit the chance of flooding.

Once the site and sizing are decided, then begins the task of picking out the plants and starting construction. When choosing plants, it is important to consider species which naturally occur in the local area. Using native plants ensures that the garden will grow beautifully in the local climate and and soil types. It also ensures that the species will be tolerant to any pests or seasonal changes that occur in the surrounding environment. When selecting from native species, it is important to choose plants which are accustomed to growing in both wet and dry environments. Grasses and flowers which grow naturally along local streams, wetlands and meadows make the best choices for rain gardens, becuase they will be well suited to adapt to a wide range of mositure conditions. Plant compatibility is another issue to consider, as well as the size and nutrient requiements of each plant at maturity. A well designed rain garden will incorporate a wide variety of grasses, flowers, shrubs and trees that work well together to create a root infiltration system and also completment eachother aesthetically.

The final step in the process is to actually begin construction on the rain garden. Any turfgrass should be removed and a portion of topsoil ranging from 4" - 2' should also be removed to allow for the addition of soil ammendment and infiltration medium. Each rain garden will differ in the amount of soil that needs to be removed, with porous soil types requiring the shallowest depth of excavation. More complex gardens will actually have layers of sand and substrate applied deep into the soil to allow for the most possible infiltration. Once the site has been excavated and the new soils prepared, then the actual process of planting can begin. Plants should be located within the garden based on their moisture tolerance, root structure, mature height, and also the aesthetic desires of the builder.

There is an abundance of information available online which makes the proper design and construction of a rain garden accessible to even the common homeowner. The following links offer just a few examples of the information that is out there:

Here is a detailed guide for rain garden design, construction and maintenance put out by the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources:

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/water/wm/dsfm/shore/documents/rgmanual.pdf

The Low Impact Development Center also has an enormous amount of information on rain garden design:

http://www.lowimpactdevelopment.org/raingarden_design/how2designraingarden.htm

The city of Santa Barbara offers their own manual of best management practices (BMP) and other information on LID. Section 5.5 deals with Rain Gardens:

http://www.santabarbaraca.gov/NR/rdonlyres/91D1FA75-C185-491E-A882-49EE17789DF8/0/Manual_071008_Final.pdf

The city of Santa Barbara also offers a brochure which offers basic details on best management practices:

http://www.santabarbaraca.gov/NR/rdonlyres/342AE193-30BC-4E64-B9D1-19AAC1FDEAF4/0/BMP_Brochure_Print.pdf

Bioswales are similar to Rain Gardens in that they are vegetated landscape depressions which are designed to capture, treat and infiltrate stormwater. The major difference between a bioswale and a rain garden is that bioswales are designed to move water from one area to another and often end in a rain garden. Bioswales are typically engineered to transfer water as slowly as possible, as to assure the maximum time for infiltration and absorption of contaminants. In this way, they can be considered one form of stormwater detention. Because they are used to move water and not completely retain it, bioswales are often one component of a larger surface water management system. Therefore, bioswales are not usually found on smaller residential projects. They are often used in neighborhood developments, commercial and industrial landcapes and large projects where a significant amount of stormwater is being generated from impervious surfaces. The primary responsibility of a bioswale is to control the volume and quality of stormwater during a major event. Therefore a successful bioswale should be designed to mimick the characteristics of a stream or creek in terms of plant choices and path selection. The most effective bioswales incorporate native plants and also limit the rapid movement of water by creating a channel which bends and moves naturally with the landscape. Bioswales are a invaluble feature of any large water system which seeks to integrate and incorporate natural water management into the overall scope of a system.

There are many useful resources that can assist in the design, planning and upkeep of a successful bioswale. The following sources offer specific guidelines and details for the successful implementation of a bioswale within the context of a larger surface water management system. While these resources offer a basic understanding of the technology, they are by no means exhaustive, and should be considered the best possible practices within the given landscape and climate.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has a site dedicated to swales and biofiltration, with real world data on the absorption of toxins and the overall impacts that swales have on water quality:

http://cfpub.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/menuofbmps/index.cfm?action=browse&Rbutton=detail&bmp=75

