Page 375 - Environment: The Science Behind the Stories

6. Name a few methods that governments use to improve 9. Describe the connection between urban ecology and
urban transportation. sustainable cities. List three actions a city can take to
7. How are city parks thought to make urban areas more liv- enhance its sustainability.
able? Give three examples of types of parks or public spaces. 10. Name two positive effects of urban centers on the natural
8. What is a green building? Describe several features a environment.
LEED-certified building may have.

Seeking Solutions

1. Describe the causes of the spread of suburbs and out- 5. THINK IT THROUGH You are the president of your col-
line the environmental, social, and economic impacts of lege or university, and students are clamoring for you to
sprawl. Overall, do you think the spread of urban and sub- help create the world’s first fully sustainable campus.
urban development that is commonly labeled sprawl is Considering how people enhance livability and sustain-
predominantly a good thing or a bad thing? Do you think ability in cities, what lessons might you try to apply to
it is inevitable? Give reasons for your answers. your college or university? You are scheduled to give
2. Would you personally want to live in a neighborhood a speech to the campus community about your plans
developed in the new urbanist style? Would you like to and will need to name five specific actions you plan to
live in a city or region with an urban growth boundary? take to pursue a sustainable campus. What will they be,
Why or why not? and what will you say about each choice to describe its
importance?
3. Consider the variety of approaches used to construct or
renovate a building using LEED-certified green build- 6. THINK IT THROUGH After you earn your college degree,
ing techniques. Are there any LEED-certified buildings you are offered three equally desirable jobs, in three very
on your campus? If so, how do they differ from conven- different locations. If you accept the first, you will live in
tional buildings? Think about a building on your campus the midst of a densely populated city. If you take the sec-
that you think is unhealthy or environmentally wasteful. ond, you will live in a suburb where you have more space
Name three specific ways in which green building tech- but where sprawl may soon surround you for miles. If you
niques might be used to improve this building. select the third, you will live in a rural area with plenty
of space but few cultural amenities. You are a person who
4. All things considered, do you feel that cities are a positive
thing or a negative thing for environmental quality? How aims to live in the most ecologically sustainable way you
much do you feel we may be able to improve the sustain- can. Where would you choose to live? Why? What con-
ability of our urban areas? siderations will you factor into your decision?

Calculating Ecological Footprints

One way to reduce your ecological footprint is with alternative For an average North American person who travels
transportation. Each gallon of gasoline is converted during com- 12,000 miles per year, calculate and record in the table the
bustion to approximately 20 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO ), CO emitted yearly for each transportation option, and the
2
2
which is released into the atmosphere. The table lists typical reduction in CO emissions that one could achieve by relying
2
amounts of CO released per person per mile through various solely on each option.
2
modes of transportation, assuming typical fuel efficiencies.
CO per person CO per person CO emission Your estimated Your CO
2
2
2
2
Mode of Transport per mile per year reduction mileage per year emissions per year
Automobile (driver only) 0.825 lb 9900 lb 0
Automobile (2 persons) 0.413 lb
Automobile (4 persons) 0.206 lb
Vanpool (8 persons) 0.103 lb
Bus 0.261 lb
Walking 0.082 lb
Bicycle 0.049 lb
374 Total = 12,000

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