Issue Areas

Environmental Issues: Sustainable Communities

Affordable Green Housing The Green Communities Initiative will build thousands of affordable, environmentally friendly homes across the country. Overview: The Green Communities Initiative, a project of NRDC and Enterprise Community Partners, will build thousands of affordable, environmentally friendly homes across the country.

Greener by Design: NRDC's Santa Monica Office
Guide: This guided tour through NRDC’s office in Southern California illustrates the latest in green building design and practices. We chose a 1920s-era structure in Santa Monica's pedestrian center to take advantage of existing services like transit and to avoid building on undeveloped land. Then we redesigned it to conserve water and energy and showcase environmentally sound materials. On the ground floor, we constructed an environmental learning center. Take a look!
NRDC's San Francisco Office NRDC's newest office achieved the gold standard in green building design for the price of conventional construction. Overview: NRDC's newest office achieved the gold standard in green building design for the price of conventional construction. The office is a showcase of renewable materials and energy-efficient solutions.

For additional policy documents, see the NRDC Document Bank.

Kaid Benfield writes about development, community and the environment on Switchboard.

Is it time for "smarter smart growth"?: posted by Kaid Benfield, 5/1/13
The case for building on a city's historic assets: posted by Kaid Benfield, 4/29/13
An amazing, entertaining vision for greening Rio's working port: posted by Kaid Benfield, 4/26/13

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