The University of Florida also offers a useful document explaining some of the benefits and challenges of swale design:

http://buildgreen.ufl.edu/Fact_sheet_Bioswales_Vegetated_Swales.pdf

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has a great manual on bioswales which goes into depth on the scientific and environmental benefits of biofiltration:

http://www.deq.state.or.us/wq/stormwater/docs/nwr/biofilters.pdf

The city of Portland, Oregon also has a useful manual for urban swale design that lists off several different variations on the standard design:

http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/image.cfm?id=55791

The California Stormwater Quality Association puts out a wonderful guide for vegetated swales. It lists off several climate specific design concerns and also gives a chart listing off the estimated costs of construction. This is an awesome resource and should be helpful for the design of projects within our local climate:

http://www.cabmphandbooks.com/Documents/Development/TC-30.pdf

Finally, this project by a group of graduate students at UCSB's Bren School offers an in depth look at the efficency and performance of a local swale installation. This information is useful because it gives practical numbers on the true performance of swales:

http://www.bren.ucsb.edu/research/finaldocs/1999/bioswale.pdf

Green Roofs are an excellent method for reducing the amount of stormwater generated by the impervious surfaces above buildings. In addition to creating more surface area for the retention and biofiltration of stormwater, green roofs also provide excellent insulating properties and actively reduce the urban heat island affect. However, there are many issues to consider when designing a green roof and it is crucial to carefully plan out each of the components in order to assure the success of a project. Along with concerns over the design of the biological system itself, there are also structural issues to consider when planning a green roof. Adding soil and layers of plants to the roof of a building also adds a significant amount of weight, so it is important to check the support capability of the structure and also the local building codes. Due to all of these specific concerns, green roofs one of the more complex and difficult types of sustainable water design to get right.

However, when done correctly they can also offer the widest range of benefits of any water management system.

The first step in the design process is to generate a list of site specific constraints. This should include information on the structural limits of the roof, as well as data for the climate conditions, wind factors and other concerns. In residential projects the ideal roof is often one that requires the least amount of maintenance. These are planted with resilient and hearty succulents, mosses and wild grasses, depending on the climate conditions. Larger buildings with flat roofs offer a wider range of possibilities and are often more complex and aesthetically pleasing. Older buildings and developments with the structural capability to handle large gardens often include high grasses, flowers, shrubs, trees and vegetable gardens. Increasing the biological load on the roof of an urban struture offers several benefits such as reducing the energy consumed within the building, producing oxygen, filtering out water and airborne toxins and even providing new ecological habitat.

The benefits of green roofs for water systems are immense. Since most stormwater is generated from impervious surfaces within dense urban areas, rooftop discharge is one of the major point sources for polluted surface water. By increasing the holding time for water on a roof, the stresses on the local stormwater system can be greatly reduced. This lowers the amount of sediment and pollution that reaches local beach or river oufall locations. To assure the hydrologic success of a roof top garden, it is imortant to choose native plants which are cabable of creating large root structures and infiltrating surface water. This will also assure that the garden is low maintenance and capable of sustaining the soil characteristics with minimal upkeep.

Here is an article which highlights the features, applicability, relevant codes and design anaylsis tools:

http://www.wbdg.org/resources/greenroofs.php

This site offers all of the information necessary to design and build a green roof. It includes articles on types of green roofs, benefits, costs, maintenance, and useful plants. This is truly a one stop shop for building a roof system:

http://www.greenroofplan.com/archive/

This is just a photo list of some of the more elaborate and beautiful large scale projects:

http://www.environmentalgraffiti.com/green-living/8-incredible-green-roofs/10914

The Low Impact Design Center has a brief design description and even includes Auto CAD examples of basic designs:

http://www.lid-stormwater.net/greenroofs_home.htm

Here is a presentation by the Santa Barbara Creeks Division which offers details on various LID techniques including green roofs:

http://www.santabarbaraca.gov/NR/rdonlyres/2B6903F5-0556-466C-9F78-EBE24BF1ABD1/0/LIDPresentation.pdf

Rain barrels are one of the most cost effective and beneficial methods of water conservation and management. In addition to reducing the overall water consumption of a building, rain barrels also reduce the volume of water that is generated during major storm events. This reduces the impacts on the local stormwater system and decreases the amount of contaminants that enter the surrounding habitat. In terms of design and construction, there are a few basic rules that must be followed, but for the most part they are simple and inexpensive to install. The general rule of thumb is that 1" of rainfall on 1000 square feet of roof space will produce 600 gallons of water. Therefore, the rain barrel system should be scaled accordingly and can even include a backup or overflow system for extremely large events. Most rain barrels are used for irrigation or non-potable requirements, but some larger barrels can include filtration and sediment removal systems which produce drinking quality water.

