Sustainable urban design is the concept of designing or repairing cities to reduce environmental degradation and resource depletion.
It can be applied to new or existing urban areas, as well as to the rehabilitation of existing buildings, neighborhoods and communities.
Sustainable urban design initiatives are often used to improve economic, social and environmental conditions.
By combining environmental planning and sustainable development, urban planners emphasize the use of clean technologies that reduce dependence on fossil fuels,
It reduces greenhouse gas emissions, conserves energy, saves water resources, and improves air quality.
The importance of environmental urban design
Ecological urban design is crucial to the success of any city, and has been called “city making” and has gained significant support in recent years to address many of the challenges that cities face today.
One of its primary goals is to make cities more sustainable by encouraging smarter use of land and conservation of resources.
The goal of an architect or city planner is to reduce or eliminate pollution caused by urban development activities by using natural resources such as water, sun, wind, vegetation, and soil.
Not only does it protect the environment and natural resources, but it can also create a positive impact on the community, because it includes the different aspects that define a city, including:
- Its built form and infrastructure
- Urban mobility
- Economic competitiveness
- Social equality
- communications
- Waste management
- Energy consumption
The role of environmental planning in sustainable development
Environmental issues affect everyone on a global scale, but implementing sustainable solutions to these problems can be difficult.
There are many challenges associated with green city planning – from political to financial constraints.
But many architects and planners continue to work towards finding sustainable solutions for the future.
The city planning process includes the vision of designers, technical requirements for implementation, and other stakeholders.
Designers must be responsible for designing a plan that is workable and environmentally sensitive,
and this may include changes to zoning regulations, permitting processes, or building guidelines.
Environmental planning of the city and how to make the city environmentally friendly
In a world where global warming is a real threat, cities are responsible for a large share of total greenhouse gas emissions.
To help alleviate this problem, we need to make our cities more environmentally friendly.
To make the city environmentally friendly, we need to reduce the consumption of natural resources and increase the use of renewable energy.
We must design our buildings to be more energy efficient.
We can also use solar panels to heat water and generate electricity,
reducing the need for non-renewable fuel sources.
We must also focus on using green transportation systems such as public transportation or electric cars, which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Greenhouse gases are one of the main causes of climate change.
We can also invest in sustainable farming systems to help create sustainable food sources, build healthier homes, and a productive ecosystem.
Environmental planning and sustainable development
It is important that we understand the environmental impacts of our choices and take the necessary steps to create a more sustainable, clean, and healthy environment for all living things.
An eco-friendly city is one that has been planned to minimize environmental damage.
Cities may reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, use clean energy sources, recycle waste, and more.
The process of making a city more environmentally friendly can include improving infrastructure or changing the way residents live.
Developing more eco-friendly cities will help alleviate global problems such as climate change and pollution.
Benefits of green cities
There are no limits to the benefits of green cities, and here are some basic benefits to know:
- Reduce pollution and traffic
- More peace, less stress
- Preserving biodiversity
- Locally produced food
- Increase in real estate valuation
- Stronger relationships with local communities
- Cooler environment
Characteristics of sustainable cities
These are some of the characteristics that can pave the way for a greener future.
Access to public resources
Sustainable cities help residents achieve sustainability in daily life by providing access to public resources.
This may look like leisure facilities, libraries, museums, health centres, rubbish collection services and public transport.
Initiatives such as telecommunications, insurance and technology hubs help stimulate public health and the economy, supporting the “people” and “profit” pillars of sustainability.
Transport
According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the transportation sector accounted for the bulk of total greenhouse gas emissions in 2020.
This includes cars, trucks, planes, trains and more, and between 1990 and 2020, this number has increased more than any other sector, with people traveling more than ever before, negatively impacting cities.
Subways and other train systems are among the most sustainable forms of public transportation.
Cities that prioritize the greening of public transportation stand to benefit from tackling a major driver of greenhouse gas emissions.
Green public spaces
Parks, lakes and tree-lined streets can be a welcome respite from the noise and crowds of the city.
Green spaces are not only good for overall health, especially for our mental and physical health, but they also help reduce pollution and promote biodiversity.
Urban farms and community gardens can supplement the neighborhood diet with fresh organic produce and flowers.
Furthermore, cities that build and design for walkability and bikeability benefit from more sustainable and enjoyable modes of transportation,
Whether you’re going to work or to a friend’s house on the other side of town.
Green architecture
Nearly 34% of global energy demand comes from buildings, according to the United Nations Environment Programme.
The solution is that green buildings can reduce carbon emissions, plus electricity and water bills are cheaper.
In the long run, green architecture also benefits construction companies, which can save costs and receive tax incentives.
Building green from the ground up means introducing solar panels, smart heating and cooling systems, and natural building materials such as stone or bamboo.
In the United States, the Green Building Council awards LEED certification to buildings that reduce energy demand and water consumption.
Water conservation
Ensuring good water management is another feature of sustainable cities, and by 2050, nearly 70% of the world’s population will live in cities.
Of these urban centres, 90% are located near coastal areas.
While these areas are at risk of natural disasters, especially as climate change increases the likelihood of this occurring,
Water conservation practices such as rainwater harvesting and green infrastructure (wetland restoration) can help cities maximize natural resources near the coast.
Trash mangment
Another characteristic of sustainable cities is the way they dispose of waste.
Households produce waste, but consider the amount of waste generated by offices, hotels, schools, etc.
To address this problem, cities can adopt better recycling programs,
stricter garbage collection policies, and go paperless.
Data-driven technologies can also help monitor our consumption and contribute to sustainable waste innovation.
It is important to note that there are many factors and frameworks for measuring sustainability and applying them to cities,
So lists of sustainable cities can be arbitrary.
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