Environmental Issues: Sustainable Communities

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All Documents in Sustainable Communities Tagged smart growth

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.

Sustainable Neighborhoods
Solutions for Sustainability
Overview

One of the most important models of sustainable growth is the neighborhood, where increments of development actually occur and where most people connect with their cities, their environments, and each other on an everyday basis.

Sustainable Practices on Key Urban Issues
Solutions for Sustainability
Overview

Specific issues like water quality and sustainable food are a challenge in all cities.  NRDC is creating models to solve a selected set of key urban challenges that can be applied to other cities nationwide.

Communities Tackle Global Warming
A Guide to California’s Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act (SB 375)
Issue Paper

California's Sustainable Communities and Climate Protection Act, SB 375, is the nation's first legislation to link transportation and land use planning with global warming. SB 375 is an important step toward a cleaner, healthier, and more prosperous California. Locating housing closer to jobs and transit choices and creating walkable communities can reduce commute times, cut millions of tons of global warming pollution, and improve quality of life.

Smart Cities
Solutions for China's Rapid Urbanization
Issue Paper

The number of Chinese residents migrating from rural to urban areas in the next two decades will be roughly equivalent to the relocation of the population of the United States, a transformation that may bring disastrous consequences without careful planning. This December 2007 issue paper provides a comprehensive set of recommendations for smart growth strategies that promote more efficient use of land, services, and resources.

If You Build It, They Will Come
Americans Want Smart Growth Alternatives to Conventional Transportation
Fact Sheet

Smart growth land-use strategies, also known as location-efficient development or “new urbanism,” can save Americans saving thousands of dollars a year in transportation costs, improve quality of life, and provide significant benefits for the environment. Get document in pdf.

For additional policy documents, see the NRDC Document Bank.