Both applications will require some basic form of pest control to prevent mosquito propagation. All rain barrel designs include some sort of catch or grating to remove large objects and debris. Large systems will often include some type of secondary filtration medium such as sand or oil to to keep small particulates from entering the basin. Some barrel systems will even have a pre collection basin which holds some of the water and settles out any sediments before the clean portion is transferred to the final barrel.

When completed, a rainwater harvesting system can ultimately provide a significant portion of the non-potable and in some cases even the potable water needs for most residential homes. When designed and installed correctly, rain barrels are extremely effective and require only minimal maintenance. Annual upkeep in the form of seasonal flushings and algae prevention is all that is needed to keep a system running for years. The financial and resource savings alone are enough to justify the menial cost of purchasing and maintaining a system.

The Texas Water Development Board offers a Manual on Rainwater Harvesting which gives extensive information on all different types, sizes and applications:

http://www.twdb.state.tx.us/publications/reports/RainwaterHarvestingManual_3rdedition.pdf

This article from the TreeHugger site offers a light introduction to rain barrel design and construction. It is not as extensvie as other sources but it is conscise and offers all the basics and necessary information to continue with the design of a system:

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/04/5-great-rain-barrel-designs.php

This is a straight forward and practical how to for rain barrel construction. Includes a list of parts, costs and system cabability. Everything you need to build a residential rainwater system in a weekend:

http://www.wizardanswers.com/rain-barrel.html

The Urban Design Tools website also has an informative guide for rain barrel and cistern installation:

http://www.lid-stormwater.net/raincist_specs.htm

The purpose of stormwater retention and detention basins is to collect large volumes of runoff and then slowly relase this water or infiltrate it over time. By controlling the flow and timing of water release during a storm, these basins act to prevent flooding and erosion in addition to providing sediment absorption. The major difference between the two types of basins is that retention basins do not have outflow but do have biofiltration. Detention systems are usually only overflow systems that are lined with native grasses or turf. Because the water is only present seasonally and it leaves the basin after a short amount of time, it is not typical to see a significant amount of vegetation in their design. For this reason, detention basins are often planted with grasses or turf that is saturation tolerant. A typical approach to surface water management is to couple these two types of flow control, with several detention basins all feeding into a large retention pond. For the most part, these systems differ from more complex biological systems such as swales and rain gardens in that they are designed to handle only significant storm events and potential flood situations. However, both of the abovementioned systems do have retaining/detaining properties. One benefit of having a large retention pond is that the water can be pumped and used for irrigation purposes, depending on the size of the project.

The U.S. EPA has a manual on detention pond design, benefits, costs and other useful information:

http://www.epa.gov/owm/mtb/wetdtnpn.pdf

A basic overview of Retention/Detention technology, benefits and limitations:

http://sustainablestormwater.org/2009/05/28/stormwater-101-detention-and-retention-basins/

Tuscon Arizon has a useful Storm Water Retention Manual that offers valuble information on municipal stormwater strategies and retention/detention system design:

http://cms3.tucsonaz.gov/files/dsd/Stormwater_detention-retention_manual.pdf

The California Stormwater Quality Association offers a chapter in their Best Management Practices Guide which lists off some of the details, calculations, benefits and concerns with retention systems. It also offers information on using these systems for irrigation purposes:

http://www.cabmphandbooks.com/Documents/Development/TC-12.pdf

(Stockholm, Sweden)

http://www.hammarbysjostad.se/

Hammarby Sjostad is a recently developed district in Stockholm, Sweden that exhibits some of the best possible techniques for sustainable design. Positioned just south of the city center on lake Hammarby Sjo, this massive project of nearly 11,000 residential units has been designed to accomodate the needs of 25,000 residents while creating the smallest of footprints on the surrounding area. Work on this project began in 1990, when city planners in Stockholm were looking for places to settle new residents without cutting into the extensive system of national parks and open space that weave through the city. After looking into all the possible options, the decision was made to develop a large portion of land that was formerly a shipyard and large industrial complex. From the outset, the goal of the project was to create a beautiful place to house the city's residents while also restoring and protecting the beautiful lakefront setting. Therefore the name of the district, Hammarby Sjostad, literally means "Lake Hammarby City" and this water centric ethos is reflected throughout the design of the city.

