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Neighborhood |
The development of sustainable neighborhoods and sub-divisions is an important step in the creation of a truly sustainable future. Rethinking neighborhood planning has the potential to decrease the immediate and future ecological impact of development and set the stage for new patterns of living that decrease the impact of residents indefinitely. The creation of compact walkable development with essential services within walking distance decreases the reliance on cars. Neighborhoods built on sustainable principles extend sustainability from the individual home to the community.
There are several new and existing programs related to neighborhood scale development that can be used as tools whether or not funding or certification by these programs is sought.
Building Better Neighborhoods
The Greater Minnesota Housing Fund's (GMHF) Building Better Neighborhoods (BBN) program is an excellent resource for new neighborhood development. BBN address the primary issues of affordability, livability and land conservation in a thoughtful and informative manner. BBN offers information on all aspects of the project from site selection and streets to home plans and landscapes.
Green Communities Criteria
The Green Communities Criteria address many of the issue related to the development of sustainable neighborhood planning in the Location and Neighborhood Fabric section of the criteria. These criteria will assist planners and developers with goal setting. It will be particularly helpful for site selection and setting density targets for infill projects.
Green Communities: Multifamily - Location and Neighborhood Fabric
Green Communities: Single Family - Location and Neighborhood Fabric
LEED for Neighborhood Development
The US Green Building Council's LEED for Neighborhood Development is currently in its pilot phase of development. This program is being developed by the USGBC in collaboration with Congress for the New Urbanism and the Natural Resources Defense Council.
