OVERVIEW
Buildings don’t stand alone; they’re part of a community. If the fabric of that community supports goals like walkability and cycling, then efforts within the buildings to support those activities can really make a difference.
Lighting of public spaces, multifunctional “complete streets,” a good mix of populations and occupancies, and more are key to creating vibrant communities that support healthy, low-impact lifestyles.
IN-DEPTH
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Community-Scale Sustainability: Accelerating Change for People and Planet
December 11, 2017Feature Article
By working at the neighborhood scale, designers and developers can more dramatically improve environmental performance and social equity.
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Climate Justice Heats Up in NYC
March 6, 2018News Analysis
A new report describes how rezoning and planning efforts can address the urban heat-island effect in a vulnerable Brooklyn, New York, neighborhood.
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Certified Communities: When Greening Neighborhoods One Building at a Time Isn’t Enough
December 11, 2017Primer
A comparison of community-scale certification programs.
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The Death and Rebirth of DC Power
August 4, 2016Feature Article
Direct current is replacing AC in microgrids and other setups that maximize the efficiency of lighting, HVAC, and onsite renewables.
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Washington, D.C. First to Achieve LEED at Citywide Scale
October 6, 2017News Analysis
The city is first to earn a Platinum LEED for Cities certification, leveraging information technology to track progress toward a range of sustainability goals.
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Analyze a Neighborhood with the Touch of a Button
October 6, 2017News Brief
Opportunity360 scores neighborhoods on health, affordability, transportation, and more.
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The Problem with Net-Zero Buildings (and the Case for Net-Zero Neighborhoods)
July 30, 2010Feature Article
It can be tough to make an individual building into a zero energy building, while working at the community scale can offer up opportunities for energy efficiency and cost-effective renewable energy generation.
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Thinking Beyond Buildings: LEED for Neighborhood Development
February 26, 2009Feature Article
LEED for Neighborhood Development is not yet final, but it's already clear that it's a different type of rating system. Lessons from the pilot projects show that cooperation among team members and with the local government is essential to a successful project.
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LEED to Certify Entire Communities, Cities
February 7, 2017News Brief
USGBC rolls out two new certifications based on actual performance tracked through the Arc platform.
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Green Spaces May Deter Crime, Urban Studies Reveal
January 4, 2017News Brief
Parks could be the answer for some cities wrestling with drug-related violence, vandalism, and theft.