The most striking part of Hammarby Sjostad is the environmental goals that the area was designed to meet. When completed in 2017, Hammarby Sjostad will use 50% less resources and cause 50% less impact then a similar development from 1990. To put this into perspective California's landmark environmental legislation, AB 32, hopes to achieve these exact same standards, by 2050. To achieve these lofty goals, Hammarby is designed with a fully integrated approach to resource management and urban ecology. Each of the systems for waste water, storm water retention, natural gas, heating, transportation and aesthetic design are tied together in a way that maximizes efficiency and plays off the success of one another. Here are some of the major goals within this district:

Reduce overall residential water consumption by 50% (Stockholm average is 200liters/person/day - Hammarby's goal is 100liters/person/day - the initial data shows use at 150liters/person/day)

95% of the phosphorous content of the wastewater stream should be captured and used for agricultural purposes

The amount of heavy metals and contaminants in the wastewater stream should be 50% lower than that of other local systems

100% of stormwater, rain water and snowmelt should be retained, infiltrated or treated to allow for the removal of sediments and contaminants

All stormwater from streets with at least 8,000 cars/day shall be bioactively treated before release into the lake

To achieve the above goals, Hammarby employs several innovative techniques for large scale water management and treatment. Each component of the system has been designed to contribute to the overall goals of the project while maintaining and even improving upon the aesthetic beauty of the lakefront seeting. Each area within the district has a unique approach to surface water management, and are even linked by auxillary systems in the case of a major failure by any of the individual components. Some of the more significant aspects of Hammarby's design include:

Catchment and settling basins are strategically located throughout the development to capture any runoff from streets, buildings, walkways and even the adjacent ski resort

Two massive, enclosed holding basins are located on-site and are capable of storing all locally genereated storm runoff for a short period to allow for the settling of sediments and pollutants

An additional, large surface water retention lake is also used to biologically filter runoff from high traffic streets and pedestrian corridors

An experimental wastewater treatment plant is located within the district and it acts as a working laboratory for new and innovative techniques for biological, chemical and biogas producing waste treatment methods

A massive network of tiered drainage and settling canals weaves throughout the district, providing the aesthtic beauty of natural creeks and vegetated swales. All stormwater eventually travells through this expertly designed system before being released into the lake

After visting Hammarby Sjostad in 2008, the most striking aspect of this development for me was the beauty and integration of each of the water management systems. They have done an excellent job in finding the balance between utility and aesthetic design, to the point that if you were not informed of the beneficial water quality aspects of the system, it would appear to be simply an artistic installation. If I could give one criticism of this approach, it would be the relative lack of biofiltration and infiltration that is present. However, given the direct proximity to lake, the short distance that the surface water must travel to be discharged, and the abundance of fresh water sources in Sweden, they have made a clear choice that low maintenance aesthetic channels are preferable in this case to heavily vegetated infiltration swales.

Hammarby Project Brochure, Goals, Design, Concepts:

http://www.hammarbysjostad.se/inenglish/pdf/HS_miljo_bok_eng_ny.pdf

Map Of Environmental Features:

http://www.hammarbysjostad.se/inenglish/pdf/Environmental%20map%2006%202010.pdf

Ecological Goals:

http://www.hammarbysjostad.se/inenglish/pdf/HS%20komb%20eng%20dec%202008.pdf

The Hammarby Model of Integrated Systems:

http://www.hammarbysjostad.se/inenglish/pdf/HS%20komb%20eng%20dec%202008.pdf

The town of Freiburg in southwest Germany is a student city that is home to about 200,000 residents. The citizens and planners in Freiburg have made a conscious effort over the past few decades to move away from the typical model of urban sprawl and now seek a more efficient and sustainable metropolitan framework. From a green standpoint, there is no better example of best use practices in the world. The downtown area of Freiburg has historic cobbled streets and all the character of a medieval city. However, there are modern notes of sustainability intregrated into this beautiful setting in a way that is almost seamless. The entire city center is completely car free. Parking is available on the perimeter of the city, and light rail lines weave through the cobbled streets in a manner that is condusive to pedestrians and also effecient at moving people around quickly. In terms of surface water managment, the pavers are permeable and there is another feature which is truly unique from this perspective. The city itselft lies in the path of a river, and since medieval times this water system has been split at the upstream end of town and diverted into tiny concrete channels called "Bächle" which are designed to collect runoff and keep the streets clean. This medieval surface water management system is aesthetically charming and has been the pride of the city since ancient times.

