What are the potential benefits to a community from embracing sustainable urban design practices?
Sustainable building practices and site design have proven valuable to our urban areas as they allow for redevelopment of antiquated utilities (storm water systems) and buildings—practices that enhance efficiencies so that ownership and utility costs will be reduced. Significant community benefits are achieved when we reduce consumption levels burdening existing systems, thus mitigating the need to build new infrastructure, such as roadways, storm water systems and electric lines. Social and economic benefits related to sustainable planning practices are also achieved through a better understanding of the need for balance between housing, retail, employment and public amenities. An example of this is in the case of affluent neighborhoods where employment opportunities and amenities are needed to attract this demographic, boosting the sustained growth of these areas. Finally, let’s not overlook the importance of diversity as a support system for social institutions and sustainability. T
