To be considered for this random giveaway, leave a comment below through the end of Wednesday, July 14, 2010.*
Island Press, a nonprofit that publishes environmental books from thought leaders, was kind enough to send us a new book by Patrick M. Condon called Seven Rules for Sustainable Communities: Design Strategies for the Post-Carbon World. Condon starts out with the premise that cities are responsible for 80% of all greenhouse gas emissions and, since cities are the major cause of the problem, builds a set of rules as the solution.
Without elaborating on the detailed research in the book explaining the basis for each rule, Condon provides the following framework:
- Restore the Streetcar City;
- Design an Interconnected Street System;
- Locate Commercial Services, Frequent Transit, and Schools within a Five-minute Walk;
- Locate Good Jobs Close to Affordable Homes;
- Provide a Diversity of Housing Types;
- Create a Linked System of Natural Areas and Parks; and
- Invest in Lighter, Greener, Cheaper, Smarter Infrastructure.
Condon advocates for revising cities with these rules to not only reduce GHG emissions but to improve the livability of communities and reduce consumption and pollution.
[+] Buy Seven Rules for Sustainable Communities on Amazon.
*To participate in this giveaway contest, leave a comment here by midnight MST on Friday, July 14, 2010. One comment per person; use a valid email; available only in the United States. By leaving a comment, you agree to the terms and conditions relating to giveaways on Jetson Green.
Sounds like it would be a good read!
I would very much be interested in the book as it is something I am working towards. I feel that sustainability and community development are complements of each other.
Look forward to reading the book. Cites may be responsible for 80% of greenhouse gasses, but they are much more sustainable than other forms of development.
looks like a good mix of topics. guess i will have to consider buying it when i don’t win the giveaway.
pick me! I will help save the world’s people.
I am very interested in this!
Looks like an interesting read. I like the fact that the rules focus more on creating multimodal infrastructure rather than simply relying on green technologies (such as solar rooftops). To be truly sustainable a mix of approaches ins needed.
Looks like a timely book. I’d be interesting in exploring the connections between Condon’s research ands the work of Jane Jacobs
It is very close. you will find her referenced many times. I think that sustainable communities in many ways conform to the rules she first explicated.
Patrick Condon
I’d love to read this, as a bicycling and urban design enthusiast. Very interesting giveaway.
maybe a govt person w/ some influence will win the book!! Good ideas & a lot of common sense for the 21st c. Seems like most of the design community is on board w/ sustainable solutions/concepts just need the political will of those in charge (both public & private) to commit to something for once…
I need to forward this to an author who basically says that if you don’t live in New York City, you will never live a sustainable lifestyle. Live in the suburbs? You’re screwed. I don’t agree…
Would be interesting to hear the ideas and remedies to current urban layouts. Walkable communities, especially in suburbs to reduce driving are popping up all over the country, but I question the affordability and the reality of how many people who work in these communities actually live in them and vice versa. Would love to take a gander at this one.
I want to be a City Manager one day and would greatly benefit from this book!
This seems like it would be a resourceful book! I will pass it on to my landscape architecture peers this school year!
Looks like a great book. Can’t wait to read it!
Definitely sounds like a good read
While I agree with the concept, in my experiences this applies primarily to Northeast and upper Midwest cities. The overwhelming number of cities in this country have a decayed central city and suburban sprawl ad infinitum, especially in the south and west of the Rockies. Streetcars can be employed without substantial infrastructure investments which are difficult to support with the population so disbursed throughout suburbia and exurbia. I hope that we can get schools and jobs close to hold and build sustainable cities without 1 acre or larger plots remaining the norm.Great ideas which I support, but are they implementable.
would love to apply some of this theory to some of our developments…
Amazing
Can’t agree on any better set of sustainable community rules!
Great looking book! Sounds like it would sell big with my organization’s members (ULI) and would make a good review article for our magazine, UrbanLand magazine. All the best, robert
Always good for an insular British planner like myself to get an international perspective – shame its only available in the US! The summary does sound like an interesting reworking of sustainable development themes such as those proposed by Barton et al over here in the UK. Follow me on twitter.
A number of years ago I had the opportunity to participate in one of the Design Charrettes that Patrick Condon conducted in Vancouver – it was a very worthwhile experience.
Looking forward to incorporating the concepts of this book into my Planning practice.
FYI – Our community (Collingwood, Ontario) is in the process of adopting an Urban Design Manual that has sought to address many sustainability and overall livability issues within its standards (you can get a copy of the draft UDM at http://www.yourcodes.blogspot.com).
Looks like a great book!
Congrats, Gibsonarchitect! You’ve been chosen winner of this giveaway … I’ll email you separately to get your contact information to send the book. Best of luck to everyone else in future giveaways …
Sounds great! I’m curious to find out which (if any) precedents he cites.
Can’t wait to read the details.
This sounds like an interesting read.
Looks Good. We’re seeking LEED-ND for a new 10-acre development in Fort Collins. Would love to add this to the knowledge base.
As always, thanks for a great website.
Brad
Lansing, Michigan could really benefit from this book!
Seems like European cities have a lot of the topics that this book mentions.
This is totally about the path I am embarking upon… send the book on please.. and thank you…
Looks like a great resource.
These are good concepts. The relativity of affordability of housing should be linked to the pay scales of the jobs being created.
Sounds like an excellent book. Please consider me for the givaway
These 7 rules seem like common sense, but I am very interested in reading the research behind them.
would love to get the author’s take on this vision.
As an engineer, I am always up for a good urban planning book!
You think we can make this work in New Jersey?
5. Provide a Diversity of Housing Types, oooh ooh oooh [hand flailing around over head] that’s what I do! Pick me. Sounds great.
Sounds very interesting, I look forward to adding this book to my collection.
As a parent of a five year old in a walkable town where many people choose to drive their kids to private schools (to the detriment of our public schools), I find #3 to be especially interesting. It brings up the question: how much do people value the ability to walk their kids to school, stroll to the grocery store, etc?
Yes please.
Fascinating read! My name is David Ross and I am planning on entering into local city government in Thousand Oaks, California as I finish up schooling. I plan on tackling the dilemma of sustainability when it comes to my incredibly unique and beautiful city. There is little doubt this book would contribute greatly to my quest! Truly,
David
Very interesting read. Does it also show estimated cost of what it may cost to change our ways? You know $ and politics always get in the way of progress…
a dream- can it really happen???
Another great Giveaway! Excited to check this one out!!