Outside of the city center lies two major housing developments which offer some of the most sustainable alternatives to surburban living models in the world. The largest of the two developments is called Rieselfeld and it consists of 4,200 high efficiency units for a total population of 12,000 residents. This project is a collaboration between 110 different contractors and architects and seeks to display the best possible designs in terms of aesthetics, resource consumption and living standards. One of the major features of this development is an integrated system of open space and surface water management, utilizing swales, retention basins and other methods to take care of volume and contramination issues in a way that is aesthetically and ecologically appealing.

Here is a map and design overview which highlights some of the goals of Rieselfeld:

http://www.freiburg.de/servlet/PB/show/1183190_l1/rieselfeld_Folder_englisch.pdf

This document offers more details on the construction and history of the project, including specific numbers and targets:

http://www.freiburg.de/servlet/PB/show/1180731/rieselfeld_en.pdf

The second major development outside of Freiburg is called Vauban and it is arguably one of the most sustainable and low impact urban developments in the world. Often called "The Solar City", Vauban is home to 5,000 residents and massive array of photovoltaic panels which are used to achieve a net production of energy for several of the buildings within the development. The units are all high density, but the open space has been designed in a way as to make the whole area feel accessible and extremely liveable. Several different light rail lines connect the residents to the city, and the development as a whole has one of the lowest per capita car ownership rates in the world. For each 1,000 residents in Vauban, there are 80 cars. To put that in perspective, for each 1,000 residents in the U.S. there are 842 cars. The entire project is a collaborative effort between the designers, architects, planners and citizens that live there. Between each housing block is a different type of open space which has been deisgned by the residents themselves to reflect the need of those who live in proximity. Therefore some areas offer vegetable gardens and rain barrels, while others have playgrounds, and storm/runoff fed natural water features. The surface water management systems are all visible, and there are several different methods employed. Rain barrels line each building, just as bioswales and planted retention basins line the streets. When visiting this area it becomes evident that the whole development has been designed to creatively use surface water rather than dispose of it. Beautiful examples of native vegetation and grasses line the culverts, canals, small parks in between each building. To this day it is still the most succesful implementation of a fully integrated and ecologically sound approach to water management that I have been fortunate enough to see.

The following slides are my own pictures that were taken on study abroad program in the summer of 2008. They show some of the innovative approaches to sustainable water management that are currently being employed in the Freiburg.

City of Freiburg, Water Management Goals:

http://www.fwtm.freiburg.de/servlet/PB/menu/1174596_l2/index.html

Extensive Overview of City Wide Goals and Projects:

http://www.ice.org.uk/topics/community/Sustainable-Community-Development/Freiburg

http://www.vauban.de/info/abstract.html

http://www.passivhaus-vauban.de/idee.en.html

http://www.vauban.de/info/abstract4.html

Vauban Plan, Presentation:

http://web.phys.tue.nl/fileadmin/tn/EnergyDays/presentationsDay8/Frey_Part4.pdf

World Wildlife Fund, Freiburg Overview, Stats:

http://www.wwf.fi/wwf/www/uploads/pdf/sustainable_model_city_freiburg_in_germany.pdf

Greenest City Article:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/mar/23/freiburg.germany.greenest.city

(Malmo, Sweden)

The city of Malmo, in Sweden has a large new residential district that has been built in the Vastra Hamnen, or Western Harbor. This new block of 600 housing units for about 1000 residents is actually part of an international design exhibition called Bo01. Bo01 was an initiavite by the city of Malmo in 2001 to encourage architects and planners to build their ultimate a green design concepts into a functional city on the site of an old industrial shipyard in the Western Harbor. Each block of housing within the district has been designed by a different architechture firm, and each exhibits their own unique take on sustainable design. While the aesthetic design and layout of each block is different, all the residential units were designed as part of a single integrated system of water and resource management. While many of the energy and building technologies are experimental and futuristic, one of the major requirements of the project was that it improve the ecology of the site and the local water systems. Therefore one of the striking characterisits of the development as a whole is the beautiful integration of vegetated retention ponds, detention canals, green rooves and permeable surfaces.

The following pictures are from a trip that I made to this area in 2008.

Malmo Goals and Information (2009-2020):

http://www.malmo.se/download/18.6301369612700a2db9180006235/Environmental-Programme-for-the-City-of-Malmo-2009-2020.pdf

http://energy-cities.eu/IMG/pdf/BO01_EN.pdf

Malmo Sustainability:

http://magnusonmedia.net/malmo_tidning/en/

http://www.urbandesigncompendium.co.uk/bo01MalmoSweden

http://www.malmo.se/English/Western-Harbour/Plans-and-on-going-projects/Bo01-expo-area.html

http://www.malmo.se/English/Sustainable-City-Development/Bo01---Western-Harbour.html

http://www.malmo.se/sustainablecity

(Aurora, Colorado) -

http://walmartstores.com/pressroom/news/6079.aspx

For those of you that think Walmart is the ultimate symbol of waste and quite possibly the worst model for sustainability, I offer you evidence on the contrary. These days efficiency makes financial sense, so of course Walmart decided to explore the possibilites with this demonstration store in Aurora, Colorado. The entire store was designed up to the best possible standards for energy efficency and sustainable water management. Take a look at some of the slides. More info to come.

http://www.lpainc.com/design/project/133/Wal_Mart_Experimental_Sustainable_Supercenters_Aurora_Colorado_McKinney_Texas#

http://walmartstores.com/sustainability/9124.aspx

Off topic, but I found a fun quote in the LA Times this morning that I thought I might share. The House has passed a budget plan which cuts $60billion and primarily targets environmental programs and legislation. One of the primary writers of the bill, David Nunes (R-Tulare) added several sections targeting environmental legislation in the San Joaquin River Delta. This quote is directly from his blog:

"environmental radicals operating in the name of Gaia, Mother Earth, the Wiccan religion and a host of other cult-like organizations have litigated, legislated and extorted away the water needed for San Joaquin Valley communities."

An excellent example of how the envionmental debate is being framed by conservatives politicians. It's business, jobs and family values vs. crazy hippies and earth worshipping cults. The most concerning part of all this is that they are winning the battle for the most part by controlling the rhetoric and shifiting the focus away from the real issues. Environmentalists need to be more aware of this and stop engaging these arguements.

More to come...

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sustainable water management in action: project examples from the u.s. and abroad

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Sustainable Water Management in Action: Project Examples from the U.S. and Abroad

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The following pages offer real world examples of best use practices for sustainable water managment and low impact design (LID). Topics covered will include various techniques for stormwater volume and quality control such as rain gardens, bioswales, green roofs, retention, detention and inflitration systems. The common thread between each of these projects is that they encompass the best possible aspects of aesthetic design, ecological protection and surface water management.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As nouns the difference between community and city

is that community is a group sharing a common understanding and often the same language, manners, tradition and law see civilization while city is a large settlement, bigger than a town.

Other Comparisons: What's the difference?

Noun

() ( communities)

A group sharing a common understanding and often the same language, manners, tradition and law. See civilization.

* Hallam

* Wordsworth

A community is infinitely more brutalised by the habitual employment of punishment than it is by the occasional occurrence of crime (Oscar Wilde)

A commune, or residential or religious collective.

The condition of having certain attitudes and interests in common.

* {{quote-magazine, date=2013-06-07, author=(Joseph Stiglitz)
, volume=188, issue=26, page=19, magazine=( The Guardian Weekly) , title= Globalisation is about taxes too , passage=It is time the international community faced the reality: we have an unmanageable, unfair, distortionary global tax regime. It is a tax system that is pivotal in creating the increasing inequality that marks most advanced countries today - with America standing out in the forefront and the UK not far behind.}}
(ecology) A group of interdependent organisms inhabiting the same region and interacting with each other.

(internet) A group of people interacting by electronic means for social, professional, educational or other purposes; a virtual community.

(obsolete) Common possession or enjoyment; participation.

* (John Locke)

* (Washington Irving)

(obsolete) common character; likeness.

* H. Spencer

(obsolete) commonness; frequency

* Shakespeare

Derived terms

* community service * community spirit

Noun

( cities)

A large settlement, bigger than a town.

:

*

*:So this was my future home, I thought!Backed by towering hills, the but faintly discernible purple line of the French boundary off to the southwest, a sky of palest Gobelin flecked with fat, fleecy little clouds, it in truth looked a dear little city'; the ' city of one's dreams.

*{{quote-magazine, date=2014-06-14, volume=411, issue=8891, magazine=(The Economist)
, title= It's a gas , passage=One of the hidden glories of Victorian engineering is proper drains. Isolating a city 's effluent and shipping it away in underground sewers has probably saved more lives than any medical procedure except vaccination.}}
(lb) The central business district; downtown.

:

Derived terms

( Terms derived from the above definition of "city") * citify * citizen * city banker * city block * city boy * city center * city centre * city clerk * city desk * city district * city father * city girl * city hall * city limit * city line () * city man * city manager * city planning * city room * city slicker * city-state * cityscape * citywide * ( l) * holy city * inner city/inner-city * sister city * the city * twin city () ( city)

See also

* metropolis * megalopolis * megacity

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Community vs City - What's the difference?

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is that community is a group sharing a common understanding and often the same language, manners, tradition and law see civilization while city is a large settlement, bigger than a town. Other Comparisons: What's the difference? () ( communities) A group sharing a common understanding and often the same language, manners, tradition and law.

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The heart and brain are certainly not the largest organs in the human body, but they are arguably the most important. Why? The heart, through a miles-long network of capillaries, keeps every part of the body supplied with nutrients, and the brain, through an equally extensive network of nerves, provides instructions to every part of the body about what to do with those nutrients. They are important not because they are big, but because they are connected to everything else.

It seems that cities work in much the same way. Some cities are much larger than others, but these size differences play virtually no role in their economic development today. Instead, urban economies depend primarily on cities' connections to one another through networks of transportation, communication, business transactions, and cultural exchanges. Well-connected cities, regardless of their size, are more likely to develop robust regional economies.

This is hardly a recent phenomenon. The ancient network of trade routes known as the Silk Road played a major role in the development of cities as commercial centers throughout Asia, and Rome's imperial power was built upon and maintained by the fact that, proverbially, all roads led there. But, the importance of networks has become more critical recently for cities in the United States.

In the past, dominated largely by agriculture and mass commodity production, bigger was better. America's largest cities served as what Walter Christaller dubbed 'central places.' These central places served people living in the surrounding territory, as a place to purchase goods and services, and to sell crops and livestock. Bigger cities drew people in from further away, fueling their economic growth. However, as technological developments allowed people and goods to be transported more quickly and cheaply, people were no longer as shackled to the closest big city. Well connected cities, tied to other places by rail lines and highways, and more recently by airline routes and the internet, could benefit from consumers' demand and workers' labor in other places.

Driven by such technological advances, the economic prosperity of American cities has become more tied to their connectedness than their sheer size. But, exactly what kind of connectedness is important can vary from place to place. Cities like New York or Chicago, which drew strength from their size in the past, today thrive largely by being well connected to other cities globally by multiple types of networks, serving simultaneously as transportation hubs, stock exchanges, and cultural centers.

But the biggest change has been the rise of selected smaller cities. Some, not long ago relatively inconsequential, are now major players due to their linkages in more specialized networks. For example, much of Miami's remarkable economic and demographic growth, and its status as a global city, is the result of its role as the primary economic and cultural bridge between North America and Central/South America. The Research Triangle in North Carolina and Silicon Valley in California have benefitted from intellectual linkages among universities and the world wide tech industry that join independent towns like Raleigh and Durham into cohesive urban regions. Even very small towns like Bentonville, Arkansas (2007 estimated population: 33,744) can be influential in the world arena with the help of vast supply-chain networks orchestrated by a major corporation (Wal-Mart) and large inflows of people made possible by a major airport (Northwest Arkansas Regional, nearly 1.2 million passengers in 2006).

What does this change mean for American cities? Perhaps it's more helpful to consider what it doesn't mean. The heightened role networks and connectivity for cities likely does not herald the much-hyped death of distance, where internet technologies like high-resolution teleconferencing allow businesses to successfully operate anywhere. Certainly these technologies may simplify routine transactions like training employees at satellite offices, while email and social networking sites may help maintain existing relationships and collaborations over long distances. However, chance encounters that are almost impossible online but common in hallways or on sidewalks are frequently where new relationships are built and new ideas emerge. Even if technology did eliminate the need for proximity, real physical locations would still be significant. Not all cities are well connected, and this type of inequality serves to channel innovation and wealth toward some places and away from others. Although transportation and communication networks could disperse people and resources evenly across the landscape, more often they concentrate people and resources at key bottlenecks and 'basing points' in the networks.

The triumph of networks over size also does not mean the triumph of all small towns over big cities. Size is not bad but simply increasingly irrelevant. Although large cities may encounter inefficiencies due to their size, strategically designed networks can offset many of them. For instance, congestion can be relieved by public transit worth using, or inadequate public services could be bolstered by improving inter-metropolitan coordination. Still, entrepreneurs increasingly seek to locate outside the city's central core, in smaller suburbs or edge cities. This is a notable development in economic geography, and seems likely to continue. However, the success of these exurbs comes not from their independence from large cities, but instead from their interdependence upon them. Cheap land or favorable tax codes won't likely transform an isolated small town into an economic powerhouse, while congestion and pollution won't likely hinder the continued development of a well-connected port city.

Ultimately, we need to change how we think about cities and their economic growth. Contrary to strategies that seek to 'grow' cities by building (or rebuilding) their tax bases, cities do not necessarily need more people or even more companies. Instead, city leaders need to concentrate on growth in terms of cities' connectivity. Each new capillary or nerve takes a small amount of energy for the body to build, yet they are precisely what make the heart and brain such efficient and important engines of life. Similarly, forging new relationships between cities often does not deplete scarce resources, and cities that are linked to one another can exploit economies of scale by pooling their strengths, making them sleeker and more efficient. A city that stands on its own, no matter how large or small, is likely to burn out in the long run. But, a city that can draw on the resources of the whole world through extensive network connections to other cities, whether it is a metropolis or a hamlet, is likely to thrive.
Zachary Neal, PhD, is assistant professor of sociology and global urban studies at Michigan State University. This essay draws on his recent study, "From Central Places to Network Bases," that will appear in the research journal City and Community, and is available here.

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Cities: Size Does Not Matter Much Anymore

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The heart and brain are certainly not the largest organs in the human body, but they are arguably the most important. Why? The heart, through a miles-long network of capillaries, keeps every part of the body supplied with nutrients, and the brain, through an equally extensive network of nerves, provides instructions to every part of the body about what to do with those nutrients.

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The stereotypical trappings of urban living (i.e. crowds, tall, shiny buildings) do not a city make. In order to figure out what does, design firm Sasaki recently published the results of a 1,000-person, six-city survey that asked residents what they loved and hated about their surroundings. Some answers from those living in Boston, Chicago, New York, Austin, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., could have been anticipated, but other responses were more surprising.

Take, for instance, people's affection for historic buildings. According to Sasaki's survey, 57% of city-dwellers stop to look at old buildings when walking down the street (more than the 15% who stare at skyscrapers), and more than half agreed that renovating old buildings so that they retain their architectural character should be a priority. Only 17% said they felt their city was "too quaint" and wanted more shiny "iconic" buildings.

The attachment to old buildings makes sense for a number of reasons. Before the faceless International Style swept in from across the Atlantic, architects used to take pleasure in elaborate details. (Just look at any Louis Sullivan joint.) But old buildings are comforting in another way: By reminding us of the past, they help us understand the plot of our times. After all, historic buildings carry narrative, too-something that contemporary buildings often eschew.

When urbanites bemoan the Starbucks opening up on their block, it's usually not because they hate Starbucks, but because the Starbucks is replacing something else-maybe a mom-and-pop shop, or that deli with the best egg and cheese around. An important note from the Sasaki survey: 46% of residents said they'd leave their neighborhoods to try a new restaurant. What can this tell us? Optimizing a city so that every chain and franchised amenity is within a couple blocks of your home doesn't necessarily make it a great place to be. Perhaps we do need to feel like we can go on an adventure in our own 10 square miles, and when we do, it shouldn't look like every other part of the city.

No surprise here. People love parks. Nearly half of those surveyed said the waterfront was their favorite place to be, which contains a note of sadness, too. Will cities be able to adapt their waterfronts to rising sea levels? Or will we all eventually be forced to retreat? There are still a lot of creative suggestions to the first question before we resort to answering the second.

Just because a city's dense doesn't mean it directs its traffic well. More than 40% of those surveyed highlighted traffic as their most frustrating issue, followed by lack of parking. Cities across the states are still working to develop functional bike share programs and more efficient public transit, but shifting away from a reliance on cars still has a long way to go.

There is one thing that the Sasaki survey didn't mention that's probably integral to all of the above: Affordable housing. If outrageous rents exile artists and people who serve the basic functions of the city, neighborhoods can begin to look like homogenous strip malls for tourists and the wealthy. After all, that's part of what happened to the suburbs, minus tourists.

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4 Reasons Why People Love Living In Cities And How We're Working On Ruining Them

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The stereotypical trappings of urban living (i.e. crowds, tall, shiny buildings) do not a city make. In order to figure out what does, design firm Sasaki recently published the results of a 1,000-person, six-city survey that asked residents what they loved and hated about their surroundings.

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Welcome to the official City of Chicago Website. The source for information about City services, departments, programs and initiatives, and officials for Chicago residents, businesses, and visitors.